About Us

Meet the Team

Founder & CEO

Melissa Tavss

Melissa Tavss started Tipsy Scoop™ in 2014. She previously earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Richmond, and later went on to complete her Masters in Integrated Marketing at NYU. Melissa’s background is in marketing and public relations, specializing in the wine and spirits industry. Melissa has been quoted in various publications such as Forbes, CNBC, and Food & Wine and has appeared on TV shows such as Fox Business and NBC New York. Melissa has been honored by The James Beard Foundation and the Specialty Food Association for her unique offerings at Tipsy Scoop™. Melissa will work closely with Franchisees on site location, store set up, grand opening, and provide ongoing support to ensure business goals are achieved.

VP of Marketing

Rachel Chitwood

Rachel Chitwood is Tipsy Scoop's™ VP of Marketing and was the company's first full time hire. She graduated from the University of Virginia and started her career at UVA's Curry School of Education before transitioning to the beer industry. While managing a Brooklyn beer shop, she met Melissa and fell in love with the concept of booze and ice cream. Rachel has worn many hats at Tipsy Scoop™, from customer service to shipping logistics to marketing, which makes her uniquely suited to advise franchisees on the many different facets of the business. Rachel is the co-author of Tipsy Scoop's™ cookbook- Tipsy Scoop™ Latest and Greatest Recipes and the face behind Tipsy Scoop's™ viral social media. Rachel will work with franchisees on digital marketing, brand compliance and customer experience.

VP of Operations

Tim Mckevitt

Tim Mckevitt joined Tipsy Scoop™ in January 2021 as the Director of Operations.  He previously earned a degree in Culinary Arts followed by a Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management from the Culinary Institute of America.  Tim spent nearly 10 years working for Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group with a primary focus on front of the house operations.  During his time with Union Square Hospitality, Tim gained valuable experience in employee training, hiring, guest relations, managing teams, financial reviews, and beverage knowledge. Tim is now the VP of Operations at Tipsy Scoop™, working closely with our franchise partners on training, and developing and implementing operational plans for success.

Head of Retail

Stephanie Collazo

Stephanie is truly an ice cream connoisseur who began her career in ice cream over 10 years ago at Nathan’s in Coney Island, followed by Shake Shack and Ralph’s Italian Ice. Stephanie started with Tipsy Scoop™ as the manager of our flagship location on east 26th street before moving into the Head of Retail role fo rall Tipsy Scoop™ company owned stores. Stephanie will assist franchisees in the training process and discovery days in NYC.

Our Philosophy

  • Our Mission is to delight, inspire and indulge our guests with every boozy scoop!
  • Tipsy Scoop™ is a grown up version of your favorite childhood treat - combining the best of both worlds.
  • We are the go to for sweet lovers looking for a unique dessert, cocktail, or gift for any adult celebration.
  • We are always innovating - we elevate the adult ice cream experience with unique flavors and limited-edition offerings.
  • We have designed a shareable experience that our guests can't wait to tell their friends, family and followers about.
  • We don't take ourselves too seriously- boozy ice cream is supposed to be fun!

Our Culture

  • We foster a collaborative work environment where new ideas are encouraged.
  • Our work culture is relaxed, casual and informal. Employees should feel comfortable asking questions and making suggestions for improvement.
  • We believe that the employee/manager relationship should be fun-loving, supportive, and respectful.
  • Our Barlours are an approachable, inviting environment for guests to feel comfortable trying new things

Our Ideal Owner

  • Is social and really “knows” the people in their community.
  • Is familiar with event planning, catering and hospitality.
  • Is knowledgeable of food and drink – cocktail or mixology experience would be great (but no “food” or culinary training needed!)
  • Has experiences with running a specialty food establishment.
  • Has strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to train and motivate staff.
  • Knows how to use a computer and is open to working with new technology.
  • Is ready to own their own business and make it successful!