Bevnet

Beverage School Presentations + Networking

Beverage School: Entrepreneur Interview 1

• Dawn Patton

  , Founder & CEO, Try My T

  

  Dawn Patton

  Founder & CEO, Try My T

  Dawn Harris- Patton is a native of Los Angeles, California. She is a graduate from the University Southern California with a BA in Broadcast Journalism, and a graduate of the prestigious Management Development for Entrepreneurs program from the UCLA Anderson School of Business. Dawn spent 12 years early on as an on-air television and radio news reporter specializing in investigative reporting in top 50 markets around the United States before evolving into a career as a marketing consultant and entrepreneur. Dawn is currently the founder and CEO of Try MY T, LLC, ( TMT) a beverage manufacturer of premium ready to drink iced teas. "MY T" as customers affectionately call the brand, is known for being super refreshing, clean and smooth with no aftertaste, and low caffeine. Try MY T is currently sold in natural channels in retail, foodservice and club. Currently TMT is sold in over 500 independents and natural retail such as Sprouts Farmers Markets, Whole Foods and soon to be launching into Costco.

• Dawn Patton, Founder & CEO, Try My T

Beverage School: Route to Market - Getting Your Product on the Shelf

• Bill Sipper

  , Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands

  

  Bill Sipper

  Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands

  Bill Sipper is the Managing Partner of Cascadia Managing Brands, a leading brand management and consulting firm with over 30 years of expertise in the food and beverage industry. Bill has held pivotal executive roles—VP Sales, VP Marketing, VP Operations, and VP Production—at iconic brands like Evian, Nantucket Nectars, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla, and Naked Juice. Through Cascadia, he has driven the success of leading brands, including Lindt, Droste, Liquid Death, Hint Water, C2O Coconut Water, Zico Coconut Water, Dirty Potato Chips, Steaz, Bruce Cost, Franklin & Sons, Poshi, Too Good Gourmet, and 310 Nutrition. Bill’s consulting clients span major corporations, including Coca-Cola, Deloitte, InBev, Bain, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, along with foreign governments aiming to expand their product exports into the U.S. market. A recognized industry thought leader, Bill recently published Flavors and Fortunes: Navigating the Food and Beverage World, a comprehensive guide with essential insights for both emerging and established brands.

• Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands

Beverage School: Design and Branding

• Kelly Criswell

  , Founder, Mudge

  

  Kelly Criswell

  Founder, Mudge

  Kelly Criswell is the founder of Mudge, a branding agency specializing in innovative food, beverage, and wellness brands. With over 20 years in CPG brand development and packaging design (we stopped counting after 20), Kelly has helped brands from global powerhouses like Nestlé and Red Bull to emerging challengers connect with their perfect consumer. She’s known for weaving compelling brand stories and creating disruptive packaging that stands out in crowded markets. In her free time, you can find her snapping pics in grocery aisles, obsessing over the latest trends in food and bev, and sampling every single new brand she finds–for science. Ask her husband about their “Erewhon budget."

• Kelly Criswell, Founder, Mudge

Beverage School: Don’t Lose Your IP

• Amanda Roach

  , Partner, UB Greensfelder, LLP

  

  Amanda Roach

  Partner, UB Greensfelder, LLP

  Amanda strategically advises clients in a variety of intellectual property matters including brand selection, portfolio strategy, trademark application prosecution, brand enforcement and defense, due diligence, anti-counterfeiting measures, and trademark maintenance. She has extensive experience in working on the trademark lifecycle with companies in more than 140 countries. Amanda has a reputation for building strong relationships with clients and using creative thinking to achieve their business goals. She recognizes how the needs of a Fortune 100 company are different from a start-up or non-profit and tailors her counsel to reflect appropriate strategies for each. During her career, Amanda has had the opportunity to work with clients in a variety of industries including food, beverage, dietary supplements, cosmetics, personal care, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, water reclamation, oil and gas, household goods and fixtures, employment, and entertainment. Amanda previously worked as an IP attorney at other Chicago-based law firms. In her most recent role before joining UB Greensfelder, she served as head of trademark prosecution.

