JUNE 1-8 | VIRTUAL EDUCATION SERIES
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Business Training for Early-Stage Food & Beverage Brands



Learn the Ropes of the Industry

Each day, from June 1st to June 7th, we’ll drop a lesson on fundraising, formulation, operations, branding and marketing, or sales and distribution strategies. 

Connect with Industry Experts

The pre-released lessons will culminate on Tuesday, June 8th with a live panel, networking sessions, and expert round tables. Bring your questions.

Set the Foundation for Growth

In an effort to support emerging brands as they grow, this is a free opportunity for the entire food and beverage community, but prior registration is required.

Register for Free

Boot Camp 2021 Speakers

  • Betsy McGinn, CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Betsy McGinn

    CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm

    Betsy McGinn, CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Betsy McGinn

    CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm

    Betsy is the co-author of The Amazon Roadmap: How Innovative Brands are Reinventing the Path to Market, the quintessential start-to-finish guide for brands who want to launch, recalibrate, or optimize their Amazon business and ensure continued growth on this powerful platform. As Seventh Generation’s first eCommerce channel director, Betsy pioneered the company’s innovative eComm strategy and created a thriving multimillion-dollar partnership with Amazon and other key online retailers. Since founding McGinn eComm in 2014, Betsy has worked with hundreds of natural and specialty food and beverage brands to establish and strengthen their strategic direction on Amazon and their own Direct-to-Consumer eCommerce. From product development and profitability analysis to guiding organizational change, McGinn eComm leads clients through every step of this complex channel, helping to ensure successful and profitable online businesses. With more than a decade of eCommerce experience, Betsy is a thought-leader and regular speaker at workshops and conferences globally. Visit Betsy at mcginnecomm.com

  • Shastri Mahadeo, Founder & CEO, Unioncrate - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Shastri Mahadeo

    Founder & CEO, Unioncrate

  • Amy Usiak, Business Partner, JPG Resources - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Amy Usiak

    Business Partner, JPG Resources

    Amy Usiak, Business Partner, JPG Resources - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Amy Usiak

    Business Partner, JPG Resources

    Amy Usiak is a Business Partner and Product Development lead for JPG Resources. With 20+ years industry experience, Amy understands product creation from concept through commercialization. ? She is the choreographer of the product development practices, building customized teams for each project, and ensuring the right expertise and perspective are working on your product. Because Amy has experience across the grocery store footprint, she understands the technical and strategic needs unique to each category, product platform and form factor. Her strong communication skills and compassion for clients leads to winning solutions for each new product launch. ? Amy received her Bachelors in Food Science from Michigan State University and Master's Degree in Food Science & Nutrition from Cornell University. Before JPG Resources, Amy worked for Post Foods and Kraft Foods Group.?

  • Chris Moe, President & Co-Founder, Cartograph - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Chris Moe

    President & Co-Founder, Cartograph

  • Kirk Visola, Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Kirk Visola

    Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font

    Kirk Visola, Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Kirk Visola

    Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font

    Kirk Visola has been in the design industry for over 20 years and has worked with brands like Purina, Dole, E&J Gallo Winery, Foster Farms, and Motorola. Kirk is the owner of MIND THE FONT® is a Black-owned full service design agency specializing primarily in branding and packaging. From concept and strategy, to implementation and finish work, MIND THE FONT minds all aspects of your brand’s identity, down to the finest points of the font. They mine keen insights and create designs as meaningful and distinctive as your brand and products. They mind the concept. They mind the process. They are, MIND THE FONT.

  • Trent Moffat, Owner, Gotham Brand Managers - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Trent Moffat

    Owner, Gotham Brand Managers

    Trent Moffat, Owner, Gotham Brand Managers - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Trent Moffat

    Owner, Gotham Brand Managers

    Trent Moffat, is the owner at Gotham Brand Managers LLC, an independent sales and merchandising company for snack and beverage brands. After spending 20 plus years of experience in CPG sales, operations, manufacturing, marketing and finance with global brands such as Nestle and Heineken, he recognized the need for an effective and affordable option for new and existing brands to be successful in store. Trent began his career in 1992 with the largest US Heineken distributor and quickly became a top seller in their organization. After finishing his MBA, he was recruited by Nestle Waters in 1999 to manage corporate planning for their Home and Office division in Metro NY. In his last position with Nestle, as National Sales Manager for Home and Office division, Trent brought in new national business including JP Morgan Chase and successfully negotiated million dollar contracts with both the MTA and New York City Government offices. Seeking more entrepreneurial challenges in 2005 he discovered his first start up, a small juice company for kids based in CT called Waddajuice, co-founded by one of the founders of Snapple. Trent and his team quickly grew sales, adding large key accounts such as Toys-r-Us, CT Schools, Whole Foods, Fairway, and several national distributors. He was also responsible for sales with startup New Leaf Tea, helping drive sales in 2 years from $450,000 in 2007 to $4 Million in 2009 until its sale to Baywood International, a publicly traded Company in 2009. He subsequently founded Gotham Brand Managers in 2010. Trent currently lives with his wife and two boys in Westchester, NY and is a graduate of Syracuse University.

  • James Curley, Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    James Curley

    Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands

    James Curley, Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    James Curley

    Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands

    James Curley is a veteran of decades in the branded consumer packaged goods space, with an emphasis on developing natural, organic, and specialty food brands since launching a sales consulting business in 1986. Prior to that, he held positions in retail grocery; natural food store management/ownership, specialty distributor sales and national sales and marketing management. His comprehensive knowledge of the business made him a valued member of his client’s management teams, which have included Turtle Island Foods (Tofurky), Springfield Creamery (Nancy’s Yogurt), Powell & Mahoney, Mamma Chia and many others. James is a co-founder and Board of Directors member of Spinning Wheel Brands, a better-for-you brand innovator focused on sustainable and nutritious plant-based consumer brands and supporting diversity in management, supply chain partners and corporate governance. James also co-founded Upgrade Partners, offering shared outsourced sales management for emerging food and beverage brands operating in the omni-channel retail environment of grocery, mass, natural, alternative, convenience and ecommerce channels. James is a featured speaker at the popular industry seminars hosted by the Natural Product Consulting Institute founded by Bob Burke.

