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Beverage School Roundtable Networking

Welcome to BevNET Live Summer 2026

State of the Market: Emerging Brands at Mid-Year

• Trent Moffat

  , Founder, Gotham DSD

  

  Trent Moffat

  Founder, Gotham DSD

  Trent Moffat is the founder of Gotham DSD (Direct Store Delivery), an independent distributor and sales organization focused on scaling emerging snack and beverage brands across the New York Metro market. Recognizing the need for cost-effective, high-performance distribution, Trent built Gotham DSD to help brands grow efficiently in one of the country’s most competitive retail environments. With over 25 years of experience spanning sales, manufacturing, marketing, and finance—including roles with global leaders such as Nestlé and Heineken—Trent brings a well-rounded, operator-first perspective to brand building. He also built and scaled one of the largest national merchandising companies, supporting leading brands such as LaCroix, Oatly, Our Home, and FIJI Water, which he successfully sold in 2022.

• Jennifer Ross

  , Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Swoon

  

  Jennifer Ross

  Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Swoon

  Jennifer Ross is the co-founder and co-CEO of Swoon, the zero-sugar beverage brand reinventing the classics, like lemonade and iced tea. She co-founded the brand alongside her friend and former Harvard Business School classmate, Cristina Ros Blankfein. Jennifer was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 6 and has long been an advocate for the advancement of diabetes research. While still in high school, she founded and organized Rock the Cure, a concert to benefit Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), which raised over $200,000. Now, she’s tackling sweetened beverages, knowing they’re the #1 source of added sugar. With Jennifer at the helm, Swoon is on track to eliminate one billion grams of sugar from the supply chain. Prior to receiving her M.B.A, Jennifer worked on marketing and operations at Fanvision, and previously served as an Analyst at Goldman Sachs in the Merchant Bank’s Real Estate Group. She holds a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A from Harvard Business School.

• Daniel Grubbs

  , Managing Director, William Hood & Company

  

  Daniel Grubbs

  Managing Director, William Hood & Company

  Daniel Grubbs is a Managing Director and Head of the Food & Beverage Practice at William Hood & Company. He is a senior executive with extensive experience operating, investing in, and acquiring high-growth consumer businesses. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Grubbs served as Chief Venturing & Investment Officer at PepsiCo, where he founded and built PepsiCo Ventures, the company’s global corporate venture capital platform. Under his leadership, the group deployed capital across three funds into early- and growth-stage companies spanning Consumer, AgTech, and Wellness, with portfolio companies generating more than $1.5 billion in aggregate revenue and 12 successful exits. In parallel, Mr. Grubbs led M&A scouting and evaluation for sub-$300 million transactions and played strategic leadership roles in acquisitions including Siete, Poppi, SodaStream, KeVita, and Bare. He holds a BS and MBA from the University of Southern California.

• John Lawson

  , Senior Local Forager, Whole Foods Market

  

  John Lawson

  Senior Local Forager, Whole Foods Market

  John Lawson has been a Forager for the last 4+ years of his 21 year career at Whole Foods Market, covering the Northeast from New Jersey and New York up through Massachusetts and Maine.  He identifies and supports emerging CPG brands that embody Whole Foods Market’s commitment to quality and sustainability.  With experience in product development, brand strategy, and retail partnerships, John operates at the intersection of entrepreneurship and consumer insight—helping mission-driven makers translate big ideas into scalable, shelf-ready success stories.  Passionate about strengthening local supply chains and championing the next generation of CPG innovators, John brings a creative yet pragmatic perspective to his work—connecting the dots between passion, product, and the practical realities of growth in today’s dynamic food marketplace.

• Trent Moffat, Founder, Gotham DSD
• Jennifer Ross, Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Swoon
• Daniel Grubbs, Managing Director, William Hood & Company
• John Lawson, Senior Local Forager, Whole Foods Market

The Challenger Mindset

• Tom First

  , Founder & CEO, Culture Pop

  