• Amanda Roach, Partner, UB Greensfelder, LLP

Networking Break

Beverage School: Entrepreneur Interview 2

• Kayla Castaneda

  , Founder & CEO, Agua Bonita

• Kayla Castaneda, Founder & CEO, Agua Bonita

Beverage School: Angel and Venture Financing for CPG Companies

• Jeremy Halpern

  , Partner; Co-Lead, Food and Beverage Group, Nutter

  

  Jeremy Halpern

  Partner; Co-Lead, Food and Beverage Group, Nutter

  Jeremy Halpern is a Partner at Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP and the Co-Chair of its Emerging Companies Group and its Food and Beverage Practice Group. Jeremy’s practice focuses on emerging and mature operating companies, private equity, venture capital and angel financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, executive and team compensation matters, and general support for high growth and privately held companies in technology, life sciences, and consumer products.

• Jeremy Halpern, Partner; Co-Lead, Food and Beverage Group, Nutter

Beverage School: Debt Financing 101

• Zach Martin

  , Managing Director, Head of Originations and Capital Markets, Assembled Brands

  

  Zach Martin

  Managing Director, Head of Originations and Capital Markets, Assembled Brands

  Zach has been a CPG lender for the last 20 years, focusing on emerging brands in within the CPG ecosystem. He has been on both sides, as a lender and investor, as well as operations. Throughout his career, Zach has helped finance some of the top beverage brands in the US.

• Zach Martin, Managing Director, Head of Originations and Capital Markets, Assembled Brands

Beverage School: Expert Round Tables

RTD Spirits Track

Challenges for RTD Startups

• Gustavo Aguirre

  , VP of Brand Innovation, InvestBev

  

  Gustavo Aguirre

  VP of Brand Innovation, InvestBev

  Gustavo Aguirre oversees the InvestBev brand acceleration program and consulting services. As a VP of Brand Innovation, he partners with early-stage founders to help them refine their marketing, product, and commercialization strategies. Gustavo has over 15 years of experience developing global advertising campaigns and go-to-market strategies for leading brands including Molson Coors, Anheuser Busch, Heineken, Pepsi, and Keurig. He spearheaded the product innovation program at Molson Coors and played a pivotal role in connecting Coors Light with the US Hispanic market, driving 8-figure incremental growth for the business. ? Gustavo’s work has been recognized by leading marketing organizations who awarded his work Most Effective Multicultural Campaign and the Top Sport Marketer Campaign. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

• Maria Pearman

  , Advisory Partner, GHJ

  

  Maria Pearman

  Advisory Partner, GHJ

  Maria Pearman, CPA, CGMA, is GHJ’s Food and Beverage Practice Leader. She has more than 15 years of public accounting experience providing accounting and advisory services to clients. Maria is an expert in the beverage and alcohol industry specializing in internal accounting processes, financial reviews, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, financial strategy and succession planning. Prior to joining GHJ in 2021, Maria built a national practice focused on beverage alcohol clients. She helped clients to improve financial results and maximize efficiency of operations and guided them through ownership transitions. Published by the Brewers Association in 2019, Maria wrote a top-rated book, Small Brewery Finance, to help small businesses run more successful breweries. In 2021, the American Distillers Institute released her second book, Distillery Finance. Maria is also a featured speaker and author on topics in the beverage space, specifically related to craft breweries. She has taught courses at the Business of Craft Beer program at the University of Vermont and Portland State University, as well as the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Academy.

• Dale LaFlam

  , Founder, 5:30 Somewhere

  

  Dale LaFlam

  Founder, 5:30 Somewhere

  Dale LaFlam is a seasoned consultant with over 30 years of experience in the retail and CPG industries. He has held key operational roles with top-tier retailers like The Gap, Limited Corp, Armani Exchange, and Quiksilver Retail Inc., where he was instrumental in expanding Quiksilver’s North American presence from six to over 140 locations. Transitioning into consulting, Dale has worked with some of the largest companies in the world, including Walmart, where he trained their merchants on developing effective category strategies. Now primarily focused on startup brands, Dale provides expert guidance in crafting comprehensive business plans, executing growth strategies, and navigating fundraising efforts. He also serves as a board advisor to several emerging beverage brands, offering strategic direction and industry insights to drive their success. As the co-founder of Curation Bev Co, a successful RTD alcohol brand that ranks as the 3rd best-selling in its accounts within Colorado, Dale leverages his extensive experience and passion for the beverage industry to help new brands scale and secure investment.

