Registration Opens; Breakfast

Beverage School Presentations + Networking

Beverage School: Crafting Success: Navigating Regulatory Pathways and Marketing Strategies for Beverages

• Emily Lyons

  , Partner, Husch Blackwell

  

  Emily Lyons

  Partner, Husch Blackwell

  Emily R. Lyons is a partner in the Washington, DC office of Husch Blackwell and co-lead of the Food Safety and Regulation Practice. Her practice focuses on the regulation of food, agricultural commodities and consumer goods with an emphasis on sanitary production, ingredient safety and advertising of products. Emily focuses her practice on counseling companies of all sizes and stages of innovation and marketing to ensure a safe and high-quality product, seamless market launch as well as meeting consumer expectations all while balancing regulatory compliance.

• Megan Beebe

  , Senior Associate, Husch Blackwell

  

  Megan Beebe

  Senior Associate, Husch Blackwell

  Megan Beebe is an attorney at Husch Blackwell and co-leads the Functional Food and Beverage Practice. She specializes in transactional matters, offering counsel on corporate governance, debt and equity financing (including angel investments, venture capital, and private equity), and mergers and acquisitions. Her experience spans working with early-stage startups to established operating companies within the food and beverage industry, including the functional and alcoholic beverage sectors. Megan also has significant experience assisting cannabis and industrial hemp clients with regulatory and transactional matters. Megan is a member of Naturally Boulder, a non-profit serving the natural and organic product industry in Colorado and is also a member of the International Cannabis Bar Association. Megan holds a B.A. from the University of Dayton, where she graduated summa cum laude, and a JD from the University of Denver, where she was honored as Order of the Coif for her academic excellence.

• Emily Lyons, Partner, Husch Blackwell
• Megan Beebe, Senior Associate, Husch Blackwell

Beverage School: Growing and Protecting Your Brand: Global Intellectual Property Protection and Related Due Diligence Matters

• Thomas Speiss III

  , Shareholder, Buchalter

  

  Thomas Speiss III

  Shareholder, Buchalter

  Tom Speiss represents brand owners. He handles US and global intellectual property (IP) portfolios, including securing and defending trademarks, copyrights and patents, and further handles related URL matters - which closely overlaps with trademarks. Tom further advises on product naming and packaging and handles related disputes, both informally and informally. Tom has developed particular skill working with early stage and maturing companies. He routinely handles IP due diligence matters for CPG companies seeking investment, as well as investors seeking to invest. He advises several CPG companies including Country Archer beef jerky, Good Culture cottage cheese, Health-Ade kombucha, JOT coffee, L-Nutra (the makers of the Prolon fasting mimicking diet), LooseLeaf whole-leaf tobacco, and Yerbae yerba mate, to name a few. Tom received his MBA from USC, his law degree from Villanova and his undergraduate degree from James Madison. Tom hikes and swims in his free time.

• Thomas Speiss III, Shareholder, Buchalter

Beverage School: Angel and Venture Capital Transactions

• Jeremy Halpern

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

  

  Jeremy Halpern

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

  Jeremy Halpern is a Partner at Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP and the Co-Chair of its Emerging Companies Group and its Food and Beverage Practice Group. Jeremy’s practice focuses on emerging and mature operating companies, private equity, venture capital and angel financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, executive and team compensation matters, and general support for high growth and privately held companies in technology, life sciences, and consumer products. Concurrently, Jeremy is a member of the board of Naturally New England, a non-profit serving the natural and organic consumer product industry, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the UCLA School of Law Resnick Center for Food Law & Policy. Previously, Jeremy served on the Board of Directors and the Investment Committee of MassVentures, an early stage venture capital fund geared toward technology companies in Massachusetts, and as the founder of Edible Ventures, the nation’s first angel group specifically investing in high growth food and beverage companies. Jeremy was also previously a Director and the Executive Chairman of The Capital Network, a Boston-based nonprofit serving entrepreneurs seeking high growth capital. Jeremy was previously the co-founder of a company in the mobile technology synchronization space. Jeremy is a prior recipient of the Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Award. Jeremy spent nine years teaching entrepreneurial leadership at Tufts University and has guest lectured at Babson, Harvard, Boston University, Tufts, MIT and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Jeremy received his B.A. from U.C. Berkeley, summa cum laude; phi beta kappa, and his J.D., from the UCLA School of Law.

