Founder's Story
Behind The Mission
Alex That
Founder and visionary behind the original multi million dollar international brand Caffeine. Divisions included a legendary nightclub, fashion forward clothing company, record label, world music tour, entertainment company and now Caffeine Academy.
Since 1991, Caffeine has been about bringing people together and providing opportunities for meaningful relationships.
I took what I knew and loved and I created Caffeine Academy, a place where we teach students to DJ, produce music, and create and edit videos.
At Caffeine Academy we focus on more than learning how to DJ, produce music and make videos. This is part of the reason why our program is so innovative! We work on building self-esteem and gaining confidence through hands on learning. Coping with obstacles, garnishing more knowledge and stepping out of their comfort zone help each student create their very own road map to their version of success and feeling significant.
My entire life, I have always believed in perseverance, staying optimistic and creating my own path. I root for the underdog, believe in people, encourage them to rewrite history and think out of the box.
When you dream big, believe it can be done, take action and keep moving forward the possibilities are endless. It’s time to tell your story. Let us help you show the world that you were born to stand out!
Our Team!
Mimi
She is often found behind the scenes, but if some really good music is on she’ll definitely be seen busting some 80’s dance moves and singing along. She has a background in education and is great at problem solving, tying up loose ends, giving just the right words of encouragement and being a team mom to everyone that makes up our Caffeine Academy family.
Brendan
He started taking classes at Caffeine Academy when he was 15 years old. We’ve watched him grow into a funny, kind, music loving adult. He has the ability to observe his students and tune into what is the best way for them to learn. When you hear Brendan say, “Wooo” you know you’re on the right track! He is a working DJ at several of today’s most popular venues. When Brendan isn’t working he loves biking and kayaking, enjoys playing or watching team sports and producing original house music.
Jessica Lake
Sean
We first met Sean, when he was 5 years old, on the soccer field where he was a member of the team that Alex coached. His eagerness to participate and learn was impressive at a young age and are character traits that he still possesses today. He is kind, funny and creative. He takes the time to get to know his students on a personal level and thinks out of the box when it’s comes to teaching. Sean loves paleontology, video games and going upstate with his friends on weekends.
Rob
Rob first started coming to Caffeine Academy as support staff for one of our students. We recognized immediately how considerate and sincere he was. Recently, we had the opportunity to hire Rob. Rob has a BA in Communications with a minor in Sociology. When it comes time for instruction he brings an air of quiet confidence and guides his students to create an extremely gratifying project. Rob has a passion for graphic design and photography. He shares his passion with his students and encourages them to add interesting elements to enhance their video projects.
Mia
Mia is driven, patient, practical and kind. These traits help Mia inspire students of all ages to stay optimistic and be the best that they can be. Mia is usually dancing and singing along with our students. She has a great ear for music. If she’s dancing, our students know their project is headed in the right direction! Mia graduated with her BS in Psychology. When she has some free time she enjoys hiking and traveling.
Alyssa
Alyssa is a singer, songwriter, producer and performer. Alyssa has a beautiful voice that she shares with students to enrich their projects. She puts her eclectic, artistic style into everything she does. Like a lot of artists, Alyssa is a deep person. When she is collaborating with students, Alyssa shares her talents to create projects that are from the heart and mean something to our students. When she isn’t singing or writing, Alyssa enjoys physical activity, eating healthy and playing the piano.
Dan
Dan is just our resident Grammy Nominee. No big deal. He is a composer, producer, writer and world class keyboardist who has toured all over the world. Dan teaches a very exclusive production class here at Caffeine Academy. He is very passionate when it comes to his musical gifts and eager to bestow his wealth of knowledge and experience with our students. Because of all his experience, Dan has a unique way of challenging students to raise their personal standards when it comes to producing original music. When Dan isn’t touring he enjoys playing video games and helping others.
Hammer
Alex, affectionately known to us as, Hammer, is a great addition to our Caffeine Academy team. We recognized how caring he is when we first met him as support staff for one of our students. He is not only caring but he is also multi talented in an understated way. His many talents are becoming more apparent the more we get to know him. Hammer has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to song lyrics, singing them and writing them! Alex has his Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications from Northeastern University. He is an asset to the Caffeine Academy team! When Hammer isn’t working he enjoys watching the Islanders.
Matt
We were lucky enough to receive an intern application from Matt when he was in his senior year of college. Matt interned with us and he was so well rounded that we offered him employment. When you first meet Matt, you will see a friendly face. But there is so much more to him. He is one of those people that you meet and you just think, “wow, he is so nice!” Matt graduated from Five Towns College with his Bachelor’s Degree in Audio Production and Business Management.
Matt is very creative and helps his students create projects that are sonically pleasing. He is well versed in Logic and Serato and uses them to enhance his students' experiences in music production. Like Liam Neeson in the movie Taken, Matt has a very particular set of skills. Here’s a hint…He’s in a band and very into metal music. When Matt isn’t working he enjoys golf, table tennis and collecting model trains.