  Tom First

  Founder & CEO, Culture Pop

  Tom First is the founder and CEO of Culture Pop Soda, the fast-growing “functional soda” brand that he started in 2020.  Culture Pop has burst onto the national stage over the last 5 years to become one of the fastest growing brands in the country. He is also the founder of Nantucket Nectars, which he co-founded with his college friend and business partner Tom Scott in 1989. Over the course of 14 years, under the leadership of Tom and Tom, Nantucket Nectars grew from a grass-roots start-up company to one with national prominence. For five consecutive years, the company was named to Inc. Magazine’s “Inc. 500” list of fastest-growing U.S. companies. While building Nantucket Nectars, Tom won several awards, including the Mercury Award for Advertising, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award, and several leadership and design awards. Nantucket Nectars was sold to Cadbury Schweppes (now Dr. Pepper Snapple (DPS – NYSE) in 2002.  A serial entrepreneur, Tom went on to found and lead several other ventures including Owater and Eleven Technologies, which was sold to Trimble (TRMB – Nasdaq) in 2005.  For years, Tom has invested in and advised emerging businesses in the food and beverage industry.  He was an early investor in Health-Ade Kombucha, Essentia Water, and Q Drinks.  He has a passion for product development, branding and team building.  Tom presently sits on the Boards of Directors of 88 Acres and Counter Culture Coffee. Tom graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in American History in 1989. Tom and his wife, Kristan (also a Brown graduate) live in Concord, Massachusetts and have three children.  Tom is a runner, swimmer, cyclist, races sailboats, and plays any other sport or game where competition can be found.

• Tom First, Founder & CEO, Culture Pop

Sponsored Workshop: Scrappy to Scaling - How Bero Uses AI to Fuel Hyper-Growth

• Dan Weisbach

  , Vice President , L.A. Libations

  

  Dan Weisbach

  Vice President , L.A. Libations

  Dan Weisbach is Vice President at L.A. Libations, where he leads the SoCal Incubation Program and supports emerging beverage brands across retail strategy, distribution, and growth. He works closely with founders, retailers, and industry partners to help brands navigate the evolving CPG landscape. Dan is passionate about identifying emerging trends and helping brands build sustainable momentum at retail. He brings a practical perspective shaped by day-to-day work with both early-stage and established beverage companies.

• Neha Soi

  , SVP of Operations, Bero

  

  Neha Soi

  SVP of Operations, Bero

  Neha Soi is the SVP of Operations at BERO, a premium non-alcoholic beer line co-founded by Tom Holland. She is an experienced and ambitious global supply chain operations leader with a proven track record of driving results for both established and emerging brands across diverse industries. With expertise in building sustainable business models, she excels in executing end-to-end supply chains with an acute focus on leveraging systems, technology and now AI to drive results. Neha's extensive experience spans retail and DTC operations, reflecting her passion for translating organizational vision into measurable business growth and profitability. Her impressive career includes roles at The Lemon Perfect Company, L'Oréal, Taco Bell, Starbucks, and more, showcasing her commitment to excellence and innovation.

• Akash Raju

  , Co-Founder & CEO, Glimpse

  

  Akash Raju

  Co-Founder & CEO, Glimpse

  Akash Raju is the Co-Founder & CEO at Glimpse. Akash was previously a Program Manager at Microsoft, a Software Engineer at Tesla, and a Software Engineer at VERISIGN. Akash has also served as a Teaching Assistant at Purdue University and a Researcher at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Akash Raju is a graduate of Purdue University, where he studied computer engineering and entrepreneurship. Akash also holds a bachelor's degree in industrial management from the same school. Prior to attending Purdue, he attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

• Dan Weisbach, Vice President , L.A. Libations
• Neha Soi, SVP of Operations, Bero
• Akash Raju, Co-Founder & CEO, Glimpse

Retailer Profile: Vitamin Shoppe

• Nicolletta Payne

  , Senior Director of Merchandising, The Vitamin Shoppe

  

  Nicolletta Payne

  Senior Director of Merchandising, The Vitamin Shoppe

  Nicolletta is a Senior Director of Merchandising at The Vitamin Shoppe, where she leads the On the Go and Protein categories in the specialty retail channel, driving growth across ready-to-eat, ready-to-drink, and protein businesses. Since joining the company in 2018, she has focused on identifying emerging trends, building strong brand partnerships, and bringing innovative, high-performing products to The Vitamin Shoppe customers.   She is known for her forward-looking approach to merchandising and her ability to translate consumer trends into scalable retail opportunities. Nicolletta is passionate about the intersection of convenience, functionality, and better-for-you innovation, and is always focused on what’s next in the evolving wellness space.

• Nicolletta Payne, Senior Director of Merchandising, The Vitamin Shoppe

Meet the Investor 1: Elly Truesdell, New Fare Partners

• Elly Truesdell

  , Managing Partner, New Fare Partners

  

  Elly Truesdell

  Managing Partner, New Fare Partners

  Elly Truesdell is Founder and Managing Partner of New Fare Partners, a venture capital fund centered on the modern eater and evolving American palate. As Global Director of Local Brands & Product Innovation at Whole Foods Market for nearly a decade, Elly played a pivotal role in driving the growth of the natural and organic food industry, propelling some of today’s most iconic consumer brands. Elly was the co-founder of Made by Nacho, a premium pet food brand with chef Bobby Flay. She was a Partner at venture fund Almanac, before founding New Fare. Elly holds a B.A in Media Studies from the University of Virginia, and sits on the Boards of Made by Nacho, Nara Organics, Tacombi & Actual Veggies.

