BevNET Live Winter 2016

Dec 5 - 6, 2016
Santa Monica, CA
This is a past event. Replay all presentations and view upcoming events.

The Leading Conference Series for the U.S. Beverage Industry

BevNET Live is a two-day forum for beverage entrepreneurs, suppliers, distributors, retailers and investors to gather and exchange ideas through interactive panels, lectures, and networking.

Attendees can tap the expertise of investment professionals on ways to attract funding, successful brand owners about their inspiring stories, and the BevNET.com community, which has spent a decade dedicating itself to careful reporting on the fast-moving beverage industry. BevNET LIVE offers extensive and in-depth programming. More than just a conference, BevNET LIVE includes exclusive offerings, such as the BevNET LIVE Expo, The New Beverage Showdown, Sampling Bar, Beverage School, and more.

BevNET Live returns to the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, CA on December 5 & 6.

Learn More | Register Now

BevNET Live Winter 2016 Speakers

  • Lance Collins, Founder, Core Beverages, Body Armor, Fuze - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Lance Collins

    Founder, Core Beverages, Body Armor, Fuze

  • Lewis Goldstein, VP of Brand Marketing, Organic Valley - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Lewis Goldstein

    VP of Brand Marketing, Organic Valley

    Lewis Goldstein, VP of Brand Marketing, Organic Valley - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Lewis Goldstein

    VP of Brand Marketing, Organic Valley

    Lewis Goldstein came to CROPP Cooperative from the east coast in July 2011 and today serves as vice president of brand marketing for the Organic Valley and Organic Prairie brands, overseeing a team of more than 60 marketing professionals. A seasoned marketing communications professional in the consumer packaged goods sector, Goldstein previously served as vice president of marketing at Kiss My Face and held marketing roles at Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and The Boston Beer Company, brewer of Sam Adams beers. He serves on the boards of directors for the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) and Organic Voices/Just Label It.

  • Kevin Davis, Chairman & CEO, Bristol Farms - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Kevin Davis

    Chairman & CEO, Bristol Farms

    Kevin Davis, Chairman & CEO, Bristol Farms - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Kevin Davis

    Chairman & CEO, Bristol Farms

    Started in the food industry in 1970 as a box boy. Joined Ralphs in 1974 and worked all store level jobs through promotion to Store Manager in 1980. In 1985, was promoted to Assistant District Manager and in 1986, promoted to District Manager. In 1986, was promoted to Director of Sales and Advertising; in April of 1988, to Vice President of Sales and Advertising and in 1992, to Senior Vice President of Marketing. Responsibilities included sales, marketing, promotions, advertising, merchandising, pricing, public relations, marketing research & analysis, private label management and ethnic & specialty merchandising. Left Ralphs after 21 years to become Executive Vice President of Bristol Farms in May of 1996. Promoted by the Board of Directors to President in July of 1996. Promoted to Chairman of the Board, President and CEO on February 8, 1997.

  • Doug Evans, Founder & Chairman, Juicero - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Doug Evans

    Founder & Chairman, Juicero

  • Gerry David, President & CEO, CELSIUS - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Gerry David

    President & CEO, CELSIUS

    Gerry David, President & CEO, CELSIUS - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Gerry David

    President & CEO, CELSIUS

    Mr. David has 40+ years experience in business with a focus on start-up, turn around and fast growth. His first 20 years in business were in the “High Tech” industry with companies such as IBM, Honeywell, Datapoint and GTE. Mr. David started his first company, a systems integration firm, when he was 26 years old and grew it to offices in six states prior to selling the firm to a public company. The past 20 years Mr. David focused on the consumer product space holding several senior management positions in the manufacturing, direct selling and retail channel spanning 72 countries with such companies as HSN Direct, Vitarich Labs, Cyberwize, Oragenics and Life Science Technologies. Mr. David led the start-up or turnaround of seven companies during his career. Mr. David was named one of only 25 Gold Winners recognized globally in the prestigious 2016 CEO World Awards. David was selected as “The Leader” in the CEO of the Year category. He was recognized for his crucial role at the helm during the turn around of the rapidly-expanding brand.