• Gustavo Aguirre, VP of Brand Innovation, InvestBev
• Maria Pearman, Advisory Partner, GHJ
• Dale LaFlam, Founder, 5:30 Somewhere

RTD at Scale - Strategy and Tactics

• Adam Kost

  , Founder & CEO, Dirty Shirley

  

  Adam Kost

  Founder & CEO, Dirty Shirley

  Adam Kost is a visionary marketing and sales executive with a strong track record of building and scaling brands across the beverage industry. As the Founder and CEO of Goodwell Brands and Dirty Shirley, Adam has demonstrated his ability to drive growth and innovation, particularly in the startup and Fortune 500 space. His expertise spans from spearheading marketing strategies to boosting revenues through consumer insights, cross-functional leadership, and operational efficiency. Adam’s career includes leadership roles across several prominent companies in the beverage industry. He was Vice President of Marketing at Waterloo Sparkling Water, leading to a successful exit and Milestone Brands, guiding brand strategy and growth initiatives. At ZX Ventures, a division of AB InBev, he led global eCommerce sourcing and operations across multiple markets. Earlier in his career, Adam held various marketing and sales positions with Heineken and Pernod Ricard, managing brand and trade marketing efforts for iconic beverage portfolios. Adam’s educational background includes an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin with a focus on Finance and Marketing, and a Bachelor’s and Associate’s degree from Johnson & Wales University in Hospitality and Restaurant Management. With a passion for both marketing strategy and product innovation, Adam has consistently driven brands to new heights, leveraging his skills in digital marketing, team leadership, and consumer trend analysis to create lasting impact in the beverage industry.

• Cassie Finley

  , VP of Customer Development, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

  

  Cassie Finley

  VP of Customer Development, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

  With over 15 years of experience in the beverage industry, Cassie Finley currently serves as the Vice President of Customer Development at Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits. Cassie's extensive background in category management includes the last two years with the largest ocean-to-ocean distributor in the world, as well as significant buying experience at leading retailers, including 4 years with the largest grocer, Kroger, and two years in natural channel with Whole Foods Market. Her career began with a 15-year tenure at Walmart, where she honed her skills in buying, category management and vendor relationships. Cassie is passionate about connecting people with products that enhance their experiences, and she thrives on developing innovative strategies that drive growth and customer satisfaction. Her commitment to excellence and her deep understanding of the beverage market from both the retailer and distributor lens gives her unique perspective on how to win with the customer.

• Forrest Dein

  , Co-Founder & CMO, Juneshine

  

  Forrest Dein

  Co-Founder & CMO, Juneshine

  Forrest is an entrepreneur, professional marketer and content creator with a background in cinematography in the action sports and music industries. Before co-founding JuneShine, Forrest grew up on Maui, Hawaii and was a contributing cinematographer on a Best Documentary Film at the annual Surfer Awards, and a content creator for Top Dog Entertainment’s Isaiah Rashad. In 2020 he was named to the Forbes 30 under 30: Food & Drink list just 2 years after he started brewing hard kombucha in his garage in San Diego. Today, Forrest is the CMO at JuneShine Brands, a next generation beverage brand platform with over 90,000 points of distribution across its portfolio spanning hard kombucha, domestic premium lager, FMBs, and RTDs.

• Adam Kost, Founder & CEO, Dirty Shirley
• Cassie Finley, VP of Customer Development, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
• Forrest Dein, Co-Founder & CMO, Juneshine

Sampling of Cocktail Showdown Products & Networking

BevNET Live Cocktail Showdown

Investor Profile: Goat Rodeo

• Carlton Fowler

  , Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Goat Rodeo Capital

• Carlton Fowler, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Goat Rodeo Capital

BevNET Cocktail Showdown Winner Announcement

BevNET Live Welcome Reception

Registration & Breakfast

New Beverage Showdown Semifinal Round

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Sponsored Workshop: Ingredion Taste and Texture Workshop

• Allison Maloney

  , Technologist, Technical Service, CATALYST, Ingredion
• Jason Wang

  , Manager, Global Beverage Applications, Ingredion

  

  Jason Wang

  Manager, Global Beverage Applications, Ingredion

  Jason Wang is the Global Application Manager for the Beverage category at Ingredion, where he spearheads the strategic design and development of technology roadmaps for global beverage innovation. With more than a decade of experience in the Food and Beverage sector, Jason boasts an impressive track record in both global CPG and ingredient companies. His expertise lies in driving beverage category applications, leading ingredient and formulation expertise on a global scale, and supporting the commercialization of new products and innovative customized solutions across multiple regions. Under his leadership, Ingredion continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, consistently delivering cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving demands of the beverage category globally.