• Elly Truesdell, Managing Partner, New Fare Partners

Weiss’ Wisdom

• Ben Weiss

  , Founder & CEO, Crooked Pop

  

  Ben Weiss

  Founder & CEO, Crooked Pop

  Ben Weiss is a highly respected entrepreneur and visionary in the beverage industry, best known as the founder of the iconic better-for-you drink brand Bai Brands and the innovative beverage companies Crook & Marker and Crooked (Crooked Pop and Crooked Tea). In 2009, Ben started Bai in the basement of his Princeton, New Jersey townhome, building it from a scrappy startup into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands of its time. His strategic leadership and consumer-first innovation led to Bai’s 2017 acquisition by Dr Pepper Snapple Group for $1.7 billion, one of the most notable exits in the beverage category. After Bai, Ben continued to disrupt conventions with Crooked, a USDA Organic, zero-sugar line of alcoholic beverages. He is also the author of Basementality, chronicling his entrepreneurial journey from basement startup to billion-dollar brand builder. Widely recognized for his impact on the beverage landscape, Ben is frequently featured in major media outlets and is a sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, innovation, and challenging industry norms. His work continues to influence how brands rethink flavor, health, and category growth.

• Ben Weiss, Founder & CEO, Crooked Pop

Sponsored Workshop: Intelligent Formulation to Scalable Manufacturing - Bridging the Gap Between Beverage Innovation and Production Success

• Craig Fortin

  , CEO, MetaBrand

  

  Craig Fortin

  CEO, MetaBrand

  Craig Fortin is the founder and CEO of MetaBrand, the turnkey beverage formulation and manufacturing company he built starting in 2016. With a platform engineered to take brands from concept to commercialization, MetaBrand has established a proven track record across three of the industry's most demanding categories — alcohol, Delta-9 THC-infused beverages, and functional wellness drinks — backed by highly scalable production capabilities that grow with a brand from early development runs through national distribution. Under Fortin's leadership, MetaBrand operates as a true commercialization partner: combining proprietary formulation expertise, regulatory acuity, and co-manufacturing infrastructure to give emerging and established operators the speed and precision needed to compete at the highest levels of the beverage market.

• Nick Andlinger

  , VP of Business Development, MetaBrand
• Brad Nichols

  , Director of Business Development, MetaBrand

  

  Brad Nichols

  Director of Business Development, MetaBrand

  As a flavorful & seasoned beverage executive, Brad Nichols has over two decades of experience in comanufacturing, flavor, formulation, packaging, retail & wholesale distribution along with brand ownership – specializing in the entire beverage process. Currently, Brad serves as Director, Business Development at MetaBrand located in Edison, NJ, one of the Top 3 Formulation & Comanufacturing businesses for Beverages in the United States. Brad ‘s prior professional experience includes senior leadership at Alltech, Best Bev, Dogfish Head Brewing, Flavorman & Moonshine University, Heidelberg Distributing, Sheehan Family Companies, Wild Pack & additional organizations. Brad holds a B.A. from Western Kentucky University and is actively pursuing a Master of Science in Library Science with a focus in Beverage Education & Research, and has completed trainings at U.C. Davis, Seibel Institute, Brewing & Distilling Analytical Services, along with being an instructor at Moonshine University - the official education site of the Kentucky Distillers Association.

• Craig Fortin, CEO, MetaBrand
• Nick Andlinger, VP of Business Development, MetaBrand
• Brad Nichols, Director of Business Development, MetaBrand

Lunch, Sampling & Taste Radio Studio

Disruption at Scale: A Conversation with Athletic Brewing CEO Bill Shufelt

• Bill Shufelt

  , Co-Founder & CEO, Athletic Brewing Company

  