  • Jody Levy, Co-Founder & Creative Director, WTRMLN WTR - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Jody Levy

    Co-Founder & Creative Director, WTRMLN WTR

    Jody Levy, Co-Founder & Creative Director, WTRMLN WTR - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Jody Levy

    Co-Founder & Creative Director, WTRMLN WTR

    Jody Levy is the Co-founder and Creative Director of World Waters | WTRMLN WTR a company and brand committed to redefining how and what we drink to nourish our bodies and sustain our ecosystem. World Waters first product WTRMLN WTR (watermelon water) was created out of a solve for the hundreds of millions of pounds of unused watermelons in the United States. These waste melons are either ugly, misshapen, sunburned but otherwise perfect to press nutrient-dense, hydrating WTRMLN WTR. WTRMLN WTR is a hot pink juicy drink that is packed with electrolytes, vitamins, lycopene, anti-oxidants, magnesium, iron, L-Cittruline and more. WTRMLN WTR consists of nothing but raw watermelon and a drop of organic lemon juice. No added water, and no added sugar. WTRMLN WTR is cold-pressed and never heated with no additives, no preservatives, absolutely nothing artificial! The mission of World Waters and WTRMLN WTR is to educate people about why clean healthy eating is so important for the health and sustainability of our communities. Jody Levy is also a director and executive producer and has been in the world of experience design since 2001. Jody has been creating unique events, interactive environments, brands, products, and multi-sensory installations that connect people in engaging ways. Her professional focus is all about the integration of art and technology. Jody is a creative director and executive producer and her work includes the design and production of live theatrical events, touring stages, hospitality environments, interactive installations, immersive brand activations, and non-traditional marketing and social campaigns. Clients include American Idol, Chrysler, The Coachella Music Festival, Ford Motor Company, Heineken, Hewlett Packard, Lexus, MAC Cosmetics, Mos Def, Museum Of Modern Art, The Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, Palm, Paramount Pictures, Project Runway, San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art, Scion, Shades Optical, Toyota, W Hotels and many other international brands. Jody is an entrepreneur, artist, designer, director, producer, educator and writer from the Detroit area who lives in New York City.

  • Courtney Reum, Co-Founder, M13 - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Courtney Reum

    Co-Founder, M13

    Courtney Reum, Co-Founder, M13 - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Courtney Reum

    Co-Founder, M13

    Courtney Reum is the co-founder of M13, a brand development and investment company accelerating businesses at the nexus of consumer products, technology, and media. Courtney and his brother Carter Reum are collaborators and brothers from Chicago, both launched their careers at Goldman Sachs. Leaving investment banking with an idea to create “a better way to drink,” the Reums built VEEV Spirit, a 70 proof vodka alternative, from that idea into one of the pioneering artisanal alcohol brands in the spirits industry, helping to popularize the açaí berry in the United States and into one of the fastest growing independent spirit brands in the country. Building on VEEV’s success, they launched VitaFrute™ Cocktails by VEEV®, the first line of certified organic ready-to- drink cocktails. While growing both brands, the brothers began investing in other companies providing first hand experience, guidance and capitalization to many emerging businesses. Early investments include Bonobos, Birchox, Warby Parker, Pinterest, Lyft, Krave Jerky, Kevita, and numerous others. In 2016, Carter and Courtney sold a majority stake of VEEV Spirits to a larger company allowing them to found M13 and focus on their entrepreneurial stewardship of consumer brands. Both Carter and Courtney have been profiled by several entrepreneurial groups such as the “30 Under 30” list, the INC “500 fastest growing private companies in America,” Richard Branson’s best-selling book “Screw Business as Usual” and most recently the Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators 100 “Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs” of 2014 & again in 2015. They are also currently featured in the first year curriculum at Harvard Business School through the case study, “VEEV on the Rocks.” Courtney holds a B.A. with distinction from Columbia University in New York and is an alumni of Harvard Business School. Courtney is also an active member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) internationally and locally in Los Angeles through the Bel-Air Chapter. Courtney served as one of the Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Commissioners for the Los Angeles Convention Center & Tourism Authority and is philanthropically involved as a Board Member of the LA Opera and City Year organization helping underserved schools.

