Aces of Trades: Cristy Renner gets creative at Amarissa Woods Teas & Spices
CHILLICOTHE – She knows computers – and food, teas and spices.
“I wanted to be a designer growing up,” recalled Cristy Renner. “Interior, fashion, it didn’t matter because I loved variety, color, architecture, history of design, costumes, sewing, painting. The shop is a reflection of that passion. I never thought I would own a tea and spice business, but I know creating mixes and recipes was in my blood.”
Today, Renner owns and operates Amarissa Woods Teas & Spices. Amarissa, by the way, she explained, is Hebrew for “Given by God.”
“My dad was where I get my love of spices,” Renner continued. “He could smoke the best hams and bacon. He worked at Goodyear Atomic and during night shift, everyone would bring in different ingredients and make a community dinner. There was a very diverse crowd from around the country and they were excellent cooks. In southern Ohio at the time no one else was using cumin, star anise, cayenne, cilantro, or my favorite cardamom. When he would butcher on the farm and we would make sausage, I was the one he would entrust to make spice blends for the sausage.”
“I think the tea part came about because of my minor in Chinese ceramic history,” she added. “The more I learned about the culture and the history of the tea and spice trade the more I appreciated the tranquility and relaxion of tea and the tea ceremony in cultures all over the world. The health benefits from tea alone are incredible.”
Renner was raised on a farm in Ross County and graduated from Huntington High School and Shawnee State University with a degree in computer science technology. She then became the adult computer education manager for Shawnee State.
“I was the trainer for CISCO Certification and Comptia A+, Network + Certification,” she explained. “I also taught all levels of Microsoft Office, which include basic, intermediate and advanced and taught courses in Photoshop, File Management, Microsoft Operating systems, FrontPage and HTML Web Design.”
That’s just a short list of her duties and computer talents. Additionally, in her twenties she was instrumental as a deli manager for a grocery store chain and catering operation.
“This grocery store,” she noted, “was one of the major catering companies for Ohio State and Marshall University, so we learned to cater for several hundred people at a time.”
“When I started working at SSU,” she continued, “I loved my job but it was highly technical so I would ‘play with my food’ and recipes when I got home. I was always trying new recipes on my family and my husband Frank. After I left SSU and started supporting different sub-contractors at the former Atomic Plant, I really needed the creative art that cooking and baking can do for you as stress relief. So I contacted my old computer engineering friend Andria Smalley and we started Amarissa Woods.”
Deneen Garner is a friend and customer.
“Cristy has always been the type of person to lead with her heart,” assessed Garner. “She likes to do things that make a difference in someone’s life. She approaches her business like that too. Seeing her dreams become a reality with her tea shop has been exciting. She’s definitely one of a kind!”
“I always knew I wanted a brick and mortar shop,” Renner responded. “Food is a great icebreaker for everyone, and I learn something new all the time. Each time life sends you down a different unexpected path, learn from it – and don’t forget to grab a recipe as you go.”
Amarissa Woods Teas & Spices is located at 202 S. Paint St. in Chillicothe. For more information, log on www.amarissawoods.com.
About the Series
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at gaznews@nncogannett.com or 740-349-1110.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Cristy Renner gets creative at Amarissa Woods Teas & Spices