• Adam Berzins

  , Senior Manager Global Stevia Applications and Technical Service, Ingredion
• Kelcey Pusateri

  , Senior Technologist, TH&S, Ingredion

  

  Kelcey Pusateri

  Senior Technologist, TH&S, Ingredion

  Kelcey Pusateri is a Senior Technologist who leverages her passion for tasty beverages to drive collaborative innovation projects forward. She likes to engage with customers and help problem solve to find the best solution that can accelerate product development and improve performance. She obtained a bachelor’s in food science from North Carolina State University.

• Allison Maloney, Technologist, Technical Service, CATALYST, Ingredion
• Jason Wang, Manager, Global Beverage Applications, Ingredion
• Adam Berzins, Senior Manager Global Stevia Applications and Technical Service, Ingredion
• Kelcey Pusateri, Senior Technologist, TH&S, Ingredion

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One-to-One Meetings with Retailers, Powered by LA Vibations

• Taylor Cathala

  , Sr. Category Merchant, Spirits, Whole Foods Market

  

  Taylor Cathala

  Sr. Category Merchant, Spirits, Whole Foods Market

  I have worked in the adult beverage retail space for over 13 years and currently am the Spirits Senior Category Merchant at Whole Foods Market covering all US & Canada stores.  I have held various merchant roles in the past, but very grateful to be fully devoted to Spirits as it slowly has turned into a personal passion as well as my work life.  When not reviewing fun and innovative products at work, I enjoy spending time with my wife & son exploring all Sonoma County has to offer with its beautiful parks and running trails.

• Samantha Fletcher

  , Senior Category Merchant, Whole Foods Market
• Stephen Jabour

  , Chief Sales and Operations Officer, Spec's
• Corey Nicely

  , Category Manager - Cooler, Pilot

  

  Corey Nicely

  Category Manager - Cooler, Pilot

  Corey Nicely is the Category Manager of Cooler at Pilot. In this role, she is responsible for strategy-setting, planning and executing all programs within packaged beverage (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) for the company’s 650 travel centers.  She partners with suppliers to optimize contracts, build guest-focused planograms, and promote sales-driving programs through in-store and digital tools. Corey started at Pilot in 2019 and has grown her career on the Cold Vault team throughout her time with the company. Prior to her work at Pilot, Corey graduated from Maryville College with a B.S. in Business Management, where she also played softball. Corey and her husband, Austin, have a two-and-a-half-year-old son, Riley, and their springer spaniels, Emma and Skye. 

• Matthew Wirth

  , National Category Manager, Carbonated Beverages, Albertsons
• Kody Severson

  , National Category Manager, Non-Carbonated Beverages, Albertsons

• Taylor Cathala, Sr. Category Merchant, Spirits, Whole Foods Market
• Samantha Fletcher, Senior Category Merchant, Whole Foods Market
• Stephen Jabour, Chief Sales and Operations Officer, Spec's
• Corey Nicely, Category Manager - Cooler, Pilot
• Matthew Wirth, National Category Manager, Carbonated Beverages, Albertsons
• Kody Severson, National Category Manager, Non-Carbonated Beverages, Albertsons

Sponsored Workshop: Meeting Consumer Demands with Ingredient Innovations from Fungi

• Caroline Schwarzman

  , Head of Business Development, MycoTechnology

  

  Caroline Schwarzman

  Head of Business Development, MycoTechnology

  Caroline Schwarzman is the Head of Business Development at MycoTechnology, collaborating with innovative, leading CPG and ingredient firms to commercialize the first ever honey truffle sweetener. She's spent her career in commercial roles at startups across industries, specializing in growth strategy to accelerate product traction, increase scale velocity and expand market access. Caroline has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a passion for creating products that improve human and planetary health.

• Caroline Schwarzman, Head of Business Development, MycoTechnology

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Networking Break & Taste Radio Studio

Welcome Remarks

Bringing Joy to the Consumer

• Craig Dubitsky

  , CEO, Happy

  

  Craig Dubitsky

  CEO, Happy

  Craig Dubitsky, happy® Products’ Co-founder & CEO, is an accomplished entrepreneur who most recently served as founder of hello® products, the fastest-growing oral care brand in North America (acquired by Colgate Palmolive). Before hello®, Craig co-founded and served as creative lead at eos products, whose iconic lip sphere grew the entire lip care category by 4.5x according to Mintel. A lifelong entrepreneur, Craig served as founding board member at method products, as an advisor to Seventh Generation and Boots, and is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Babson. He’s obsessed with turning commodities into desirables and making everyday products people fall in love with.