  • Orion Melehan, Co-Founder & CEO, LifeAID Beverage Co. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Orion Melehan

    Co-Founder & CEO, LifeAID Beverage Co.

    Orion Melehan, Co-Founder & CEO, LifeAID Beverage Co. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Orion Melehan

    Co-Founder & CEO, LifeAID Beverage Co.

    Orion Melehan is the co-founder and CEO of LifeAID Beverage Company, a fast-growing producer of functional beverages. A beverage outsider with a big idea, Orion borrowed $30,000 from his 401(k) to fund LifeAID with his friend and co-founder Dr. Aaron Hinde in 2011 - while the economy was still in crisis. In the five short years since, the growth of LifeAID has been explosive. Their products are now sold in hundreds of golf courses and thousands of Crossfit gyms in the U.S. and throughout the world. They have 300,000+ engaged social media followers, and have been featured in the Wall Street Journal. Today LifeAID is worth tens of millions of dollars and was just ranked in the Inc 500 fastest growing companies in America. Ask Orion and he’ll tell you their growth is just getting underway. This was all accomplished by first nailing their concept, product and branding and then creating hundreds of thousands of raving fans and selling millions of cans before ever hitting a conventional retail shelf. Orion and his family live in Santa Cruz, CA where he was also born and raised. He believes that the Santa Cruz free thinking lifestyle and wealth of outdoor recreational activities played a big part in the LifeAID concept. Orion graduated from UC Santa Barbara and prior to launching LifeAID had his own practice as a Certified Financial Planner. In his personal time he enjoys Djing, traveling, personal development, CrossFit, golf and is a regular attendee at Burning Man – all activities that are enhanced by the products he sells.

  • Aaron Hinde, Co-Founder & President, LifeAID Beverage Co. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Aaron Hinde

    Co-Founder & President, LifeAID Beverage Co.

    Aaron Hinde, Co-Founder & President, LifeAID Beverage Co. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Aaron Hinde

    Co-Founder & President, LifeAID Beverage Co.

    In 2011, Dr. Aaron Hinde left his lucrative $350k a year sports chiropractic practice to push the chips “all in” with business partner and fellow Santa Cruz native Orion Melehan to enter an industry with a failure rate of 99%...the beverage industry. With zero beverage experience and high hopes of creating the next Billion dollar beverage brand, he moved his family off the grid…literally. With two kids he downsized his life to live in a 400 sq. foot home with no power and no income. Obsessed with producing high quality, efficacious, and niche functional supplement drinks to replace the high sugar, high caffeine and artificially laden energy and “sports” drinks, LifeAID garnered tremendous traction with CrossFitters and Spartan Racers concerned about clean recovery with their FitAID sku. Today, the entire LifeAID line of FitAID, FocusAID, PartyAID, TravelAID, GolferAID and FitAID Fuel continue to dominate niche markets as well as garnering significant traction in conventional channels. LifeAID products are currently sold in over 7,000 accounts, have 300,000+ active engaged followers on social media, and was recently ranked in the Inc 500 fastest growing companies in the US. Aaron obtained his BA in Economics from Saint Vincent College with a minor in international business and his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic. He practiced in Santa Cruz, CA for 10 years. In 2008, Aaron was elected to serve as a trustee on the Santa Cruz County Board of Education. He was re-elected in 2010. He has since sold his practice and given up politics to focus on making LifeAID a household name. Aaron is married to his beautiful wife Ramah of 13 years and has two children, 12 y.o. Trinity and 10 y.o. Bronson who are the company’s biggest advocates.

  • John Haugen, VP/General Manager, 301 INC/General Mills - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    John Haugen

    VP/General Manager, 301 INC/General Mills

    John Haugen, VP/General Manager, 301 INC/General Mills - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    John Haugen

    VP/General Manager, 301 INC/General Mills

    John Haugen has always been drawn to growth and innovation during his 25 year tenure at General Mills. He joined the company in 1990 in Marketing, and has held numerous positions in marketing, general management, talent acquisition and strategy throughout his career. In 2012, he created 301 INC, a new business development unit within the company focused on creating and incubating new businesses and growth capabilities for the company. 301 INC is focused on partnering with emerging food brands by proactively engaging and making direct equity investments in them. As the leader of 301 INC, John is always interested in seeing the possibilities and becoming and indispensable partner. He has built a team focused on looking for great, new business opportunities – ones that when the passion, skill and agility of the entrepreneur are combined with the capabilities of General Mills are sure to create breakthrough innovation and positive change. Haugen has an undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College; in 2011, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award. He received his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. John lives with his family in Minneapolis. He has a passion for fitness and endurance sports.

