At First Sip

Leah McMahon was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. She moved to Corvallis after graduating from Marist High School to attend Oregon State University. While at the University, Leah played on the women's basketball team as a walk-on and in 1996 received the team's Leadership Award. It was in Corvallis where Leah first discovered her love of making espresso drinks while working a part-time job for Paul Tostberg of Coffee Culture (formerly Photo Espresso). Leah's life changed on April 8, 2005. Her professional direction shifted dramatically and she found herself on a one-woman quest as a small business owner, enter Silk Espresso. Silk Espresso is now a six-year-old flourishing business in Gresham, Oregon, that has won many awards including Business of the Year from the Better Business Bureau, two Telly awards, and multiple Reader's Choice awards. Leah has created her own publishing company, SIP publishing, where she will continue to publish short but powerful "coffee shop reads" like this book and give other un-published voices a stage to share their truths. Leah lives in Troutdale, Oregon, with her husband Bubba and their dog, Lucy, where she continues to pursue her many passions. When she's not greeting her guests at the register at Silk Espresso, she enjoys writing, running, playing basketball and enjoying all the beauty that the Columbia River Gorge has to offer.