  • Kate Weidner, Founder & CEO, SRW - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Kate Weidner

    Founder & CEO, SRW

  • Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Bill Sipper

    Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC

    Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Bill Sipper

    Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC

    BILL SIPPER is a food and beverage industry leader who has guided numerous brands from concept to commercialization to category leadership. He held senior and C Level positions at leading brands including Evian, Nantucket Nectars, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla, Naked Juice and Clearly Canadian. Bill’s strategic expertise and executional focus helped those brands succeed and can help your brand succeed, too.? Consulting closely with client leaders as they consider a sale or acquisition, Bill has supported several brands through the process. (Naked Juice was sold to Pepsico, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla was sold to Coca Cola, and Nantucket Nectars was sold to Ocean Spray). Bill has significant international experience, and works with clients in Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East. He draws on this expertise to help international brands establish presence in the US and to help US brands expand internationally.? Bill is active in philanthropic causes: He served as president of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s clean water charity, Tear of the Clouds; was an advisor to The Walden Woods Project; and served on the Board of Directors of the National Osteoporosis Foundation.? Bill has been featured on Food Network’s “Unwrapped” and in the PBS documentary “The Water Wars.” He has been a featured speaker at Columbia University School of Business, The Bottled Water Congress (Torino, Italy), the Pan Arab Congress on Osteoporosis (Tunisia), and at virtually every major US food and beverage show, including Natural Products Expo, BevNet, Nosh Live and more. His articles have appeared in leading trade publications, and he is frequently quoted in media including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and the New York Times.

  • Michael Zuckerman, President, Zuckerman Honickman - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Michael Zuckerman

    President, Zuckerman Honickman

    Michael Zuckerman, President, Zuckerman Honickman - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Michael Zuckerman

    President, Zuckerman Honickman

    Michael Zuckerman is the President of Zuckerman Honickman Inc ("ZH"), a privately held packaging company founded in the early 1900’s, which provides beverage clients with turnkey solutions for their procurement and packaging needs. ZH is one of the largest suppliers of Cans, Plastic and glass bottles to the beverage industry in North America and provides its' customers with high-quality, low cost, customized, packaging solutions. With sustainability always in mind, ZH has recently been focused on other alternative packaging solution, which has lead the company to partner with some of the leaders in the biodegradable space. Under Michael’s leadership, ZH has continued to strengthen its reputation for excellence, best of breed customer service, superior buying power, and industry knowledge. ZH enables beverage brands to capitalize on economies of scale associated with their can, glass and plastic purchases. Michael’s passion for the beverage industry has been an integral part in the companies tireless focus on beverage product development. ZH has been instrumental in helping many regional companies grow into national brand names, including but not limited to: Snapple, Honest Tea, Glaceau, Fuze Bai Brands, Body Armor, Spindrift, and many more.

  • Billy Medof, COO, Procure Analytics - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Billy Medof

    COO, Procure Analytics

  • Tyler Lowell, Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Tyler Lowell

    Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune

    Tyler Lowell, Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Tyler Lowell

    Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune

    For the past eight years, Tyler Lowell has operated as the Managing Partner & CEO of C.A. Fortune, a full-service, privately-held consumer brands agency with a national scope that works in natural, conventional, and online channels. Tyler has led C.A. through several acquisitions, leadership gains, and dynamic partnerships, creating a continuum of vertically integrated services, including sales management, a sales accelerator, marketing and branding, insights, retail activation, and digital and e-commerce. Tyler sits on the board of Observa, the industry leader in driving retail sales insights, in addition to the school board for St. James Lutheran School, where his daughters attend elementary, and on the College of Business board of directors at Valparaiso University, his alma mater. He and his wife live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park with their two little girls and love spending time at the parks or out on the water.

  • Allison Roseman Hagey, Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Allison Roseman Hagey

    Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP

    Allison Roseman Hagey, Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Allison Roseman Hagey

    Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP

    Allison Roseman Hagey is the hiring partner at BraunHagey & Borden. She has over 15 years of experience in food law, policy, regulation, and food systems. Allison has represented Fortune 100 companies in international and national disputes and Department of Justice hearings. She has an extensive track record developing large-scale projects in the food and agriculture sector including creating and implementing federal policies generating over $1 billion in investment in over 200 food businesses. Allison led the creation of the nation’s premier food access and retail website connecting food entrepreneurs with funding opportunities, curriculum, tools, and webinars. Allison is a nationally-recognized leader, key note speaker, advocate, and author on food, agriculture, health policy, and equity.

  • Pete Grego, Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Pete Grego

    Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co

    Pete Grego, Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Pete Grego

    Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co

    Pete Grego is the Director of Contract Manufacturing with Nor-Cal Beverages. Pete specializes in beverage brand building and beverage management. As well as customer development and strategic planning.

  • Madeline Darcy, Managing Director, CircleUp - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Madeline Darcy

    Managing Director, CircleUp

    Madeline Darcy, Managing Director, CircleUp - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Madeline Darcy

    Managing Director, CircleUp

    Madeline Darcy is a leader in venture capital, with deep expertise across strategy, finance, and tech. Madeline currently serves as a General Partner at CircleUp Growth Partners, where she leads data-driven investments in early-stage consumer brands. She is also an active angel investor across the health and wellness sector. Madeline cares deeply about democratizing access to capital for entrepreneurs, and is excited to be part of the next wave of game changing companies. The daughter of an environmentalist and a teacher, Madeline grew up in an impact-oriented community. As one of 13 children in a blended family, she learned the values of teamwork, empathy, and hard work. She has always turned to these values when caring for and setting an example for her younger siblings. Having started her career at 14-years-old as a crew member at McDonalds, Madeline developed a clear understanding of customer-centricity at an early age. Her later experiences in store operations at The Walt Disney Company and as a campus rep at Apple Inc. furthered her appreciation for the importance of creating customer experiences that foster intense brand loyalty. As a consumer investor, Madeline brings a strong understanding of diverse customer demographics, as well as a deeply analytical approach to understanding business models - a skill developed during her years as a management consultant. Her multicultural upbringing and wide-ranging travels push her to continuously broaden her perspective and to help drive innovation in stale categories. Madeline is actively involved in communities that support inclusion and diversity, education, and financial literacy, and serves on the boards of Synergist, Crimson Bikes, and the HBS Association of Boston.

  • Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Alex Malamatinas

    Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures

    Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Alex Malamatinas

    Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures

    Alex is the Founder and Managing Partner of Melitas Ventures, which he launched in November 2017. He serves on the boards of: Kin Euphorics, RIND Snacks, Nurture Life, NomNom, Verb Energy, Beekeeper's Naturals, and MUD WTR. Alex was previously a senior member of the investment teams at Tyrian Investments (seeded by Tiger Management) and Indus Capital (former Soros Partners), where he invested in global consumer companies. He began his career in Morgan Stanley's London and New York offices. Alex received his MBA from Wharton, with a Major in Finance, and BA in Political Science, with honors and distinction, from Stanford University.