  • Dr. Neil Renninger, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Dr. Neil Renninger

    Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple

    Dr. Neil Renninger, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Dr. Neil Renninger

    Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple

    Dr. Neil Renninger co-founded Ripple Foods to disrupt an industry that is one of the most significant emitters of greenhouse gases and water utilizers in the world. Before that, he was a member of the infamous MIT Blackjack Team – counting cards at casinos worldwide. Take Neil with you on your next trip to Vegas. In between playing blackjack and founding Ripple, he co-founded Amyris, Inc., a renewable products company. Neil was Chief Technical Officer and a member of the Board of Directors from its founding through its IPO. At Amyris, Neil led efforts to develop a production process for an anti-malarial compound that is now used to make more than 100 million treatments annually. He then focused on climate change, developing processes for converting plant sugars into things like jet fuel. With Neil at the helm, Amyris was recognized as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, while Neil was named one of the world’s top innovators under 35 by Technology Review Magazine. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, adding up to a full decade of higher education.

  • Adam Lowry, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Adam Lowry

    Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple

    Adam Lowry, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Adam Lowry

    Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Ripple

    Adam Lowry co-founded Ripple Foods after years of experience creating businesses that benefit the environment and society. Ripple's Adam Lowry is not the Canadian hockey player Adam Lowry, but he does lead a team of trailblazers who are accelerating the future of the plant-based lifestyle through products that transform the dairy-alternative market. Before founding Ripple, Adam made his name fighting dirt as Co-Founder and Chief Greenskeeper of Method Products. At Method, he brought sustainable innovation to their product lines, design, sourcing, production, and marketing. Prior to changing the way you clean your home, Adam was a climate scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, where he developed software products to help us better understand climate change. For all these efforts, Adam has been honored as one of Fortune’s “40 Under 40,” and received the Clinton Global Initiative’s Global Citizen Award in 2013. He is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and an Aspen Institute Catto Environmental Fellow. When he’s not serving Ripple, Adam serves on the boards of AeroFarms, LLC, an urban agriculture company currently building the world’s largest vertical farm, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. He is the author of two books, including The method Method: Seven Obsessions that Helped Our Scrappy Start-up Turn an Industry Upside Down. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. Go Trees!

  • Melissa Baker, CEO & Founding Partner, Fenwick Brands - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Melissa Baker

    CEO & Founding Partner, Fenwick Brands

    Melissa Baker, CEO & Founding Partner, Fenwick Brands - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Melissa Baker

    CEO & Founding Partner, Fenwick Brands

    Melissa Baker is CEO and Founding Partner of Fenwick Brands, a consumer focused equity investor headquartered in Birmingham, AL. Fenwick differentiates themselves as a team of experienced operators who provide expertise equity to emerging brands across diverse categories. Fenwick partners are hands-on with their investments, leveraging over 100 years of combined operating and management experience in the consumer packaged goods industry. At Fenwick, Melissa currently serves as the President of Moore’s Marinade & Wing Sauces and sits on the Board of Directors for their current investments in Powell & Mahoney and The Jackfruit Company. Prior to Fenwick, Melissa has a tenured career in consumer packaged goods as a serial operator and has held leadership roles within entrepreneurial start-ups, private-equity backed and publically-traded businesses. Irrespective of business size or market position, Melissa shepherded the growth of those brands, leading them to successful exits.

  • Neil Kimberley, VP Strategy and Brand Development, Essentia Water - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Neil Kimberley

    VP Strategy and Brand Development, Essentia Water

    Neil Kimberley, VP Strategy and Brand Development, Essentia Water - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Neil Kimberley

    VP Strategy and Brand Development, Essentia Water

    Creative, dynamic and passionate leader in the beverage and food category. Best known as one of the leaders that turned around Snapple after its decline under Quaker, Neil is an acknowledged expert in the development of new beverages, writing for Bevnet and speaking at industry events. In 2013 Neil became VP of Strategy and Market Development for the fast growing Essentia Water, but still is an advisor to Runa and with Accel Foods.