  Bill Shufelt

  Co-Founder & CEO, Athletic Brewing Company

  Bill Shufelt is the visionary co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing Company, America’s largest dedicated non-alcoholic brewer. As an avid outdoor enthusiast and busy professional, Shufelt recognized the limitations alcohol placed on achieving his goals, leading him to embrace an alcohol-free lifestyle in 2013. Frustrated by the lack of satisfying non-alcoholic options, Shufelt decided to develop a range of brews that wouldn’t affect a drinker the next day. So, in 2017, Shufelt left a successful career in finance to establish the first U.S. brewery and taproom dedicated entirely to non-alcoholic beer, despite skepticism from industry insiders. Since its debut in 2018, Athletic Brewing has grown to become the sixth-largest craft brewer and the 15th-largest overall brewing company in the U.S. Athletic is the number one selling non-alcoholic beer brand in America, with nearly 20% market share. In 2025, Fast Company named Athletic one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies. With over 190 prestigious taste awards, Athletic brews have become a staple on retail shelves and restaurant menus nationwide, and are now available at over 75,000 locations. The company operates custom breweries in Connecticut and California and donates up to $2 million annually to protect and restore outdoor spaces worldwide via its Two For The Trails environmental grant program, the largest of its kind in the craft brewing industry. Athletic Brewing is also a proud Certified B Corporation.

• Bill Shufelt, Co-Founder & CEO, Athletic Brewing Company

Sponsored Workshop: Turning AI Into Front-Line Growth and Margin Impact

• Srinivas Jagannathan

  , Chief Product Officer, BevGenie

  

  Srinivas Jagannathan

  Chief Product Officer, BevGenie

  Srinivas Jagannathan is the Chief Product Officer at BevGenie, where he leads the development of an AI-powered platform transforming how beverage suppliers access, analyze, and act on their own data and market intelligence. A seasoned product leader and entrepreneur, Srinivas has worked across the full spectrum of enterprise software — from global technology enterprises, through publicly-traded SaaS, to founder-led startups he's built and led. His experience spans product strategy, applied AI, and large-scale data systems, with a focus on turning complex data into actionable business outcomes.

• Shyam Jayakumar

  , CEO, BevGenie

  

  Shyam Jayakumar

  CEO, BevGenie

  Shyam Jayakumar is the Founder & CEO of BevGenie, an emerging AI-driven intelligence platform helping beverage organizations turn fragmented commercial data into faster, more actionable business decisions. Through BevGenie and ConsumerIQ, Shyam is focused on helping beverage suppliers and commercial teams reduce decision latency, improve execution visibility, and move from passive reporting toward execution-oriented growth. A seasoned technology and data leader with more than 25 years of experience, Shyam has led high-impact digital transformation initiatives at global organizations including MicroStrategy, Salesforce, and Information Builders. He brings a unique combination of product vision, enterprise integration expertise, AI strategy, and operational execution to solving complex business challenges. Shyam is also the Founder of Twenty20 Systems, a global consulting and integration practice supporting enterprise clients across data, automation, analytics, and AI-driven workflow initiatives. His work sits at the intersection of AI, commercial intelligence, and scalable systems architecture — helping organizations operate faster and compete more effectively in an increasingly fragmented market landscape.

• Gauri Sharma

  , Head of Data & Analytics, BevGenie

  

  Gauri Sharma

  Head of Data & Analytics, BevGenie

  Gauri Sharma is the Analytics Lead and Industry Advisor at BevGenie, where she helps translate real-world beverage industry decision-making into next-generation AI and decision intelligence capabilities. She plays a key role in ensuring the platform reflects how commercial, sales, and strategy decisions are actually made across the three-tier ecosystem. With over 20 years of experience, Gauri has led insights and analytics functions at Beam Suntory, Pernod Ricard, and Constellation Brands.

• Srinivas Jagannathan, Chief Product Officer, BevGenie
• Shyam Jayakumar, CEO, BevGenie
• Gauri Sharma, Head of Data & Analytics, BevGenie

How Dirty Shirley Cleaned Up

• Adam Kost

  , Founder, Dirty Shirley

  

  Adam Kost

  Founder, Dirty Shirley

  Adam Kost is a consumer and beverage executive with a proven track record of building, scaling, and exiting brands across both startup and global CPG environments. As Founder and CEO of Dirty Shirley, Adam led the creation of a nationally distributed ready-to-drink cocktail brand, ultimately culminating in its acquisition by Sazerac, one of the largest spirits companies in the United States. His experience spans brand building, commercial strategy, and operational execution, with a particular strength in identifying emerging consumer patterns and translating them into high-growth businesses. Adam has held senior leadership roles across several prominent beverage companies. He served as Vice President of Marketing at Waterloo Sparkling Water, where he played a key role in the company’s successful exit, and at Milestone Brands, where he led portfolio growth and innovation initiatives. At ZX Ventures, the venture and innovation arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev, he led global eCommerce strategy, including assortment, sourcing, and operations across multiple markets. Earlier in his career, Adam held marketing and sales roles at Heineken and Pernod Ricard, working across some of the industry's most recognized brands. In addition to his operational roles, Adam is the founder of Heroes and Villains, a consulting firm that guides early-stage consumer startups through brand development, go-to-market strategy, and scaling. Through this work, he partners with founders to identify emerging trends, refine positioning, and build brands that resonate with modern consumers. Adam holds an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin with a focus on Finance and Marketing, as well as degrees from Johnson & Wales University in Hospitality and Restaurant Management. He is known for combining creative brand vision with disciplined execution, and for his ability to recognize patterns in consumer behavior and market dynamics to drive sustained growth and long-term value creation.

