HI! I’M CRYSTAL!

My journey begins long before graduating college or landing my first job ……..

I grew up during the dial-up internet era, and I was the kid who stayed online so long that no one could call in or out of our home for hours. (My mom did not like it) I spent an insurmountable amount of time on the computer exploring the depths of the web, talking to strangers across the world, computer gaming, customizing Myspace pages (unknowingly teaching myself the basics of code) and editing photos for my friends. These early experiences shaped my love for technology and everything it allowed us to do. But while my love for technology was taking shape, another part of my story was unfolding… my love for oysters. Growing up in Savannah, I was introduced to oysters at a very early age. Savannah natives grow up eating them steamed by the bushel, but my dad introduced me to the briny, unfiltered experience of raw oysters on the half-shell.

As I moved through life and my career, those parts of me stayed with me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. My curiosity for technology kept showing up in the way I approached problems, built systems, and looked for better ways to connect people. And my love for oysters grew over the years with bi-weekly trips to the oyster bar.

What started as a simple appreciation grew into something deeper. I became fascinated by their flavors, their sense of place, and ultimately their impact on the water and the communities that grow them. I fell in love with the stories behind each farm, each body of water, each shell.

That’s where everything intersected for me.
My curiosity for technology.
My love for community.
My commitment to education and transparency.
And my growing passion for oysters.

And The Oyster Journal is where all of it finally found a home.

Thank you for being apart of our journey, and if you’re not, I look forward to welcoming you. If you want to chat oysters, reach out to me at crystal@theoysterjournal.com.