  • Danny Stepper, Co-Founder & CEO, L.A. Libations - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Danny Stepper

    Co-Founder & CEO, L.A. Libations

  • Rifle Hughes, Managing Director, McLean Design - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Rifle Hughes

    Managing Director, McLean Design

  • Derek M. Dodge, Senior Sales Executive, Dr Pepper Snapple Group - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Derek M. Dodge

    Senior Sales Executive, Dr Pepper Snapple Group

    Derek M. Dodge, Senior Sales Executive, Dr Pepper Snapple Group - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Derek M. Dodge

    Senior Sales Executive, Dr Pepper Snapple Group

    Accomplished senior executive with broad general management, sales and marketing leadership within a highly competitive beverage and snack company. Consistently demonstrated a track record of achievement leading large and complex businesses to exceed profit targets, revenue growth, market share and organization goals. He built winning sales teams led through consumer insights, customer centric planning, accountability and team-approach. Derek, formerly the Senior Vice President National Accounts at Dr Pepper Snapple Group for six and half years. Directly accountable for $4.0B retail dollar sales across national customers Walmart/Sam’s Club, Kroger, Target, Albertsons, Costco, national convenience, dollar and drug store chains, as well managed services and transportation businesses. Over past two years, double sales revenue of there emerging brands to $258MM (Bai, Fiji, Body Armor, CORE and Vita Coco). He previously held the role of Vice President Walmart/Sam’s Club business for nine years, leading cross-functional team to achieve record results and awards. Derek joined Dr Pepper Snapple Group in 1990 and has held numerous positions including: Director of Sales Training, Division Sales Manager, National Vending Sales Manager (Cadbury Limited, Bournville, England), Regional Sales Manager and District Sales Manager. Derek began his career working for Brown-Forman Company for 5 years. Derek has a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from Willamette University, Salem OR. He currently lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Kim and three children.

  • Ryan Greene, Vice President, KarpReilly - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Ryan Greene

    Vice President, KarpReilly

    Ryan Greene, Vice President, KarpReilly - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Ryan Greene

    Vice President, KarpReilly

    Ryan Greene is a Vice President at KarpReilly. Prior to joining KarpReilly as an Associate in 2011, Ryan was an investment banking analyst in the Real Estate, Gaming and Lodging group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. There he worked on a variety of M&A and equity transactions across the sector. At KarpReilly, Ryan is responsible for a variety of portfolio companies in the Consumer & Retail space, including beverage company LifeAID, restaurants Eureka! and Patxi’s Pizza, retailers EbLens and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, and apparel companies Linksoul and Mack Weldon. Ryan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Management and a B.A.S. in Computer Science.

  • Drew Skolnik, Analyst, KarpReilly - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Drew Skolnik

    Analyst, KarpReilly

    Drew Skolnik, Analyst, KarpReilly - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Drew Skolnik

    Analyst, KarpReilly

    Drew Skolnik is an Associate at KarpReilly. Prior to joining KarpReilly in 2014, Drew was an investment banking analyst in the Consumer & Retail group at Evercore. There he worked on a variety of M&A and equity transactions across the consumer sector. At KarpReilly, Drew is responsible for a variety of portfolio companies in the Consumer & Retail space, including beverage companies LifeAID and Zola, restaurants Habit Burger Grill, Cafe Rio, Cafe Zupas, and Eureka!, and apparel company RAEN. Drew graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics with a concentration in Finance.

  • Arif Fazal, Founder & Managing Director, Blueberry Ventures - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Arif Fazal

    Founder & Managing Director, Blueberry Ventures

  • Pete Grego, Director, Contract Manufacturing, Nor-Cal Beverage Company - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Pete Grego

    Director, Contract Manufacturing, Nor-Cal Beverage Company

  • Matthew Mitchell, VP of Portfolio Strategy and Ventures, The Coca-Cola Co. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Matthew Mitchell

    VP of Portfolio Strategy and Ventures, The Coca-Cola Co.

