Tara Merdjanoff, A&S '98

Tara Merdjanoff is the co-founder and CEO of QNSY Sparkling Cocktails. Before launching QNSY in September 2021, Tara spent two decades pursuing her dual passions: performance and hospitality. As a performer, Tara appeared in numerous roles in theater, film and television, and for many years produced, wrote, and performed her own comedic cabaret show. Concurrently, Tara worked in some of the most renowned restaurants in NYC, alongside some of the most acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs in the world. Tara’s years as a performer and hospitality professional developed her creativity and honed her skills for business planning, marketing, customer relationships, and team building. This diverse skill set helped her develop, launch, and build a cocktail brand that competes with, and consistently beats, brands from the largest companies in the adult beverage industry. Outside of her professional endeavors, Tara is dedicated to giving back to her community through volunteer work and philanthropy. She believes in using her skills and expertise to make a positive impact and create meaningful change. Tara volunteers weekly as a tutor for Reading Partners, and has made philanthropy a core business value for QNSY, supporting the One Love Foundation, Queens Together, and many other community organizations. Tara holds a BA in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University.