  • Genevieve Gilbreath, Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Genevieve Gilbreath

    Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures

    Genevieve Gilbreath, Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Genevieve Gilbreath

    Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures

    Genevieve has been an active entrepreneur in the consumer products space since 2002. For much of her career, her focus was on building & leading Natural Consumer Product Goods (CPG) companies. Most recently, from 2016 through 2018, she led SKU, the first and leading consumer products accelerator in the U.S. In 2019, she and Dan Graham co-founded Springdale Ventures to make investments in early stage consumer brand companies. She has also developed cross-cultural educational program for Princeton University, in India, and served as an adjunct professor at Baylor University. Genevieve was recognized in AustinInno’s 50 on Fire in 2018 for her leadership in CPG.

  • Taja Dockendorf, Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Taja Dockendorf

    Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire

    Taja Dockendorf, Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire - BevNET & NOSH Present Boot Camp

    Taja Dockendorf

    Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire

    Taja pioneered the unique path of Pulp+Wire (a brand strategy and launch firm) and built the business with the drive, creativity and vision that’s unique to entrepreneurs. Now she uses that same pioneering power to turn her clients into trailblazers in their own industries. Her own business experience coupled with degrees in both Industrial and Graphic Design are what drive her love (and success) for crafting impressive brands, packaging and creative for consumer products. Versatility allows Taja to manage multi-million dollar marketing accounts while also creating award-winning design for small businesses. Her talent has built P+W into one of the most in-demand, most-referred design houses in the Northeast. Honing her creative skills in both New York and Boston, Taja’s unique approach to a client-centric (and holistic) business model has been vital in consistently earning P+W graphic design and advertising awards over the years. Taja is not only intuitively creative, but also naturally approachable and engaging. Her clients appreciate her sense of humor, willingness to really listen and drive to surpass their expectations. A writer for Forbes, with a focus on creative leadering and brand innovation, Taja has also garnered numerous awards and accolades for her work and has been featured in: The Dieline, Graphic Design USA, Food Manufacturing Magazine, Packaging Magazine, American Package Design Awards, InTouch Magazine, Saveur, GDR UK and L’Odyssee Du Pack — both Innovation trend forecasting magazines and the Dieline to name a few. Additional to this, her clients have also earned media attention on the Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox Business Morning.

The Agenda

June 1-7: On-Demand Presentations

2-3 presentations will be released each business day from June 1st through 7th. The on-demand videos will be available in the event platform and feature lessons on fundraising, formulation, operations, branding and marketing, or sales and distribution strategies. 

June 8 - Live Networking Event

On June 8, a special live panel discussing fundraising for food and beverage startups will be held at 3 p.m. ET, followed by round tables that gather all of our experts for live Q and A.

3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. ET -- Boot Camp Live Panel Discussion

3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET -- Expert Round Tables

Please note: All times US Eastern Time

  • Elements of Channel Strategy
    Learn about key retailer channels for product introduction and growth like natural, specialty, and conventional grocery as well as on-line retailers. Bill Sipper of Cascadia Managing Brands walks you through the key partners like brokers and distributors on your path to market, and the kinds of sales and margin goals at play in each channel. 
    • Bill Sipper
      , Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC
      Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC -

      Bill Sipper

      Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC

      BILL SIPPER is a food and beverage industry leader who has guided numerous brands from concept to commercialization to category leadership. He held senior and C Level positions at leading brands including Evian, Nantucket Nectars, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla, Naked Juice and Clearly Canadian. Bill’s strategic expertise and executional focus helped those brands succeed and can help your brand succeed, too.? Consulting closely with client leaders as they consider a sale or acquisition, Bill has supported several brands through the process. (Naked Juice was sold to Pepsico, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla was sold to Coca Cola, and Nantucket Nectars was sold to Ocean Spray). Bill has significant international experience, and works with clients in Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East. He draws on this expertise to help international brands establish presence in the US and to help US brands expand internationally.? Bill is active in philanthropic causes: He served as president of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s clean water charity, Tear of the Clouds; was an advisor to The Walden Woods Project; and served on the Board of Directors of the National Osteoporosis Foundation.? Bill has been featured on Food Network’s “Unwrapped” and in the PBS documentary “The Water Wars.” He has been a featured speaker at Columbia University School of Business, The Bottled Water Congress (Torino, Italy), the Pan Arab Congress on Osteoporosis (Tunisia), and at virtually every major US food and beverage show, including Natural Products Expo, BevNet, Nosh Live and more. His articles have appeared in leading trade publications, and he is frequently quoted in media including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and the New York Times.

    • Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC
  • Get Sales Ready with the 8 Ps
    Is your great idea retail ready? James Curley of Upgrade Partners walks entrepreneurs through a checklist of key areas that determine whether you are ready to cross the threshold of that store or distributor, as well as those parts of your strategy that help keep you in stock and not just one-and-done. 
    • James Curley
      , Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands
      James Curley, Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands -

      James Curley

      Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands

      James Curley is a veteran of decades in the branded consumer packaged goods space, with an emphasis on developing natural, organic, and specialty food brands since launching a sales consulting business in 1986. Prior to that, he held positions in retail grocery; natural food store management/ownership, specialty distributor sales and national sales and marketing management. His comprehensive knowledge of the business made him a valued member of his client’s management teams, which have included Turtle Island Foods (Tofurky), Springfield Creamery (Nancy’s Yogurt), Powell & Mahoney, Mamma Chia and many others. James is a co-founder and Board of Directors member of Spinning Wheel Brands, a better-for-you brand innovator focused on sustainable and nutritious plant-based consumer brands and supporting diversity in management, supply chain partners and corporate governance. James also co-founded Upgrade Partners, offering shared outsourced sales management for emerging food and beverage brands operating in the omni-channel retail environment of grocery, mass, natural, alternative, convenience and ecommerce channels. James is a featured speaker at the popular industry seminars hosted by the Natural Product Consulting Institute founded by Bob Burke.