    Matthew Mitchell, VP of Portfolio Strategy and Ventures, The Coca-Cola Co. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Matthew Mitchell

    VP of Portfolio Strategy and Ventures, The Coca-Cola Co.

    Matthew Mitchell is the Vice President of Ventures and Strategy for Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) in the Coca-Cola North America business unit. Since 2007, he has been responsible for building strategies that help to identify and create the next portfolio of $1 billion brands for the Company. Specifically, he identifies external businesses/brands that are positioned against emerging consumer trends, determines long term value to The Coca-Cola Company from these brands, and designs and implements partnerships that will deliver this value over time. Matthew has worked on investments in Zico Coconut Water, Honest Tea, Suja juice, Bossa Nova, and Core Power/fairlife Farms during his time in VEB. He also represents Coca-Cola’s engagement on the board of LA Libations and the investment committee of First Beverage Ventures. Matthew has been with the Coca-Cola Company for 20 years in various finance, R&D, and strategy roles both in the United States and internationally. Prior to joining the company, he was an investment banker trading foreign exchange options in Tokyo, Japan. He is a graduate of Duke University and the

  • Vanessa Walker, EVP Sales & Marketing, CELSIUS - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Vanessa Walker

    EVP Sales & Marketing, CELSIUS

  • Richard Medina, Co-Founder, Los Angeles Distributing Company - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Richard Medina

    Co-Founder, Los Angeles Distributing Company

  • Janie Hoffman, Founder/CEO, Mamma Chia - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Janie Hoffman

    Founder/CEO, Mamma Chia

  • Kathryn Peters, EVP, SPINS - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Kathryn Peters

    EVP, SPINS

  • Brian Reed, Principal, Market Structure, IRI - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Brian Reed

    Principal, Market Structure, IRI

  • John Craven, CEO & Founder, BevNET - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    John Craven

    CEO & Founder, BevNET

  • Jeffrey Klineman, Editor-in-Chief, BevNET - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Jeffrey Klineman

    Editor-in-Chief, BevNET

  • Nick Giannuzzi, Managing Partner, The Giannuzzi Group, LLP - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Nick Giannuzzi

    Managing Partner, The Giannuzzi Group, LLP

    Nick Giannuzzi, Managing Partner, The Giannuzzi Group, LLP - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Nick Giannuzzi

    Managing Partner, The Giannuzzi Group, LLP

    From Harvard University to New York University School of Law to a chic business residence in the Meatpacking District of NYC, Nicholas Giannuzzi is a partner and founder of The Giannuzzi Group, LLP. Started in 2011, the “Giannuzzi Group” has since become the leading law firm for nearly 500 high-growth consumer brand companies in the natural, better for you food and beverage industry. Among the firm's many clients – both present and historic – are some of the industry’s most successful and fastest growing companies such as Glaceau (creator of VitaminWater and SmartWater), Pirate’s Booty, Pretzel Crisps, Vita Coco, Siggi’s, WTRMLN WTR, Mamma Chia, Sir Kensington’s, Hint, Califia Farms, Krave, HappyBaby, Chameleon Cold Brew, Essentia, Rhythm Superfoods, Peeled, Runa, Oatmega, Sugarfina, Juice Press and many more. In addition to day-to-day legal services, advice and guidance the Giannuzzi Group has assisted its clients in over 500 financing transaction and in nearly 50 exits to strategics and PE funds, including but not limited to sales to Coke, Pepsi, General Mills, Group Danone, Hersheys, Hain Celestial, Amplify, Bacardi, White Wave and many other multi-national companies and some of the largest PE funds. In the last year, the firm has overseen the sale of KRAVE Jerky to The Hershey Company, the partial sale of Suja Juice to The Coca-Cola Company, the acquisition of Wallaby Yogurt by WhiteWave Foods, the sale of YummyEarth to the Riverside Company and the firm is currently working on multiple sales transactions in the 100s of millions of dollars for its other food and beverage clients. The Giannuzzi Group has an un-paralleled understanding of the industry and works tirelessly to serve its clients and to create positive relationships with all of the investors, co-packers, distributors, brokers, acquirers, service providers and difference makers throughout the industry so that we can shares these relationships with our clients.