• Craig Dubitsky, CEO, Happy

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Partnering for Growth

• Cyrus Schwartz

  , Founder & CEO, Dora's Naturals

  

  Cyrus Schwartz

  Founder & CEO, Dora's Naturals

  Cyrus is the Founder and CEO of Dora’s Naturals, a privately held natural food and beverage distributor serving thousands of locations throughout Metro New York. Dora’s is the largest perishable beverage distributor in the United States and focuses on exclusive relationships with leading brands across four product categories: snacks, dairy case, ambient beverage and chilled beverages. Cyrus also has deep experience in the manufacturing and brand space where he has started and continues to runs several other business units.

• Cyrus Schwartz, Founder & CEO, Dora's Naturals

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The Venture Capital Hunt

• Gurdeep Prewal

  , Co-Founder & General Partner, Rocana Venture Partners

  

  Gurdeep Prewal

  Co-Founder & General Partner, Rocana Venture Partners

  Gurdeep is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Rocana Venture Partners ("Rocana"). Rocana is a mission-driven U.S.-based venture capital fund that supports entrepreneurs creating innovative and disruptive health and wellness-related consumer brands. Rocana's three key verticals are food & beverage, personal care & beauty, and mind-body wellness. The underlying "Better Living" mission of Rocana is to elevate what you put inside yourself, what you put on yourself, and what you do with yourself, focusing on gut health, mental health, and physical health. Rocana's community of values-aligned and highly engaged investors helps to create transformational outcomes for its brand partners. Rocana has a very human-centric approach, and the mission is born out of Gurdeep's deep passion for health and wellness.

• Deborah Benton

  , Founder & General Partner, Willow Growth Partners

  

  Deborah Benton

  Founder & General Partner, Willow Growth Partners

  Deborah is the Founder & General Partner at Willow Growth Partners. Willow provides early growth capital to entrepreneurs building the next generation of transformative consumer brands and the disruptive technologies that power them. In 2014, Deborah launched a family office investment vehicle focused on seed-stage consumer brands and enabling tech companies. That vehicle has currently achieved seven liquidity events, realizing a 10.6x MOIC. Deborah has held numerous Advisory Board and Board of Director roles; a critical element of Deborah’s investment thesis is to leverage her 20+ years of operating experience by helping founders rationally, effectively and optimally scale their businesses.

• Nate Cooper

  , Managing Partner, Barrel Ventures

  

  Nate Cooper

  Managing Partner, Barrel Ventures

  Nate is a 4th generation entrepreneur in the food industry and now runs Barrel Ventures. An Early stage fund investing from pre-farm to post-fork and everything in between. He's been fortunate to partner with such emerging companies such as Olipop, Helaina, Go-Nanas & more. Nate is a graduate of the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University and received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management where he was awarded a Kellogg Scholarship and named a Zell Fellow. In his free time, Nate is a passionate endurance athlete and movie quote savant. He lives in Chicago and serves on the associate boards of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and Social Venture Partners.

• Gurdeep Prewal, Co-Founder & General Partner, Rocana Venture Partners
• Deborah Benton, Founder & General Partner, Willow Growth Partners
• Nate Cooper, Managing Partner, Barrel Ventures

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Sponsored Workshop: Unleash Your Beverage Potential at Tate & Lyle's Boost Bar

• Rebecca Henrickson

  , Head of Category Development, Beverage, & Flavor Houses, Tate & Lyle

  

  Rebecca Henrickson

  Head of Category Development, Beverage, & Flavor Houses, Tate & Lyle

  Fueled by innovation and a passion for creativity, Rebecca’s entrepreneurial spirit helps craft trend-forward food and beverage innovation. Holding an MBA from the University of Wisconsin and over ten years of industry experience, her depth of knowledge and insights are exceptional. Rebecca drives end-to-end category growth, strategy, and execution, along with marketing and relevant NPD launches. She plays a pivotal role in propelling regional growth across the Beverage category.