    • James Curley, Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands

Please note: All times US Eastern Time

  • Marketing with an Audience First Approach
    Marketing is key to the success of any brand, helping consumers learn more about you and what you produce. But before you even share those messages, you first need to understand who you are and what your target audience is. In this session, Kate Weidner, Founder and CEO at marketing agency SRW, will cover key marketing tactics and how to approach these skills with an audience first approach. 
    • Kate Weidner
      , Founder & CEO, SRW
    • Kate Weidner, Founder & CEO, SRW
  • Merchandising to Win In-Store
    Coming in the front door or the back, you still have to figure out the best ways to support your brand when it's in the store. Positioning pro Trent Moffat of Gotham Brand Managers shows off what you should look like on-shelf, on display, and walks you through the practices that can turn store teams into brand allies, and give your products the kind of presentation that gets both retailers and consumers excited.
    • Trent Moffat
      , Owner, Gotham Brand Managers
      Trent Moffat, Owner, Gotham Brand Managers -

      Trent Moffat

      Owner, Gotham Brand Managers

      Trent Moffat, is the owner at Gotham Brand Managers LLC, an independent sales and merchandising company for snack and beverage brands. After spending 20 plus years of experience in CPG sales, operations, manufacturing, marketing and finance with global brands such as Nestle and Heineken, he recognized the need for an effective and affordable option for new and existing brands to be successful in store. Trent began his career in 1992 with the largest US Heineken distributor and quickly became a top seller in their organization. After finishing his MBA, he was recruited by Nestle Waters in 1999 to manage corporate planning for their Home and Office division in Metro NY. In his last position with Nestle, as National Sales Manager for Home and Office division, Trent brought in new national business including JP Morgan Chase and successfully negotiated million dollar contracts with both the MTA and New York City Government offices. Seeking more entrepreneurial challenges in 2005 he discovered his first start up, a small juice company for kids based in CT called Waddajuice, co-founded by one of the founders of Snapple. Trent and his team quickly grew sales, adding large key accounts such as Toys-r-Us, CT Schools, Whole Foods, Fairway, and several national distributors. He was also responsible for sales with startup New Leaf Tea, helping drive sales in 2 years from $450,000 in 2007 to $4 Million in 2009 until its sale to Baywood International, a publicly traded Company in 2009. He subsequently founded Gotham Brand Managers in 2010. Trent currently lives with his wife and two boys in Westchester, NY and is a graduate of Syracuse University.

    • Trent Moffat, Owner, Gotham Brand Managers
  • Broker and Sales Agency Management
    Having a successful relationship with a sales agency or broker can be an important tool for many emerging brands. But when should you engage with these organizations? And what questions should you ask to find your right partner? In this session Tyler Lowell, CEO and managing partner of C.A. Fortune, will help you understand how brokers or sales agencies can benefit your brand and how to set up the relationship for success. 
    • Tyler Lowell
      , Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune
      Tyler Lowell, Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune -

      Tyler Lowell

      Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune

      For the past eight years, Tyler Lowell has operated as the Managing Partner & CEO of C.A. Fortune, a full-service, privately-held consumer brands agency with a national scope that works in natural, conventional, and online channels. Tyler has led C.A. through several acquisitions, leadership gains, and dynamic partnerships, creating a continuum of vertically integrated services, including sales management, a sales accelerator, marketing and branding, insights, retail activation, and digital and e-commerce. Tyler sits on the board of Observa, the industry leader in driving retail sales insights, in addition to the school board for St. James Lutheran School, where his daughters attend elementary, and on the College of Business board of directors at Valparaiso University, his alma mater. He and his wife live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park with their two little girls and love spending time at the parks or out on the water.

    • Tyler Lowell, Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune

Please note: All times US Eastern Time

  • Grocery Online in 2021 and Beyond
    At this point it's pretty clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated adoption of online grocery shopping and forever changed how consumers shop for food. But what does this mean for brands? In this session, Cartograph president and co-founder Chris Moe will share details about how brands should think about online sales including Amazon, DTC marketplaces and Instacart. 
    • Chris Moe
      , President & Co-Founder, Cartograph
    • Chris Moe, President & Co-Founder, Cartograph
  • Ecomm for Beverage
    Direct to Consumer, Amazon, other platforms like Thrive Market and more -- e-commerce expert Betsy McGinn joins together the common strands and special considerations for beverage brands to sell online. From content and marketing strategies to winning at the "digital shelf."
    • Betsy McGinn
      , CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm
      Betsy McGinn, CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm -

      Betsy McGinn

      CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm

      Betsy is the co-author of The Amazon Roadmap: How Innovative Brands are Reinventing the Path to Market, the quintessential start-to-finish guide for brands who want to launch, recalibrate, or optimize their Amazon business and ensure continued growth on this powerful platform. As Seventh Generation’s first eCommerce channel director, Betsy pioneered the company’s innovative eComm strategy and created a thriving multimillion-dollar partnership with Amazon and other key online retailers. Since founding McGinn eComm in 2014, Betsy has worked with hundreds of natural and specialty food and beverage brands to establish and strengthen their strategic direction on Amazon and their own Direct-to-Consumer eCommerce. From product development and profitability analysis to guiding organizational change, McGinn eComm leads clients through every step of this complex channel, helping to ensure successful and profitable online businesses. With more than a decade of eCommerce experience, Betsy is a thought-leader and regular speaker at workshops and conferences globally. Visit Betsy at mcginnecomm.com

    • Betsy McGinn, CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm
  • Packaging Decisions: Food
    What are some of the key developments and attributes of food packaging affecting entrepreneurs? Packaging expert Billy Medof provides an insightful tour of packaging types, their origin, purpose, advantages and drawbacks, with an eye toward current trends of recycling and e-commerce.
    • Billy Medof
      , COO, Procure Analytics
    • Billy Medof, COO, Procure Analytics
  • Packaging Decisions: Beverage
    Learn the key considerations for your bottle, can, or box type -- and how you source them -- in this talk from beverage packaging expert Michael Zuckerman. 
    • Michael Zuckerman
      , President, Zuckerman Honickman
      Michael Zuckerman, President, Zuckerman Honickman -

      Michael Zuckerman

      President, Zuckerman Honickman

      Michael Zuckerman is the President of Zuckerman Honickman Inc ("ZH"), a privately held packaging company founded in the early 1900’s, which provides beverage clients with turnkey solutions for their procurement and packaging needs. ZH is one of the largest suppliers of Cans, Plastic and glass bottles to the beverage industry in North America and provides its' customers with high-quality, low cost, customized, packaging solutions. With sustainability always in mind, ZH has recently been focused on other alternative packaging solution, which has lead the company to partner with some of the leaders in the biodegradable space. Under Michael’s leadership, ZH has continued to strengthen its reputation for excellence, best of breed customer service, superior buying power, and industry knowledge. ZH enables beverage brands to capitalize on economies of scale associated with their can, glass and plastic purchases. Michael’s passion for the beverage industry has been an integral part in the companies tireless focus on beverage product development. ZH has been instrumental in helping many regional companies grow into national brand names, including but not limited to: Snapple, Honest Tea, Glaceau, Fuze Bai Brands, Body Armor, Spindrift, and many more.

