JP Awad
When you meet John Paul Awad (JP for short), you immediately encounter a true renaissance man. Gifted as a photographer, podcast host, salesman, athlete, interior designer, fashion influencer, and lover of music and all things artisan, JP is a bundle of creative energy who thrives on expression in all its forms.
The youngest of three children of Lebanese immigrants, JP initially resisted his parents’ insistence on speaking Arabic at home. Like many teenagers, he wanted to fit in, not stand out. “At the time, I didn’t understand why they wanted to hang onto their heritage,” JP recalls. Now, at 40, he sees it as a gift—a connection to identity and culture that grounds him in a deep sense of belonging.
Sports first captured JP’s attention, but by high school music had taken center stage. He joined a band, immersed himself in the vibrant Minneapolis music scene, and spent countless nights at shows. “I loved Nu Metal. And in the 90s, Minneapolis was rich with music. I was seeing bands two or three nights a week!”
After graduation, JP turned his focus to building a future in business. Though his high school grades were unremarkable, he excelled at Hamline University, graduating cum laude in 2008 with a degree in business management—just as the country was staring down a deep recession.
Grateful to find work, JP accepted a role managing a Ralph Lauren outlet store in Albertville, overseeing a team of 80. His talent was quickly recognized, and he soon joined Ralph Lauren’s project team as a merchandising manager and team lead, traveling across the country to set up stores for each season. “I fell in love with classic, layered men’s fashion,” he says. Yet when the next opportunity meant relocating to New Jersey, JP chose instead to remain close to home and help care for his disabled older brother.
That decision anchored him in Minnesota, where he pivoted into the booming craft brewing industry. He worked with breweries like Excelsior Brewing and Insight Brewing, helping them grow into recognized leaders while sharpening his expertise in sales, marketing, and brand-building.
Today, JP thrives in two industries he loves deeply. As a sales representative with Boveda, a humidity-control company for tobacco products, he connects daily with leaders of the world’s most renowned cigar brands. At the same time, he channels his creative energy into Club Carraway, the custom menswear, working alongside Derek and his brother Charles. “I finally feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be,” JP says. “With Boveda, I get to meet the people shaping the cigar world. With Club Carraway, I get to express my creative side through fashion. What could be better?”
For those looking to elevate their wardrobe with timeless, custom-tailored style—ideally while enjoying a small-batch, hand-rolled cigar—there’s no better place to start than a conversation with JP at Round Table.