• Neha Kulkarni

  , Senior Scientist, Beverages, Tate & Lyle

  

  Neha Kulkarni

  Senior Scientist, Beverages, Tate & Lyle

  With a keen eye for product innovation and a knack for research planning, formulation designing, and rapid prototyping, Neha brings over 7 years of industry experience. Throughout her career, Neha has successfully completed and published numerous food and nutrition-based research projects. With her expertise spanning across clean label fruit juices, ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, nutritional supplements, ready-to-eat (RTE) snack, she is a true innovator in the field, dedicated to advancing the science of food and nutrition.

• Rebecca Henrickson, Head of Category Development, Beverage, & Flavor Houses, Tate & Lyle
• Neha Kulkarni, Senior Scientist, Beverages, Tate & Lyle

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Finding Meaning in Milwaukee

• Sharad Chadha

  , CEO, Sprecher Brewing

• Sharad Chadha, CEO, Sprecher Brewing

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BevNET's Best of 2024 Awards + New Beverage Showdown Finalists Announced

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Lunch, Sampling & Taste Radio Studio

Sponsored Workshop: Hops! They’re for More than Beer

• Shae Maloney

  , Brewing Solutions Specialist, John I. Haas

  

  Shae Maloney

  Brewing Solutions Specialist, John I. Haas

  Shae Maloney is a Brewing Solutions Specialist at John I. Haas in Yakima, WA, where she focuses on applications development, technical support, and educational outreach. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colorado State University in 2015 with a B.S. in Fermentation Science and Technology. Since entering the brewing industry, Shae has worked as a brewer, cellar person, and QA specialist at GoodLife Brewing Co. and Worthy Brewing. She joined Haas in 2021 and is actively involved as a co-leader of the Yakima Chapter of the Pink Boots Society and a member of the MBAA District Northwest technical committee. Outside of work, Shae enjoys spending time outdoors and spoiling her goldendoodle, Dobby.

• Jeff Dailey

  , Sensory Manager, John I. Haas

  

  Jeff Dailey

  Sensory Manager, John I. Haas

  Jeff Dailey is the Sensory Manager at John I. Haas in Yakima, Washington, where he leads sensory panels evaluating experimental hops, innovative products, and harvest lots. Since joining in 2019, Jeff developed the Sensory Plus™ quality control system and pioneered methods for detecting smoke taint and tracking hop shelf life. His work has been key in launching new hop varieties like Talus and products such as HopKick and LUPOMAX. Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, Jeff holds a master’s degree in food science from Washington State University and is an active member of MBAA and ASBC. In his free time, he enjoys reading, running, and perfecting pizza recipes.

• Shae Maloney, Brewing Solutions Specialist, John I. Haas
• Jeff Dailey, Sensory Manager, John I. Haas

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State of the Market: Operators and Investors on Growth Opportunities and Challenges

• Rosa Li

  , Founder & CEO, Wildwonder

  

  Rosa Li

  Founder & CEO, Wildwonder

  Rosa is a food fanatic and former investor-turned-food entrepreneur. She’s a believer in “food as medicine” but doesn’t believe you need to give up taste for health. Inspired by the herbal tonics her Chinese grandma brewed for her while growing up, she’s on a mission to make wellness accessible by combining ancient nutrition with modern flavors. Prior to embarking on her entrepreneurial journey and founding wildwonder, Rosa was a private equity and venture investor at Warburg Pincus and investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Rosa is a Fulbright Scholar and holds a MBA from Stanford University. She’s been named Inc’s Female Founder 250 and San Francisco Business Times 40 Under 40 Honoree.

• Melissa Dolan

  , Director, Emil Capital Partners

  

  Melissa Dolan

  Director, Emil Capital Partners

  Melissa Dolan is a Director at Emil Capital Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in consumer brands. With extensive experience in fostering brand growth through strategic partnerships and investments, Melissa has played a pivotal role in facilitating successful collaborations, including Deebo Samuels and Lindsay Horan investing in Cheribundi. Prior to her current investment role, Melissa was a brand manager at Danone, where she led campaigns and activations with the NFL and Disney. Her expertise in structuring celebrity partnerships and her unique perspective as a brand-manager-turned-investor makes her a valuable speaker on this topic.