    • Michael Zuckerman, President, Zuckerman Honickman

Please note: All times US Eastern Time

  • Beverage Operations
    Co-packer relationships, scaled manufacturing, ingredients and recipes -- Pete Grego takes beverage entrepreneurs into the world of the co-packer to give attendees a feel for the ways outsourced manufacturing can transform a beverage from a hobby to a business.
    • Pete Grego
      , Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co
      Pete Grego, Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co -

      Pete Grego

      Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co

      Pete Grego is the Director of Contract Manufacturing with Nor-Cal Beverages. Pete specializes in beverage brand building and beverage management. As well as customer development and strategic planning.

    • Pete Grego, Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co
  • From Commercial Kitchen to Co-Manufacturing for Food Brands
    Brands grow either through internal operations or contract manufacturing, but either way recipes have to be able to scale. Operations expert Amy Usiak of JPG Resources explains the chief considerations that go into commercial recipe and process development, as well as the trade-offs that come with growth.
    • Amy Usiak
      , Business Partner, JPG Resources
      Amy Usiak, Business Partner, JPG Resources -

      Amy Usiak

      Business Partner, JPG Resources

      Amy Usiak is a Business Partner and Product Development lead for JPG Resources. With 20+ years industry experience, Amy understands product creation from concept through commercialization. ? She is the choreographer of the product development practices, building customized teams for each project, and ensuring the right expertise and perspective are working on your product. Because Amy has experience across the grocery store footprint, she understands the technical and strategic needs unique to each category, product platform and form factor. Her strong communication skills and compassion for clients leads to winning solutions for each new product launch. ? Amy received her Bachelors in Food Science from Michigan State University and Master's Degree in Food Science & Nutrition from Cornell University. Before JPG Resources, Amy worked for Post Foods and Kraft Foods Group.?

    • Amy Usiak, Business Partner, JPG Resources
  • Thinking Like a Branding Agency
    Every trip to the store consumers are faced with hundreds of choices and as a food brand, you only have a few seconds to make an impression. In this session Pulp & Wire founder Taja Dockendorf will share how her agency goes about developing branding for leading food companies and how you can utilize some of these strategies for your own food packaging, even before engaging an agency.
    • Taja Dockendorf
      , Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire
      Taja Dockendorf, Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire -

      Taja Dockendorf

      Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire

      Taja pioneered the unique path of Pulp+Wire (a brand strategy and launch firm) and built the business with the drive, creativity and vision that’s unique to entrepreneurs. Now she uses that same pioneering power to turn her clients into trailblazers in their own industries. Her own business experience coupled with degrees in both Industrial and Graphic Design are what drive her love (and success) for crafting impressive brands, packaging and creative for consumer products. Versatility allows Taja to manage multi-million dollar marketing accounts while also creating award-winning design for small businesses. Her talent has built P+W into one of the most in-demand, most-referred design houses in the Northeast. Honing her creative skills in both New York and Boston, Taja’s unique approach to a client-centric (and holistic) business model has been vital in consistently earning P+W graphic design and advertising awards over the years. Taja is not only intuitively creative, but also naturally approachable and engaging. Her clients appreciate her sense of humor, willingness to really listen and drive to surpass their expectations. A writer for Forbes, with a focus on creative leadering and brand innovation, Taja has also garnered numerous awards and accolades for her work and has been featured in: The Dieline, Graphic Design USA, Food Manufacturing Magazine, Packaging Magazine, American Package Design Awards, InTouch Magazine, Saveur, GDR UK and L’Odyssee Du Pack — both Innovation trend forecasting magazines and the Dieline to name a few. Additional to this, her clients have also earned media attention on the Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox Business Morning.

    • Taja Dockendorf, Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire
  • Branding: Beverage
    Your label is your first opportunity to teach, persuade, and transform what you're selling from product to brand. Design and branding expert Kirk Visola of Mind the Font discusses the main elements of beverage branding and the trends that are carrying them forward.
    • Kirk Visola
      , Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font
      Kirk Visola, Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font -

      Kirk Visola

      Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font

      Kirk Visola has been in the design industry for over 20 years and has worked with brands like Purina, Dole, E&J Gallo Winery, Foster Farms, and Motorola. Kirk is the owner of MIND THE FONT® is a Black-owned full service design agency specializing primarily in branding and packaging. From concept and strategy, to implementation and finish work, MIND THE FONT minds all aspects of your brand’s identity, down to the finest points of the font. They mine keen insights and create designs as meaningful and distinctive as your brand and products. They mind the concept. They mind the process. They are, MIND THE FONT.

    • Kirk Visola, Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font

Please note: All times US Eastern Time

  • Trademarks
    How do you keep your intellectual property -- processes, patents, recipes, designs and trademarks under your control? And how should you deal with the inevitable attacks from competitors, both established and copycats, as you grow? Seasoned CPG attorney Allison Roseman Hagey will take founders through some of the key legal touchpoints surrounding brand and product IP.
    • Allison Roseman Hagey
      , Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP
      Allison Roseman Hagey, Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP -

      Allison Roseman Hagey

      Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP

      Allison Roseman Hagey is the hiring partner at BraunHagey & Borden. She has over 15 years of experience in food law, policy, regulation, and food systems. Allison has represented Fortune 100 companies in international and national disputes and Department of Justice hearings. She has an extensive track record developing large-scale projects in the food and agriculture sector including creating and implementing federal policies generating over $1 billion in investment in over 200 food businesses. Allison led the creation of the nation’s premier food access and retail website connecting food entrepreneurs with funding opportunities, curriculum, tools, and webinars. Allison is a nationally-recognized leader, key note speaker, advocate, and author on food, agriculture, health policy, and equity.