  • Brad Barnhorn, Partner, Barnhorn Growth Advisors - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Brad Barnhorn

    Partner, Barnhorn Growth Advisors

    Brad Barnhorn, Partner, Barnhorn Growth Advisors - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Brad Barnhorn

    Partner, Barnhorn Growth Advisors

    Brad is deeply involved with leading growth stage companies and investors at the intersection of the consumer products and private equity/financing communities as a Board Member and Advisor to both operating companies and institutional investors. His career path as an entrepreneur, CEO, board member, and investor has cut across all critical strategic and operational dimensions of growth stage consumer company-building. Mr. Barnhorn currently serves on the Board of Directors for KeVita, Chameleon Cold Brew, Zola, Rhythm Superfoods, Health Warrior, Biena Foods, Glukos and Fishpeople -- and previously served on the Board of Krave Jerky through to its sale to Hersheys.

  • Mike Burgmaier, Managing Director, Whipstitch Capital - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Mike Burgmaier

    Managing Director, Whipstitch Capital

  • Alex Matthews, CEO, Juice Served Here - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Alex Matthews

    CEO, Juice Served Here

  • Sharelle Klaus, CEO & Founder, DRY Soda Co. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Sharelle Klaus

    CEO & Founder, DRY Soda Co.

  • Justin Prochnow, Partner, Greenberg Traurig, LLP - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Justin Prochnow

    Partner, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

    Justin Prochnow, Partner, Greenberg Traurig, LLP - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Justin Prochnow

    Partner, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

    Justin is an attorney and shareholder in the Denver office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig. His practice focuses on representing companies in the beverage, food, and dietary supplement and providing assistance on regulatory and legal issues. He reviews labels and packaging, websites and other promotional and advertising materials to ensure that the labels are technically compliant and appropriate claims are being made. He assists many companies with responses to FDA actions like warning letters, inspections and recalls, as well as FTC investigations. He also prepares and reviews industry contracts such as supplier and manufacturing agreements. And lately, he has been defending companies in class action lawsuits over labeling claims like "all natural" filed in California and other states.

  • Noah Hagey, Managing Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Noah Hagey

    Managing Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP

    Noah Hagey, Managing Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Noah Hagey

    Managing Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP

    Noah is co-founder and managing partner of BraunHagey & Borden LLP, a leading litigation boutique protecting businesses, investors and entrepreneurs in high-stakes legal disputes in California, New York and around the country. As lead trial counsel, Noah has litigated complex class actions, trade secrets, antitrust, intellectual property, unfair competition, employment, M&A, founders’ disputes, investment litigation and contested bankruptcy matters. Noah’s clients include publicly traded companies, tech start-ups, private equity funds, hedge funds, small businesses, entrepreneurs, executives and non-profits. A litigator for almost 15 years, Noah has successfully prosecuted and defended dozens of bet-the-company cases. Under Noah’s leadership, BraunHagey & Borden has successfully dismissed and resolved over 40 class actions without a single class ever certified against a client. In the last two years, he has led client victories in excess of $2 billion in California, New York and Delaware. His hedge fund fraud victory in Delaware Chancery Court in 2012 was one of the 100 largest trial verdicts in the country that year. Noah’s decisions have been featured in various industry and legal publications, including WSJ, Reuters, National Law Journal, Law360, HedgeFundNet, Futures, CFO and The Recorder. He also has been featured on Bloomberg television and other news organizations regarding regulatory and litigation issues.

  • Chris Fenster, CEO, Propeller, Inc. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Chris Fenster

    CEO, Propeller, Inc.

    Chris Fenster, CEO, Propeller, Inc. - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Chris Fenster

    CEO, Propeller, Inc.

