BevNET is a beverage-oriented media company operating a Web site that reviews non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverages and provides comprehensive, up-to-the-minute information about the beverage industry. It also provides information to beverage retailers via Beverage Spectrum magazine, the only trade magazine in the country aimed directly at the beverage retailing business.
BevNET was founded by John Craven in 1996. Craven realized early on that the “Cola Wars” and the promotion of new beverages like ready-to-drink teas, energy drinks, and bottled water meant that there would be a need for clarification in the evolving beverage market, as well as a quality rating system for consumers and retailers alike.
Now, more than 2,000 reviews after BevNET.com first went live, it has grown to become an internationally-recognized resource for beverage industry professionals and consumers, supporting the Web site and Beverage Spectrum, as well as Internet beverage discussion sites and professional conferences.
BevNET is a privately-held company with offices in Cambridge, MA and Garden City, NY.
Recognized as an authority on the beverage industry, BevNET.com and its employees are often used as sources for media publications looking for industry information, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Detroit Free Press, CNBC and Wired Magazine.
The BevNET Team: Key Members
BevNET’s team is built around a group of entrepreneurial individuals with diverse backgrounds in the beverage industry, publishing, journalism, business, and information technology.
John Craven, Editor/President
As founder and President of BevNET, John Craven is a widely-recognized authority on the beverage industry. He serves as the Editor-in-chief of BevNET.com and the Editorial Director of Beverage Spectrum Magazine, overseeing their day-to-day operations. In addition, John is the founder of Prezza Technologies, a leading software developer that specializes in survey software and data collection applications. John is a graduate of Boston College with a BS in Marketing and Computer Science.
Email: craven@bevnet.com Tel: 617-715-9630
Jeffrey Klineman, Editor, Beverage Spectrum
Award-winning journalist Jeffrey Klineman has written for numerous publications, including Boston Magazine, Self, George, the Chronicle of Philanthropy and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. He is a contributing writer to Commonwealth and Razor magazines and worked previously as a courts and general assignment reporter for the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune. A graduate of Yale University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Jeffrey is also a partner in the Internet media company Snoutsinyourtown.com.
Email: jklineman@bevnet.com Tel: 617-715-9678
John McKenna, Publisher, BevNET.com; Associate Publisher Beverage Spectrum
John McKenna has written and consulted extensively in the area of foods and beverages. Before joining BevNET to write Energy Drinks 2003, John authored a report on Functional Foods and Beverages and worked as a reporter for FDC Reports covering dietary supplements. John is a graduate of Tufts University.
Email: mckenna@bevnet.com Tel: 617-715-9677
Barry Nathanson, Publisher, Beverage Spectrum
A 25-year publishing executive, Barry Nathanson has worked as publisher and group publisher in a myriad of markets including cosmetics and fragrance, consumer electronics, food and beverage marketing, non-foods merchandising and convenience store retailing. A graduate of Boston University, Barry has spent the last 13 years in the beverage retailing arena, and his experience has allowed him to serve as a resource to marketers, retailers and distributors, who recognize that his expertise and relationships, as well as his enthusiasm, lend him a unique perspective on their marketplace.
Email: bnathanson@bevspectrum.com Tel: 212-647-0501
Jack Craven, Chairman
Jack Craven is a senior publishing executive with an excellent track record of growing publishing operations. He recently worked with American Media, Inc. where he served as the Executive Vice President / Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining AMI, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Time Inc.’s Retail Marketing and Sales organization. He also served as Deputy Director of Strategic Planning at Time Inc. Mr. Craven’s experience also includes directing the world-wide operations of Jobson Publishing, where he served as Senior Vice President Operations and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Craven was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Lear’s and McCall’s publishing companies. He is the former Chairman of the New York State Society of CPAs Publishing & Printing Committee, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Craven has been licensed as a CPA since 1974.
Adam Stern, Production Manager
Email: astern@bevnet.com Tel: 617-715-9679
Matthew Kennedy, Art Director
Matt Kennedy is the Art Director at BevNET and is responsible for the look and design of all of our publications. A graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Communication at Syracuse University, Matt came to BevNET in 2005 after working for publications in the Philadelphia area.
Email: mkennedy@bevnet.com Tel: 617-715-9680
James Ford, Web Developer
James Ford is a software engineer specializing in web 2.0 application usability. His expertise is in delivering next-generation, data-driven, web-based solutions for businesses. James is a graduate of Tufts University.
Email: jford@checkbox.com Tel: 617-725-9644
Amadeu Tolentino, Senior Web/Graphic Designer
Amadeu Tolentino joined BevNET’s team as the senior web designer and new media guru. Tolentino previously freelanced his web/Graphics talents for web agencies including Roomates USA, the web’s number one free roommate locating service.
Email: atolentino@bevnet.com Tel: 617-715-9684
Matt Casey, Staff Writer
The editorial team doubled in size when BevNET hired Matt Casey – a former newspaper reporter, who also has experience writing for magazines and news radio. Casey most recently covered the National Park Service for a daily newspaper near Gettysburg, Pa.
Email: mcasey@bevnet.com Tel: 617 715 9686