For Tina Gengo ’95 St. Aubin, community isn’t just a value, it’s a way of life. Born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana, Tina’s journey has taken her from the Valpo art studios to the heart of downtown revitalization efforts, and now to the aromatic charm of her own small business. As the owner of The Spice & Tea Exchange in downtown Valpo, Tina has found the perfect blend of passion, purpose, and place.
Though she began her college career at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Tina soon realized that being far from home wasn’t the right fit. “Valpo offered a more personal experience,” she reflects. “The small class sizes and the relationships I built with professors made me feel seen and supported. I wasn’t just a number.” Professors like Brauer, Sirko, and Carazzo helped shape her creative vision, while theology and general education courses broadened her understanding of different cultures and perspectives.
Her time at Valpo would also introduce her to her future husband, a finance major, and together, they would build both a family and a life grounded in service to their hometown. “We’re complete opposites in a lot of ways, but it works,” Tina laughs. “We balance each other out.”
Tina’s impact on the city of Valparaiso is nothing short of transformative. As the longtime executive director of Valparaiso Events, she helped spearhead the city’s downtown revitalization beginning in 2008, a grassroots effort that has since become a model of community-driven progress. “Back then, it was just me and one other person on staff,” Tina recalls. “We relied heavily on volunteers, and that created a real sense of shared ownership. Everyone wanted to make Valpo a vibrant, welcoming place.”
Through more than a decade of service, Tina helped grow Valparaiso Events into a cornerstone of the city’s cultural and economic identity, overseeing farmers markets, festivals, and countless community gatherings. “It was a lot of work, and I definitely missed some swim meets and basketball games along the way, but I wouldn’t change it,” she says. “Every experience taught me something.”
Eventually, Tina felt called to make a change and to return to her roots in small business. Inspired by a serendipitous visit to a Spice & Tea Exchange in Florida while visiting her son, she knew the concept would thrive in her hometown. Three years later, her shop has become a staple of downtown Valpo, offering teas, spices, and blends that spark joy, curiosity, and connection.
Tea, it turns out, became more than just a product for Tina. It became a passion. She began researching its health benefits and even enrolled in online herbalist courses through Trinity School of Natural Health. “Our customers come in asking for remedies—something for sleep, for stress, for focus. I wanted to really understand what could help,” she explains. Her favorites? Honey Bee Ginger Elixir for a scratchy throat, Beauty Rest for better sleep, and a vertical herb garden in her own backyard to experiment with what she learns.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Tina offers grounded advice: “It’s risky, and it’s a lot of work, but if you love it, it’s worth it. Dream big. Have a plan. And don’t be afraid to take the leap.”
Now, as an empty nester with one son out west and another in college, Tina finds herself on a new path again, this time focused on family, flexibility, and doing what she loves. “Every good memory in my life has revolved around food or a table,” she says. “If I can help others create those kinds of moments, then I know I’m doing something right.”
Valparaiso has always been home for Tina St. Aubin. Thanks to her leadership, vision, and heart, it’s a more flavorful, vibrant, and connected home for everyone else as well.
