Head Instructor – Micah Dew:

Micah Dew is a professional mixologist from Vancouver with over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has been showcased in film and on TV both nationally and internationally for his bartending skills. While Micah is recognized as an engaging and entertaining speaker, he has also been known to mix it up on the competition stage. Entering and winning cocktail, and flair bartending competitions locally and internationally.

In addition to working with Metropolitan, Micah continues to work at Vancouver’s #1 Nightclub, The Roxy. Also Micah continues to work with the 3rd largest liquor company in the world, Beam Global as corporate trainer.

You may also know Micah From:

• His weekly cocktail feature in The Province Newspaper
• 4 years behind the bar at The Roxy Nightclub Vancouver
• 9 years Performer/Lead Instructor with worlds largest Flair Bartending training company extremebartending.com
• Multiple TV appearances including: The Rachael Ray Show and Urban Rush
• Featured Flair Bartending Instructor in the best selling Working Flair & Customer service DVD series in the world
• Featured speaker at the annual Christmas in November in Jasper, AB, alongside other top restauranteurs, and Food Network Stars
• Winner of multiple flair bartending competitions locally and internationally
• Featured performer on Dragons Den Canada

When he’s not working with Metropolitan, Micah likes to travel and experiment with regional cuisines, and continues to pursue a passion for wine, hosting annual wine events.

Tara Clancy:

Tara is a proud bartending school graduate with nearly a decade’s experience mixing drinks across Canada and around the world:

Beginning her career at a small Mexican restaurant in Toronto, Tara initially began bartending as a way to help pay for school. But upon graduation, bartending became an opportunity to see the world when she was offered a job with Regent Luxury Cruiselines. During her four years with Regent, Tara served thousands of travellers, and competed in several cocktail competitions earning herself the role of Head Bartender along the way. Later on, she used that experience to obtain an Australian work visa, and went on to work for 18 months behind the bars of Surfers Paradise and Melbourne.

Today though, Tara has settled in Vancouver working behind the scenes at Cactus Club, slinging drinks at the Commodore Ballroom, and teaching here with us to show our students the endless possibilities of being a bartender.

Michael Hurley:

Michael is a true veteran of the industry with over a decade’s experience bartending all over the Lower Mainland:

Beginning his career in the kitchen, Michael worked all the way up to sous chef before realizing his talents belonged behind the bar. So again, starting at the bottom, he worked all the way up from busser to bar management, and since then has gone on to enjoy 12 years in the local pub scene. Michael’s extensive resume boasts stints with Central City Brewing, The Delta Lion Pub, Samz Pub, The Koho Bar, and dozens of private events (and even a few months mixing drinks at Prague’s infamous Double Trouble nightclub).

Today – when he’s not teaching at Metropolitan – Michael pours pints at Rusty’s Pub in Cloverdale, and runs his own bartender-staffing company, which specializes in private events.

Jon Lee:

Since graduating from our very own course five years ago, Jon has bartended non-stop all over Metro Vancouver.

His career has seen him mix drinks for premium lounges, nightclubs, casinos, and sports bars. And his exemplary work ethic has earned him senior bartending and management positions nearly everywhere he’s been.

Today, Jon keeps himself busy as Lead Bartender for the Savoury Chef Catering Company, bartending at Stanley’s Happy Landing, and Monk’s Grill – all the while supervising the bar efforts at Richmond’s upcoming Lift Bar and Grill. We’re extremely lucky to have Jon with us today, using his diverse experience of the local bar scene to help prepare our students for every kind of bar they will end up working in.

Wine Instructor – Donita Dyer:

Donita is a certified wine expert and wine blogger, with over 20 years’ experience in hospitality industries. Since receiving her WSET certification (the world’s foremost wine qualification), Donita has worked for local wine producers, importers, and retailers alike:

Initially exercising her knowledge for private wine stores, Donita moved on to work in sales for wine importers such as Renaissance Wine Merchants and Sedimentary Wines; and later on in marketing for Le Vieux Pin and LaStella BC wineries.

More recently, Donita was the recipient of a 2016 Les Dames d’Escoffier Society scholarship to pursue her Champagne Master’s Certification with the French Wine Guild. And today, she works as the BC territory manager for national wine importer, Empson wines – as well as blogging and teaching with us.

Check out her wine blog at www.wineandfoodconcierge.com

Instructor Feedback – Vancouver:

My experience was great. The instructor was just filled with so much information. I always got answers for my questions. He was very professional and inspired me to be a bartender as good as he is. Overall it was worth every penny and I am happy I went to bartending school. – Dave M.

I thought it was very well done. Our teacher had lots of energy and kept the class going. The hands on time was more than enough to get us comfortable around the bar. All and all, I had a great time and I am ready to get my first bartending job! – Jaime Donaldson; June 9, 2011

I really loved it. I came here in May and couldn’t take the exam, so the fact that the school let me come back is really amazing. I had a blast here, made great friends and Ian as an instructor was a perfect role model for me. He is chill and serious at the right times. The facility is great thank you all so much! – Revé R.