    • Allison Roseman Hagey, Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP
  • Demand Planning
    As a small brand, it can be tempting to not invest in demand planning efforts at first. But, for many brands, that's often a mistake -- resulting in everything from out of stocks to lost ingredient costs. In this session, Shastri Mahedeo, CEO of Unioncrate (and a former beverage brand founder himself) shares why brands should not neglect this key part of their businesses.
    • Shastri Mahadeo
      , Founder & CEO, Unioncrate
    • Shastri Mahadeo, Founder & CEO, Unioncrate

Please note: All times US Eastern Time

  • 3:00 PM
    -
    3:45 PM
    Boot Camp Live Fundraising Panel Discussion
    What are some of the best ways to attract investors and how have their attitudes towards food and beverage brands changed during the pandemic? Our panel of VC investors discusses what moves the needle for them, and how they expect brand partnerships to function. 
    • Madeline Darcy
      , Managing Director, CircleUp
      Madeline Darcy, Managing Director, CircleUp -

      Madeline Darcy

      Managing Director, CircleUp

      Madeline Darcy is a leader in venture capital, with deep expertise across strategy, finance, and tech. Madeline currently serves as a General Partner at CircleUp Growth Partners, where she leads data-driven investments in early-stage consumer brands. She is also an active angel investor across the health and wellness sector. Madeline cares deeply about democratizing access to capital for entrepreneurs, and is excited to be part of the next wave of game changing companies. The daughter of an environmentalist and a teacher, Madeline grew up in an impact-oriented community. As one of 13 children in a blended family, she learned the values of teamwork, empathy, and hard work. She has always turned to these values when caring for and setting an example for her younger siblings. Having started her career at 14-years-old as a crew member at McDonalds, Madeline developed a clear understanding of customer-centricity at an early age. Her later experiences in store operations at The Walt Disney Company and as a campus rep at Apple Inc. furthered her appreciation for the importance of creating customer experiences that foster intense brand loyalty. As a consumer investor, Madeline brings a strong understanding of diverse customer demographics, as well as a deeply analytical approach to understanding business models - a skill developed during her years as a management consultant. Her multicultural upbringing and wide-ranging travels push her to continuously broaden her perspective and to help drive innovation in stale categories. Madeline is actively involved in communities that support inclusion and diversity, education, and financial literacy, and serves on the boards of Synergist, Crimson Bikes, and the HBS Association of Boston.

    • Alex Malamatinas
      , Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures
      Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures -

      Alex Malamatinas

      Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures

      Alex is the Founder and Managing Partner of Melitas Ventures, which he launched in November 2017. He serves on the boards of: Kin Euphorics, RIND Snacks, Nurture Life, NomNom, Verb Energy, Beekeeper's Naturals, and MUD WTR. Alex was previously a senior member of the investment teams at Tyrian Investments (seeded by Tiger Management) and Indus Capital (former Soros Partners), where he invested in global consumer companies. He began his career in Morgan Stanley's London and New York offices. Alex received his MBA from Wharton, with a Major in Finance, and BA in Political Science, with honors and distinction, from Stanford University.

    • Genevieve Gilbreath
      , Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures
      Genevieve Gilbreath, Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures -

      Genevieve Gilbreath

      Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures

      Genevieve has been an active entrepreneur in the consumer products space since 2002. For much of her career, her focus was on building & leading Natural Consumer Product Goods (CPG) companies. Most recently, from 2016 through 2018, she led SKU, the first and leading consumer products accelerator in the U.S. In 2019, she and Dan Graham co-founded Springdale Ventures to make investments in early stage consumer brand companies. She has also developed cross-cultural educational program for Princeton University, in India, and served as an adjunct professor at Baylor University. Genevieve was recognized in AustinInno’s 50 on Fire in 2018 for her leadership in CPG.

    • Madeline Darcy, Managing Director, CircleUp
    • Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures
    • Genevieve Gilbreath, Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures

    Watch Video

  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Sales Channels - Stores & Online
    • Betsy McGinn
      , CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm
      Betsy McGinn, CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm -

      Betsy McGinn

      CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm

      Betsy is the co-author of The Amazon Roadmap: How Innovative Brands are Reinventing the Path to Market, the quintessential start-to-finish guide for brands who want to launch, recalibrate, or optimize their Amazon business and ensure continued growth on this powerful platform. As Seventh Generation’s first eCommerce channel director, Betsy pioneered the company’s innovative eComm strategy and created a thriving multimillion-dollar partnership with Amazon and other key online retailers. Since founding McGinn eComm in 2014, Betsy has worked with hundreds of natural and specialty food and beverage brands to establish and strengthen their strategic direction on Amazon and their own Direct-to-Consumer eCommerce. From product development and profitability analysis to guiding organizational change, McGinn eComm leads clients through every step of this complex channel, helping to ensure successful and profitable online businesses. With more than a decade of eCommerce experience, Betsy is a thought-leader and regular speaker at workshops and conferences globally. Visit Betsy at mcginnecomm.com

    • Chris Moe
      , President & Co-Founder, Cartograph
    • Bill Sipper
      , Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC
      Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC -

      Bill Sipper

      Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC

      BILL SIPPER is a food and beverage industry leader who has guided numerous brands from concept to commercialization to category leadership. He held senior and C Level positions at leading brands including Evian, Nantucket Nectars, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla, Naked Juice and Clearly Canadian. Bill’s strategic expertise and executional focus helped those brands succeed and can help your brand succeed, too.? Consulting closely with client leaders as they consider a sale or acquisition, Bill has supported several brands through the process. (Naked Juice was sold to Pepsico, Fresh Samantha/Odwalla was sold to Coca Cola, and Nantucket Nectars was sold to Ocean Spray). Bill has significant international experience, and works with clients in Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East. He draws on this expertise to help international brands establish presence in the US and to help US brands expand internationally.? Bill is active in philanthropic causes: He served as president of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s clean water charity, Tear of the Clouds; was an advisor to The Walden Woods Project; and served on the Board of Directors of the National Osteoporosis Foundation.? Bill has been featured on Food Network’s “Unwrapped” and in the PBS documentary “The Water Wars.” He has been a featured speaker at Columbia University School of Business, The Bottled Water Congress (Torino, Italy), the Pan Arab Congress on Osteoporosis (Tunisia), and at virtually every major US food and beverage show, including Natural Products Expo, BevNet, Nosh Live and more. His articles have appeared in leading trade publications, and he is frequently quoted in media including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and the New York Times.