• Karen Ivanis-Rogers

  , Senior Director, Albertson's Venture Group

  

  Karen Ivanis-Rogers

  Senior Director, Albertson's Venture Group

  Karen Ivanis-Rogers is the Sr. Director of the Albertsons Venture Group. She joined Albertsons eight years ago specifically for this role, working alongside Jim Foltz. Karen feels incredibly fortunate to be in this position.  In her role, Karen collaborates with Jim on evaluating and signing new investments and working directly with portfolio companies to accelerate their growth. She also serves as an observer on six boards.  Prior to Albertsons Ventures, Karen worked in CPG with the bigger brands at Johnson and Johnson, Clorox, Nestle Foods, Del Monte and Nature Made Vitamins.    Karen is particularly proud of the Innovation Launchpad, a program she initiated two years ago. Since its inception, Albertsons has processed applications from over 1,500 brands, set up 110 brands to compete, and awarded over half a million dollars in prizes. The Launchpad has successfully connected these brands with merchants across the company and promoted them online. The diversity statistics of the Launchpad brands, including women-owned and minority-owned businesses, are impressive.  In 2024, Karen was thrilled to be recognized as a Nosh Notable on behalf of the Launchpad work.   Karen lives in the Oakland Hills with her husband.

• Max Baumann

  , CEO, Basemakers

  

  Max Baumann

  CEO, Basemakers

  Max Baumann is an established entrepreneur and business leader in the food and beverage industry. He is currently the founder & CEO of Basemakers, the fastest-growing retail sales agency. Basemakers offers services including: brokerage, sales strategy & merchandising for some of the best CPG brands in the world: Oli Pop, Guayaki, Siete, Harmless Harvest and more. Basemakers has made the INC 500 list for the fastest-growing privately-held companies in America four years. Max has been featured on the TODAY show, Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Oprah Media, BevNet, among others. He resides in Los Angeles, CA and in his spare time, you can find him seeking waves across the pacific coast. Max received his CPD in General Management from Wharton’s Executive Education program in April 2014 and is a recognized Wharton Fellow.

• Christina Schmidt

  , Senior Category Manager, Shelf-Stable Beverages, KeHE Distributors LLC

• Rosa Li, Founder & CEO, Wildwonder
• Melissa Dolan, Director, Emil Capital Partners
• Karen Ivanis-Rogers, Senior Director, Albertson's Venture Group
• Max Baumann, CEO, Basemakers
• Christina Schmidt, Senior Category Manager, Shelf-Stable Beverages, KeHE Distributors LLC

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Retailer Profile: Pilot

• Corey Nicely

  , Category Manager - Cooler, Pilot

  

  Corey Nicely

  Category Manager - Cooler, Pilot

  Corey Nicely is the Category Manager of Cooler at Pilot. In this role, she is responsible for strategy-setting, planning and executing all programs within packaged beverage (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) for the company’s 650 travel centers.  She partners with suppliers to optimize contracts, build guest-focused planograms, and promote sales-driving programs through in-store and digital tools. Corey started at Pilot in 2019 and has grown her career on the Cold Vault team throughout her time with the company. Prior to her work at Pilot, Corey graduated from Maryville College with a B.S. in Business Management, where she also played softball. Corey and her husband, Austin, have a two-and-a-half-year-old son, Riley, and their springer spaniels, Emma and Skye. 

• Corey Nicely, Category Manager - Cooler, Pilot

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Sponsored Workshop: Kerry’s Blueprint for Co-Creation Innovation

• Amanda Wolff

  , Sr. Strategic Marketing Manager, Kerry
• Anthony Thomas

  , Business Development Director, Kerry
• Travis Ralph

  , RD&A Manager, Beverage, Kerry
• Emmet Malone

  , RD&A Director, Beverage, Kerry
• Shawn Gerstenkorn

  , Sr. Director Sales, Beverage, Kerry

• Amanda Wolff, Sr. Strategic Marketing Manager, Kerry
• Anthony Thomas, Business Development Director, Kerry
• Travis Ralph, RD&A Manager, Beverage, Kerry
• Emmet Malone, RD&A Director, Beverage, Kerry
• Shawn Gerstenkorn, Sr. Director Sales, Beverage, Kerry

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Engaging Help to Evolve the Brand

• Ryan Pintado-Vertner

  , Founder & CEO, Smoketown

  

