Dave Wagner , proud Army veteran, and cigar smoker for over 20 years. I am the luckiest man in the world in that my family, passion, and career, are all extremely supportive of each other.  The premium cigar industry is built on heritage, relationships, hard work, and pride, and these factors drive and inspire me daily.  Working with the Oliva family has given me the opportunity to do what I love with people who share the same passion for premium handmade cigars.  I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Dave Wagner was one of Oliva’s (“Original Five”) when Oliva started their in-house sales force in 2005.  In 2007 he moved from Regional Representative to National Sales Manager of the greatest cigar sales force in the industry.  He is most proud to be a part of the Oliva family and their incredible success in the premium cigar industry.

“Speak softly and carry an armored tank division.” -Col Nathan R. Jessup

Cory Bappert- a St.Louis, MO native, began smoking cigars in his late teens while going on fishing trips with his uncle in Missouri. It quickly became a passion which he brought with him when hired on with an online cigar retailer out of Chicago in 2002. In 2005, after learning Oliva Cigar Company was hiring a national sales force, he applied and became the first sales representative for the upper Midwest. Bappert quickly rose through the ranks, earning such accolades as Salesman of the Year and the Oliva Familia award (for outstanding service). As Senior Account Executive, he currently handles our national accounts as well as in store promotional programs. He was heavily involved in The creation of Cain as well as upcoming products yet to hit the market.

John Gazerro- John began smoking premium cigars in 1990 while still a student. He is a 1992 graduate (BA in Political Science) from Providence College. John’s professional career began as an undergrad when he became a College Marketing Representative for CBS Records/Sony Music Distribution. After graduating, John became a Field Marketing Representative for Sony Music and had the privilege of working with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and many others. After the record business, John transitioned to broadcasting and was a marketing/promotions director for various radio stations in Providence RI, Greensboro NC , Boston MA , and New York City. John’s first step in the cigar industry came in 2004 by doing freelance promotional work for The Oliva Family of Cigars. In 2005, John became the Northeast Representative for Drew Estate Cigars. 2007 saw John return to Oliva Cigar as their Account Executive in New England. In late 2010, John accepted a Management position within Oliva and is now the East Coast Sales Manager while still handling the North East states. John presently lives in Providence with his girlfriend. John has no hobbies worth listing here; except, of course, smoking really good cigars.

Ian Hummel- In January of 2008, Ian was hired as Oliva Cigar’s 10th Sales Representative and started his career covering the states of Michigan and Indiana. In mid-year 2009, Oliva expanded their sales force and Ian switched territories to take over Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Southern Indiana. In late 2010, Ian moved up the ranks into a management roll within Oliva accepting the position as Mid-West Regional Sales Manager. While Ian still is a rep for Ohio and Kentucky, he now manages all the Account Executives from Pittsburgh to the Dakota’s.

Ian has always been extremely interested in new product development and in the process of bringing new products to market. This side of the business has intrigued him to get more involved in every aspect of the process from starting out with an idea, building upon it, and eventually seeing it come to life in the market place.

Recently, Ian was asked to be a member of the Executive Board for Studio Tobac and he is excited to be a part of something that he is passionate about in so many ways. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to work so closely with the greatest family in the cigar industry.”

Brian Shapiro- Brian has been around the cigar business almost his entire life. His grandfather, Morris opened Shapiro’s Smoke Shop in New York City in 1932. His father Ron Shapiro took over the family business in 1960 and is still a partner in the family retail store The Cigar Factory Outlet in Norwalk, Connecticut which is also an Oliva Store and Lounge.

Brian joined the Oliva Family after a chance meeting with Jose Oliva in 2004. He began the first year by assembling the first in-house U.S. Sales Force which has now grown to 19 strong.  Brian started moving Oliva into International markets in 2005 exporting cigars into The Netherlands. In 2010 as International Sales Manager, Brian, along with a great international team expanded Oliva exports into nearly 30 countries with a main European office and distribution center in Sliedrecht, Holland. Recently Brian and Jose Oliva celebrated the opening of the 2nd European Oliva Cigar Lounge in Berlin,Germany. The first lounge opened in Den Bosch, Holland nearly 2 years ago. More lounges are planned this coming year in Zurich and Basel Switzerland, Moscow Russia and London, England.

Brian lives in Connecticut with his wife Gail and his sons Aaron and Eric.

Bryan “The Show” Scholle- Bryan has been enjoying fine cigars since 2006, which started as an occasional hobby but quickly formed into a very strong passion. Bryan started with Oliva family in February 2010 as an account executive covering the West Florida Territory. Bryan started his sales career for Coca-cola following in his grandfathers footsteps. He was inducted into the Top Performers Club in 2004 for being Salesman of the year for Florida. Then in 2008 Bryan followed his passion and went to work for a Tampa based cigar shop named Tampa Humidor, which also is 1 of 2 Oliva Lounges in the USA. Bryan’s passion and knowledge for cigars grew during his years that he worked there.

Bryan grew up with a very supportive family and group of friends that always told him to “aim for the stars…” , with this support he has been able to accomplish many great things in his short life.

Bryan is very excited to be named Studio Ambassador for Studio Tobac, and can’t wait to get out on the open road and to a tobacconist near you very soon.

Sasja van Horssen- Sasja van Horssen was born in 1972 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as the son of Cigar & tobacco importer Niek van Horssen. Sasja has spend his entire adult live in the cigar business and was worked in Spain, the UK and the Netherlands. Sasja met Brian Shapiro in 2002 in the Hague while Brian was in the Netherlands visiting relatives ; a long lasting friendschip was born. One year later Oliva was introduced into the Dutch marked and became Oliva’s first step into their current European adventure.

Now days Olivas cigars are smoked in over 20 countries in Europe. Sasja is the owner of van Horssen BV, a cigar and tobacco company founded by sasja’s grandfather in 1949, the Oliva cigar lounge in Den Bosch and the Oliva European distribution center in the Netherlands.

Sasja was asked to join the Studio Tobac Executive Board by Jose Oliva and Brian Shapiro so that he could add some European insight into the board.