    • Betsy McGinn, CEO & Founder, McGinn EComm
    • Chris Moe, President & Co-Founder, Cartograph
    • Bill Sipper, Managing Partner, Cascadia Managing Brands, LLC
  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Marketing & Merchandising
    • Trent Moffat
      , Owner, Gotham Brand Managers
      Trent Moffat, Owner, Gotham Brand Managers -

      Trent Moffat

      Owner, Gotham Brand Managers

      Trent Moffat, is the owner at Gotham Brand Managers LLC, an independent sales and merchandising company for snack and beverage brands. After spending 20 plus years of experience in CPG sales, operations, manufacturing, marketing and finance with global brands such as Nestle and Heineken, he recognized the need for an effective and affordable option for new and existing brands to be successful in store. Trent began his career in 1992 with the largest US Heineken distributor and quickly became a top seller in their organization. After finishing his MBA, he was recruited by Nestle Waters in 1999 to manage corporate planning for their Home and Office division in Metro NY. In his last position with Nestle, as National Sales Manager for Home and Office division, Trent brought in new national business including JP Morgan Chase and successfully negotiated million dollar contracts with both the MTA and New York City Government offices. Seeking more entrepreneurial challenges in 2005 he discovered his first start up, a small juice company for kids based in CT called Waddajuice, co-founded by one of the founders of Snapple. Trent and his team quickly grew sales, adding large key accounts such as Toys-r-Us, CT Schools, Whole Foods, Fairway, and several national distributors. He was also responsible for sales with startup New Leaf Tea, helping drive sales in 2 years from $450,000 in 2007 to $4 Million in 2009 until its sale to Baywood International, a publicly traded Company in 2009. He subsequently founded Gotham Brand Managers in 2010. Trent currently lives with his wife and two boys in Westchester, NY and is a graduate of Syracuse University.

    • Kate Weidner
      , Founder & CEO, SRW
    • Trent Moffat, Owner, Gotham Brand Managers
    • Kate Weidner, Founder & CEO, SRW
  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Branding & Packaging: Beverages
    • Michael Zuckerman
      , President, Zuckerman Honickman
      Michael Zuckerman, President, Zuckerman Honickman -

      Michael Zuckerman

      President, Zuckerman Honickman

      Michael Zuckerman is the President of Zuckerman Honickman Inc ("ZH"), a privately held packaging company founded in the early 1900’s, which provides beverage clients with turnkey solutions for their procurement and packaging needs. ZH is one of the largest suppliers of Cans, Plastic and glass bottles to the beverage industry in North America and provides its' customers with high-quality, low cost, customized, packaging solutions. With sustainability always in mind, ZH has recently been focused on other alternative packaging solution, which has lead the company to partner with some of the leaders in the biodegradable space. Under Michael’s leadership, ZH has continued to strengthen its reputation for excellence, best of breed customer service, superior buying power, and industry knowledge. ZH enables beverage brands to capitalize on economies of scale associated with their can, glass and plastic purchases. Michael’s passion for the beverage industry has been an integral part in the companies tireless focus on beverage product development. ZH has been instrumental in helping many regional companies grow into national brand names, including but not limited to: Snapple, Honest Tea, Glaceau, Fuze Bai Brands, Body Armor, Spindrift, and many more.

    • Kirk Visola
      , Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font
      Kirk Visola, Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font -

      Kirk Visola

      Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font

      Kirk Visola has been in the design industry for over 20 years and has worked with brands like Purina, Dole, E&J Gallo Winery, Foster Farms, and Motorola. Kirk is the owner of MIND THE FONT® is a Black-owned full service design agency specializing primarily in branding and packaging. From concept and strategy, to implementation and finish work, MIND THE FONT minds all aspects of your brand’s identity, down to the finest points of the font. They mine keen insights and create designs as meaningful and distinctive as your brand and products. They mind the concept. They mind the process. They are, MIND THE FONT.

    • Michael Zuckerman, President, Zuckerman Honickman
    • Kirk Visola, Creative Director/Founder, Mind the Font
  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Branding & Packaging: Food
    • Billy Medof
      , COO, Procure Analytics
    • Taja Dockendorf
      , Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire
      Taja Dockendorf, Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire -

      Taja Dockendorf

      Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire

      Taja pioneered the unique path of Pulp+Wire (a brand strategy and launch firm) and built the business with the drive, creativity and vision that’s unique to entrepreneurs. Now she uses that same pioneering power to turn her clients into trailblazers in their own industries. Her own business experience coupled with degrees in both Industrial and Graphic Design are what drive her love (and success) for crafting impressive brands, packaging and creative for consumer products. Versatility allows Taja to manage multi-million dollar marketing accounts while also creating award-winning design for small businesses. Her talent has built P+W into one of the most in-demand, most-referred design houses in the Northeast. Honing her creative skills in both New York and Boston, Taja’s unique approach to a client-centric (and holistic) business model has been vital in consistently earning P+W graphic design and advertising awards over the years. Taja is not only intuitively creative, but also naturally approachable and engaging. Her clients appreciate her sense of humor, willingness to really listen and drive to surpass their expectations. A writer for Forbes, with a focus on creative leadering and brand innovation, Taja has also garnered numerous awards and accolades for her work and has been featured in: The Dieline, Graphic Design USA, Food Manufacturing Magazine, Packaging Magazine, American Package Design Awards, InTouch Magazine, Saveur, GDR UK and L’Odyssee Du Pack — both Innovation trend forecasting magazines and the Dieline to name a few. Additional to this, her clients have also earned media attention on the Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox Business Morning.

    • Billy Medof, COO, Procure Analytics
    • Taja Dockendorf, Founder, Creative Strategist, Pulp and Wire
  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Operations & Supply Choices
    • Shastri Mahadeo
      , Founder & CEO, Unioncrate
    • Amy Usiak
      , Business Partner, JPG Resources
      Amy Usiak, Business Partner, JPG Resources -

      Amy Usiak

      Business Partner, JPG Resources

      Amy Usiak is a Business Partner and Product Development lead for JPG Resources. With 20+ years industry experience, Amy understands product creation from concept through commercialization. ? She is the choreographer of the product development practices, building customized teams for each project, and ensuring the right expertise and perspective are working on your product. Because Amy has experience across the grocery store footprint, she understands the technical and strategic needs unique to each category, product platform and form factor. Her strong communication skills and compassion for clients leads to winning solutions for each new product launch. ? Amy received her Bachelors in Food Science from Michigan State University and Master's Degree in Food Science & Nutrition from Cornell University. Before JPG Resources, Amy worked for Post Foods and Kraft Foods Group.?

    • Pete Grego
      , Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co
      Pete Grego, Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co -

      Pete Grego

      Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co

      Pete Grego is the Director of Contract Manufacturing with Nor-Cal Beverages. Pete specializes in beverage brand building and beverage management. As well as customer development and strategic planning.

