Meet your Instructors

Gail was born and raised in Allentown, and has always approached life with ambition and a love of a good challenge—whether it’s perfecting a Mahjong hand, testing a new coffee blend, or tackling a national park trail (only 63 to go!). A proud parent of two teenagers—and occasional household referee—she brings humor, curiosity, and balance to everything she does.

A lifelong learner, Gail’s teaching herself French (“bonjour” pairs best with a latte) and believes that every day offers a chance to connect and create. When she’s not playing Mahjong, you’ll find her reading, stitching something beautiful, or planning her next great adventure.

A CPG pro with a knack for strong brands and even stronger coffee, she’s most likely to be found studying up on power tiles—and always ready for the next round.

Life’s a game—play it with heart.

Born and raised in Florida, but had strong Scandinavian Midwest roots throughout Minnesota. She’s traveled around the world but came to the Twin Cities for a job, stayed for the excellent K-12 schools and now is looking forward to the next big adventure teaching with Mahj Lodge. Child of teachers, and former academic she is known for making complex concepts easy to understand in a fun and lighthearted environment. Mahjong is a way to build community and friendships. Believes that when in doubt choose the harder path but don’t forget to rest along the way. Thought she’d go in to marketing in high school, but ended up with a PhD in biochemistry, a love of accents, and an underused scuba certification. Despite midlife brain fog, she remains endlessly curious, prioritizes joy in little moments, and choses prize of friendship over a trophy.

Cari became addicted to mahjong for the sensory boost of the tiles, the challenge of building a hand, the thrill of a perfectly timed joker and most of all that no athletic ability at all is required. Voted most likely to try to use a joker in a pair.

If you don’t see her at the Mahjong table she’s probably out shopping for the next beautiful set of tiles or coordinating mat.

Jen fell for mahjong four years ago — it was love at first draw.

Born in Canada, Jen has lived all over, each city adding a new layer of curiosity and adventure. A lifelong puzzle enthusiast, she was instantly hooked by mahjong’s mix of logic, luck, and the satisfying click of tiles on the table.

But it’s the community that keeps her coming back. A teacher in a past life, Jen brings that same patience and spark to the game, delighting in introducing mahjong to curious new players and watching everything “click.” When she’s not spotting patterns or coaching a new hand, she’s a mom and publishing professional — always juggling tiles, tasks, and teens with a grin and a cup of coffee never far from reach.

Jen is the kind of person who makes a mahjong table feel like the place to be. She blends encouragement, humor, and just the right amount of competitive sparkle — welcoming newbies and keeping seasoned players on their toes.

Marcy’s love of games began long before Mahjong entered the picture. Growing up in Winnipeg, Canada, she spent summers at the cabin playing cards and board games with family, surrounded by laughter and lake breezes. Twenty-five years after moving to the U.S., that spirit of connection still defines her. She’s never met a game—or a party—she didn’t want to host. The kind of person who travels with a deck of cards, throws together an impromptu charcuterie board like it’s an Olympic sport, and can whip through a puzzle faster than you can say “edge pieces”

Between cribbage tournaments, speed puzzling, and traveling the world with her daughter—an elite Pokémon TCG player—Marcy’s calendar is as full as her game shelf.

She fell for Mahjong fast: the sound of the tiles, the thrill of a joker, and the easy friendship that comes from time around the table. Now she plays with her Mahj Lodge crew, runs a monthly neighborhood group, and hosts game nights that are equal parts snacks, strategy, and laughter. She also loves crafting, baking, and wandering Trader Joe’s aisles for her next crowd-pleasing find.