    Chris Fenster is the Founder and CEO of Propeller Industries, which launched a technology-enabled, outsourced CFO and accounting service for early-stage companies in 2008. By September 2016, Propeller was serving 165 companies, which had collectively raised over $1.3B in equity capital and were spending over $800M per year. The company has full-time staff in San Francisco, Santa Monica, Austin, Sun Valley, NYC, Bangalore and Manila. Although Propeller has taken clients from seed stage through exit and from $0 to over $100M per year in revenue, the company specializes in funded consumer products, food & beverage and technology firms with annual revenue between $2M and $20M. Current and former CPG clients include Krave Jerky, Sir Kensington’s, Good Culture and Kite Hill Foods. Consumer and tech clients include Casper, Giphy, TheSkimm and Modern Meadow. Prior to Propeller, Chris built and sold two companies in the cycling industry and served in various CFO and operations roles for companies in consumer goods, e-commerce and food & beverage. He was also Director of Finance at Tsunami Fund/Tides Center, a financial back-office provider for non-profits. Chris studied Economics and Political Science at Colgate University. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and their two young sons.

  • Jim Tonkin, President and Founder, Healthy Brand Builders - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Jim Tonkin

    President and Founder, Healthy Brand Builders

  • Ryan Kaiser, Partner, Amin Talati & Upadhye, LLC - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Ryan Kaiser

    Partner, Amin Talati & Upadhye, LLC

    Ryan Kaiser, Partner, Amin Talati & Upadhye, LLC - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Ryan Kaiser

    Partner, Amin Talati & Upadhye, LLC

    Ryan Kaiser is Chair of the firm’s Class Action and Business Litigation team, representing clients in a wide range of matters including class action, breach of contract, government investigation, trademark, trade secret and related intellectual property disputes. He combines sharp business acumen with over a decade of experience in intellectual property and commercial litigation to achieve exceptional results for clients in the food, beverage and consumer products industries. His clients value his innovative strategies which both defend against legal challenges while at the same time advancing their overall business objectives. Ryan has also developed a strong focus in the area of food and beverage class action defense. With the rise of GMOs, natural foods and nutritional supplements, companies in these industries are increasingly subject to claims of deceptive advertising centering on label and advertising content, or otherwise challenging stated health benefits. As class actions in the food and beverage industry have increased, Ryan has leveraged his strong background in commercial disputes to develop a niche practice defending against food and beverage class actions in state and federal court. Ryan also represents clients in disputes common to the food, beverage, supplement, drug and cosmetic industries involving deceptive or misleading labeling, adulteration and false advertising investigations brought by the FDA, FTC and state attorneys general, and deceptive trade practice and unfair competition claims brought under Section 43(a) of the federal Lanham Act, California’s B&P § 17200–17500 and Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

  • Kyle O’Brien, EVP of Sales, La Colombe - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Kyle O’Brien

    EVP of Sales, La Colombe

    Kyle O’Brien, EVP of Sales, La Colombe - BevNET Live Winter 2016

    Kyle O’Brien

    EVP of Sales, La Colombe

    Kyle O’Brien led the global sales initiatives for Chobani Global Holdings, Inc., and was involved in all core aspects of business development for the company and its family of brands: Chobani Greek Yogurt — America’s #1 selling yogurt brand. Kyle is currently the EVP of Sales at La Colombe and intends on growing the La Colombe brand throughout the world!

Video Introduction to BevNET Live

To get a sense of what BevNET Live is like, view this video roundup of our most recent event, BevNET Live Winter 2015.

 

View Past Conference Footage

Latest News

New Beverage Showdown 12: Meet the Players

BevNET Live Winter 2016 is just around the corner, and it’s time to reveal the semifinalists and judges in the twelfth installment of the conference’s signature competition, the New Beverage Showdown.

Monday Night After Party at BevNET Live

On Monday night registered BevNET Live attendees are invited to join us on the rooftop at The Platform L.A. in Culver City for a reception powered by our friends at BevForce.

BevNET Live is One Week Away; Only 15 Tickets Remain!

Only 15 tickets remain for BevNET Live, the premier business and networking conference for the non-alcoholic beverage industry. All past BevNET Live conferences have SOLD OUT, and now is the last chance to reserve your seat.

Bonus Speakers for BevNET Live: Bristol Farms CEO, More

Here’s an extra course of conference hype for you to enjoy with your Thanksgiving meal: we’ve added a couple of surprise speakers to the final agenda for BevNET Live.