• Adam Kost, Founder, Dirty Shirley

Meet the Investor 2: Hank Spring, KarpReilly

• Hank Spring

  , Managing Partner, KarpReilly

  

  Hank Spring

  Managing Partner, KarpReilly

  Hank Spring is Managing Partner of KarpReilly, a Connecticut-based investment firm focused on growth companies across the consumer ecosystem. Since joining the firm in 2009, Hank has worked with businesses across food, beverage, restaurants, retail, wellness, apparel and other consumer categories. KarpReilly’s investments span multiple parts of the beverage value chain, including brands (Spindrift, KeVita, Koia and Remedy Organics, among others), retail (Hungryroot), and co-manufacturing (DrinkPAK). The firm’s broader current and exited portfolio includes Made In Cookware, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, Stio, WILDE Chips and Café Zupas. Hank holds a B.S. in Management, with concentrations in Finance and Accounting, from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.

• Hank Spring, Managing Partner, KarpReilly

Retailer Management: Launching and Maturing with Whole Foods

• Laura Taylor

  , Founder, Mingle

  

  Laura Taylor

  Founder, Mingle

  Laura Taylor is the founder of Mingle Mocktails, the leading non-alcoholic beverage brand in the U.S. Recently named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Entrepreneurs, Laura launched Mingle in 2017 after growing frustrated with the lack of elevated, inclusive options in the non-alcoholic space. After two decades working across sales, marketing, strategy, and operations, she set out to create a booze-free brand that didn’t compromise on taste or social experience. Today, Mingle Mocktails’ ready-to-drink sparkling mocktails and functional beverages are sold nationwide at Amazon, Target, Walmart, Total Wine, and Whole Foods.

• Samantha Fletcher

  , Senior Category Manager, Adult Non-Alcohol, Whole Foods Market

  

  Samantha Fletcher

  Senior Category Manager, Adult Non-Alcohol, Whole Foods Market

  In her role as Senior Category Merchant for the newly established Adult Beverage Non-Alcoholic category at Whole Foods Market, Samantha Fletcher is helping to shape what this new category means for both the company and the broader alcohol and beverage industry. The Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage category is gaining attention within the industry and retail world as one of the fastest growing divisions with the potential to reshape the larger category as a whole. Drawing on her previous experience in category management, she brings a strong industry perspective and is focused on building a futurefacing program rooted in innovation, strategy, and cross-functional collaboration. Samantha also brings a unique blend of on-premise experience to a team with deep off-premise retail expertise—broadening the lens through which the category is developed and executed. Prior to joining Whole Foods Market in June 2024, Samantha held roles at H-E-B Grocery, The Culinary Institute of America and Walt Disney World, gaining experience across restaurant and retail operations as well as ever changing and growing culinary environments. Her background has given her insight into how to thoughtfully connect consumers with high-quality products and has equipped her to lead in a space where trends evolve rapidly and shopper expectations continue to grow. Outside of work, her passion for food and beverage continues. She enjoys supporting local businesses— especially those started by industry friends and former students that she’s seen grow from the ground up—and staying connected to what’s current and emerging across the industry.

• Laura Taylor, Founder, Mingle
• Samantha Fletcher, Senior Category Manager, Adult Non-Alcohol, Whole Foods Market

Retailer Profile: Walmart

• Dee Charlemagne

  , Senior Director, Emerging Brands, Walmart

  

  Dee Charlemagne

  Senior Director, Emerging Brands, Walmart

  Dee Charlemagne is Sr. Director of Emerging Brands at Walmart Merchandising, focused on helping Walmart discover emerging brands earlier and become the retailer founders choose first. Before Walmart, Dee co-founded AVEC, the premium beverage brand, where she experienced firsthand what it takes to build, fundraise, and scale a modern consumer brand. She now brings that founder perspective into how Walmart partners with the next generation of high-growth brands.

• Dee Charlemagne, Senior Director, Emerging Brands, Walmart

Sponsored Workshop by Kaizntree

New Beverage Showdown Semifinals: The First 12 Make Their Pitch!

BevNET Live Cocktail Party