Meet the Power Couple Behind Taps Out ATL: Christopher & Dr. Valerie Camille Jones-Ford

Oct 5

3 min read

Launched in August 2025, Taps Out ATL is Atlanta's premier mobile selfpour taproom experience. But what makes it truly special isn't just the 8 taps or the RFID wristbands or the perfectly curated drink menu. It's the two people who show up to every event with the same energy they bring to everything else in life: warmth, creativity, and a genuine love for people.

Meet Christopher and Dr. Valerie Camille Jones-Ford — Atlanta's most dynamic duo.

Dr. Valerie Camille Jones-Ford: The Educator Who Moves the World

If you haven't heard of Dr. Valerie Camille Jones-Ford yet, you will.

A 2025 inductee into the National Teacher Hall of Fame and recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching — the nation's highest honor for STEM educators — Dr. Camille is one of the most celebrated educators in the country. A lead math educator at the globally renowned Ron Clark Academy for over 15 years, she teaches in a model classroom visited by over 100,000 educators from around the world.

She has been featured on CBS Mornings with Gayle King and honored in the U.S. Congressional Record by the late Congressman John Lewis for her groundbreaking work in equity and excellence.

Her work has also been featured on Yahoo News, Black Enterprise, AfroTech, FOX 5 Atlanta, Watch the Yard, and more than 30 other outlets.

But here's what the headlines don't always capture: Dr. Camille is just as impressive in person as she is on paper — and far more fun. Frequently dressed as a Pokéball and teaching in a classroom that looks straight out of Willy Wonka, she's built an entire career on the belief that joy and excellence aren't mutually exclusive. She calls it MathEsteem — a movement she founded to transform math anxiety into math confidence, one student at a time.

A Spelman College alumna, Dr. Jones-Ford holds advanced degrees in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University and Columbia University.

Outside the classroom and the stage, she's a proud wife, a devoted mother, and yes — a cosplayer. You can follow her family's adventures at @fordfamilystrong on Instagram, where the Fords bring beloved comic characters to life with the same creativity and joy they pour into everything they do.

Christopher Ford: The Businessman with a Superhero Soul

Christopher Ford is the kind of person who makes everything look effortless — which is exactly what you want in a business partner and a co-owner.

A seasoned businessman with an entrepreneurial mindset and a heart for community, Christopher brings the operational vision and hustle behind Taps Out ATL. He's the one making sure every event runs smoothly, every tap is dialed in, and every guest walks away with a smile.

But ask anyone who knows Chris and they'll tell you: he's not just about business. He's a cosplayer, a creative, and a family man whose energy is completely infectious. Catch him on Instagram at @krelief03 and you'll quickly see someone who takes two things very seriously — showing up for his community, and having an incredible time while doing it.

Together with Dr. Camille, Christopher co-leads the Ford Family with the kind of intentionality that shows in everything they touch. Their family Instagram, @fordfamilystrong, is a joyful window into a household where excellence, creativity, and togetherness are the daily standard.

A Business Built on Community Taps Out ATL

didn’t just launch as a business — it launched as a commitment.

A commitment to Atlanta. To showing up for the community that has always shown up for them. To creating experiences that bring people together — across generations, across backgrounds, across tastes (alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike).

Every event Taps Out ATL pours at is a reflection of that commitment. Whether it’s a wedding in Buckhead, a corporate event in Midtown, a tailgate in the suburbs, or a community gathering in Southeast Atlanta — Christopher and Dr. Camille bring the same thing every time: good energy, exceptional service, and the genuine belief that the best moments in life happen when people gather together.

From the Classroom to the Tap Cart

What does a National Teacher Hall of Fame inductee and a creative businessman have in common with a mobile self-pour taproom?

More than you’d think.

Dr. Camille has spent her entire career creating environments where people feel welcomed, seen, and celebrated. Christopher has built his around showing up for others and making things happen. Taps Out ATL is the natural extension of both — a space (on wheels) where community, creativity, and good drinks collide.