  Ryan Pintado-Vertner

  Founder & CEO, Smoketown

  Ryan Pintado-Vertner is a Chicago-based strategic marketing veteran with two decades of experience guiding the strategy, marketing and innovation choices of Fortune-level brands, startups, and nonprofit organizations. He earned his MBA from the Haas School of Business at U.C.-Berkeley. Ryan believes it’s not enough to create yet another brand in the marketplace. We have to go beyond the basics to create brands that will bring more justice, regeneration, equity and wellness to the world. He is the Founder & CEO at Smoketown, a boutique brand consultancy whose fractional CMO services and strategy practice help mission-driven consumer brands maximize their growth and build more traction, while having meaningful ESG impact. Clients have included Bragg Live Foods, Purely Elizabeth, DeeBee’s Organics and Aura Bora. He is also an advisor at Trailhead Capital and Whipstitch Capital, and a co-founder of (included), the largest peer network of BIPOC CEOs in the CPG industry.

• Paul Voge

  , CEO, Aura Bora

  

  Paul Voge

  CEO, Aura Bora

  Aura Bora’s best-selling retail varieties include Lavender Cucumber, Ginger Meyer Lemon, and Strawberry Basil. Every month Paul and his team formulate and release online-exclusive flavors for sparkling water aficionados like Guava Eucalyptus, Mango Chili, and the infamous Green Bean Casserole. Aura Bora prides itself on being sugar-free, calorie-free, non-GMO, Whole30 certified, and made with real herbal extracts. Read more in VICE, AdWeek, Forbes, Dieline, Food Network, and Fortune. Paul’s entrepreneurial journey started with t-shirts, socks, concrete curbs, and even Christmas trees. As a Forbes “30 Under 30” awardee and Shark Tank success story, he has turned Aura Bora into one of the fastest growing beverages in the world. He has appeared as an industry speaker for the Techstars and SKU accelerators as well as New Hope Network’s Business School for natural products. Paul also enjoys speaking with universities. Aura Bora has been a case study for students at Cornell, the University of Texas, University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, Texas A&M, and UCLA Anderson School of Management.

• Ryan Pintado-Vertner, Founder & CEO, Smoketown
• Paul Voge, CEO, Aura Bora

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Inside Tik Tok Shop

• Cameron Gould-Saltman

  , Head of Food and Beverage, TikTok Shop

  

  Cameron Gould-Saltman

  Head of Food and Beverage, TikTok Shop

  Cameron is the Head of Food and Beverage at TikTok Shop, where he oversees the growth of the category and management of brands in the food and beverage space. Cameron has over a decade of experience in the grocery and CPG industry, where he most recently led category and program management teams at Amazon Fresh. Cameron holds a BS from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

• Cameron Gould-Saltman, Head of Food and Beverage, TikTok Shop

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Shifting Spirits in the Beverage Business

• Heidi Dillon

  , CEO, Distill Ventures

  

  Heidi Dillon

  CEO, Distill Ventures

  Heidi Dillon is the CEO of Distill Ventures, where she stands at the forefront of emerging trends in the drinks, wellness, and consumer sectors with a passionate focus on finding and nurturing the most talented founders and their brands. With over 25 years of transformative experience in disrupting consumer packaged goods (CPG) categories, Heidi has become a driving force in the industry. Notable milestones in Heidi's career include the successful launch of LUNA with Clif Bar & Company, the development of a functional foods accelerator and health and sustainability initiatives at Starbucks. Since her arrival at Distill Ventures North America in 2018, Heidi has been a catalyst for innovation. She led the creation of the first non-alcoholic drinks practice globally and more recently, the creation of Distill Ventures’ Pre-Accelerator, an early stage funding initiative designed to support entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds. In her capacity as Managing Director, Heidi orchestrated the growth and expansion of Distill Ventures North America. She skillfully managed a team of specialized drinks executives, guiding spirits and non-alcoholic drinks founders through the entire business lifecycle – from pre-launch and market roll-out to growth, scaling, and acquisition. In her current CEO role, Heidi Dillon continues to shape Distill Ventures' portfolio with a heightened commitment to inclusion and diversity with a particular passion to dismantle the barriers to capital for female founded brands (just 2.8% in 2023 per Carta). Working alongside her dedicated team, Heidi ensures that diverse founders remain at the core of the company's mission, with a steadfast dedication to meeting the evolving needs of the global consumers they serve with a focus on no & low, agave, sustainability and new world whiskey.

• Heidi Dillon, CEO, Distill Ventures

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Networking & Sampling

BevNET Live Official Party, Presented by Force