    • Shastri Mahadeo, Founder & CEO, Unioncrate
    • Amy Usiak, Business Partner, JPG Resources
    • Pete Grego, Corporate Director, Sales & Business Development, Nor-Cal Beverage Co
  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Legal: IP and Trademarks
    • Allison Roseman Hagey
      , Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP
      Allison Roseman Hagey, Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP -

      Allison Roseman Hagey

      Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP

      Allison Roseman Hagey is the hiring partner at BraunHagey & Borden. She has over 15 years of experience in food law, policy, regulation, and food systems. Allison has represented Fortune 100 companies in international and national disputes and Department of Justice hearings. She has an extensive track record developing large-scale projects in the food and agriculture sector including creating and implementing federal policies generating over $1 billion in investment in over 200 food businesses. Allison led the creation of the nation’s premier food access and retail website connecting food entrepreneurs with funding opportunities, curriculum, tools, and webinars. Allison is a nationally-recognized leader, key note speaker, advocate, and author on food, agriculture, health policy, and equity.

    • Allison Roseman Hagey, Partner, BraunHagey & Borden LLP
  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Fundraising
    • Madeline Darcy
      , Managing Director, CircleUp
      Madeline Darcy, Managing Director, CircleUp -

      Madeline Darcy

      Managing Director, CircleUp

      Madeline Darcy is a leader in venture capital, with deep expertise across strategy, finance, and tech. Madeline currently serves as a General Partner at CircleUp Growth Partners, where she leads data-driven investments in early-stage consumer brands. She is also an active angel investor across the health and wellness sector. Madeline cares deeply about democratizing access to capital for entrepreneurs, and is excited to be part of the next wave of game changing companies. The daughter of an environmentalist and a teacher, Madeline grew up in an impact-oriented community. As one of 13 children in a blended family, she learned the values of teamwork, empathy, and hard work. She has always turned to these values when caring for and setting an example for her younger siblings. Having started her career at 14-years-old as a crew member at McDonalds, Madeline developed a clear understanding of customer-centricity at an early age. Her later experiences in store operations at The Walt Disney Company and as a campus rep at Apple Inc. furthered her appreciation for the importance of creating customer experiences that foster intense brand loyalty. As a consumer investor, Madeline brings a strong understanding of diverse customer demographics, as well as a deeply analytical approach to understanding business models - a skill developed during her years as a management consultant. Her multicultural upbringing and wide-ranging travels push her to continuously broaden her perspective and to help drive innovation in stale categories. Madeline is actively involved in communities that support inclusion and diversity, education, and financial literacy, and serves on the boards of Synergist, Crimson Bikes, and the HBS Association of Boston.

    • Alex Malamatinas
      , Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures
      Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures -

      Alex Malamatinas

      Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures

      Alex is the Founder and Managing Partner of Melitas Ventures, which he launched in November 2017. He serves on the boards of: Kin Euphorics, RIND Snacks, Nurture Life, NomNom, Verb Energy, Beekeeper's Naturals, and MUD WTR. Alex was previously a senior member of the investment teams at Tyrian Investments (seeded by Tiger Management) and Indus Capital (former Soros Partners), where he invested in global consumer companies. He began his career in Morgan Stanley's London and New York offices. Alex received his MBA from Wharton, with a Major in Finance, and BA in Political Science, with honors and distinction, from Stanford University.

    • Genevieve Gilbreath
      , Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures
      Genevieve Gilbreath, Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures -

      Genevieve Gilbreath

      Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures

      Genevieve has been an active entrepreneur in the consumer products space since 2002. For much of her career, her focus was on building & leading Natural Consumer Product Goods (CPG) companies. Most recently, from 2016 through 2018, she led SKU, the first and leading consumer products accelerator in the U.S. In 2019, she and Dan Graham co-founded Springdale Ventures to make investments in early stage consumer brand companies. She has also developed cross-cultural educational program for Princeton University, in India, and served as an adjunct professor at Baylor University. Genevieve was recognized in AustinInno’s 50 on Fire in 2018 for her leadership in CPG.

    • Madeline Darcy, Managing Director, CircleUp
    • Alex Malamatinas, Founder and Managing Partner, Melitas Ventures
    • Genevieve Gilbreath, Co-Founder & General Partner, Springdale Ventures
  • 3:45 PM
    -
    4:30 PM
    Round Table Q&A: Route to Market
    • James Curley
      , Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands
      James Curley, Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands -

      James Curley

      Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands

      James Curley is a veteran of decades in the branded consumer packaged goods space, with an emphasis on developing natural, organic, and specialty food brands since launching a sales consulting business in 1986. Prior to that, he held positions in retail grocery; natural food store management/ownership, specialty distributor sales and national sales and marketing management. His comprehensive knowledge of the business made him a valued member of his client’s management teams, which have included Turtle Island Foods (Tofurky), Springfield Creamery (Nancy’s Yogurt), Powell & Mahoney, Mamma Chia and many others. James is a co-founder and Board of Directors member of Spinning Wheel Brands, a better-for-you brand innovator focused on sustainable and nutritious plant-based consumer brands and supporting diversity in management, supply chain partners and corporate governance. James also co-founded Upgrade Partners, offering shared outsourced sales management for emerging food and beverage brands operating in the omni-channel retail environment of grocery, mass, natural, alternative, convenience and ecommerce channels. James is a featured speaker at the popular industry seminars hosted by the Natural Product Consulting Institute founded by Bob Burke.

    • Tyler Lowell
      , Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune
      Tyler Lowell, Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune -

      Tyler Lowell

      Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune

      For the past eight years, Tyler Lowell has operated as the Managing Partner & CEO of C.A. Fortune, a full-service, privately-held consumer brands agency with a national scope that works in natural, conventional, and online channels. Tyler has led C.A. through several acquisitions, leadership gains, and dynamic partnerships, creating a continuum of vertically integrated services, including sales management, a sales accelerator, marketing and branding, insights, retail activation, and digital and e-commerce. Tyler sits on the board of Observa, the industry leader in driving retail sales insights, in addition to the school board for St. James Lutheran School, where his daughters attend elementary, and on the College of Business board of directors at Valparaiso University, his alma mater. He and his wife live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park with their two little girls and love spending time at the parks or out on the water.

    • James Curley, Co-Founder, Upgrade Partners, Co-Founder & EVP Sales, Spinning Wheel Brands
    • Tyler Lowell, Managing Partner & CEO, C.A. Fortune

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