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

Beverage School: Supplier and Partner Management

• Beth Brown

  , Founder, BJB Integrated Supply Strategy

  

  Beth Brown

  Founder, BJB Integrated Supply Strategy

  Beth J. Brown is a Supply Chain leader with more than 25 years of CPG experience leading and optimizing supply chain, operations, and integrated planning with a focus on continuous improvement and a passion for natural food and beverage brands. She has worked with Diageo, Pepsi Beverages, Reed's, JPG Resources, Edgewell, Gillette, among others. She specializes in designing planning and inventory strategies to create operating efficiencies and strong partnerships with co-manufacturers and suppliers.

• Beth Brown, Founder, BJB Integrated Supply Strategy

Beverage School: Meet the Angels

• Greer Tessler

  , Co-Founder, Simple Food Ventures

  

  Greer Tessler

  Co-Founder, Simple Food Ventures

  Greer started her career at MediaLink where she worked on the Albertsons & Safeway merger. She worked with the C-Suite of over 30 clients to help enhance strategy and build partnerships. After this, she went to Beyond, a design agency, where she brought in Albertsons as a client, helping to enhance employee engagement.  Greer left Beyond in 2019 when she was provided the opportunity to help the former CMO of Albertsons launch a brand incubator and consumer venture fund. With deep exposure to partnership development, a strong relationship with Albertsons, and fund exposure, Greer decided to launch a fund around the grocery's future.

• Rachel Mansfield

  , Co-Founder, GRT SHT Ventures

  

  Rachel Mansfield

  Co-Founder, GRT SHT Ventures

  Rachel Mansfield is a food entrepreneur, cookbook author, podcast host, managing partner at grt sht ventures, and the co-founder of a kid's snack company launching in 2025. And her favorite role of all - a mother to three amazing boys. Rachel has been running her food content site and social media platforms for nearly a decade. After being laid off from her job at a CPG company, she turned that moment into an opportunity to create, develop and share healthy recipes online and turned her side hustle into a multi-faceted business. She is a regular on the TODAY Show, has been featured in Time, Forbes and Shape, among other publications. Rachel focuses on healthy recipes and has a passion for inspiring others to cook in their kitchens too. She serves as an advisor for a handful of emerging CPG brands and loves to help start up companies scale using her platforms.

• Dace Graham

  , Managing Partner, 1731 MGMT

  

  Dace Graham

  Managing Partner, 1731 MGMT

  Dace is a global supply chain and logistics specialist with over 20 years of experience at Fortune 500 companies. With extensive international experience, particularly in Asia, Dace has developed products, streamlined manufacturing, and built strategic relationships. Known for reducing costs and generating savings, he balances logical efficiency with creativity. His career includes roles at Target Corporation, Porsche Cars North America, The Coca-Cola Company, and Johnson & Johnson. Dace also supports community initiatives in Atlanta and Minneapolis. He holds a B.S. in Business Management from Hampton University.

• Greer Tessler, Co-Founder, Simple Food Ventures
• Rachel Mansfield, Co-Founder, GRT SHT Ventures
• Dace Graham, Managing Partner, 1731 MGMT

Beverage School Roundtable Networking

One-to-One Retail Meetings

• John Lawson

  , Senior Forager, Local & Emerging Brands, Whole Foods Market

  

  John Lawson

  Senior Forager, Local & Emerging Brands, Whole Foods Market

  John Lawson is the Senior Local Forager for Whole Foods Market in the Northeast Region. John is proud of his role in supporting diverse brands & entrepreneurs, as well as working with suppliers of all sizes building partnership with Whole Foods Market. He is particularly focused on product development & developing strategy for marketing, promotion, & growth. John has worked in different roles at Whole Foods Market for more than 19 years.

• Charlie New

  , Global Category Manager, Whole Foods Market

  

  Charlie New

  Global Category Manager, Whole Foods Market

  Charlie is currently the Principal Category merchant for Refrigerated Beverages. He has been at Whole Foods Market for 13 years and has worked in several divisions and categories including the private label team, having worked his way up from the store level. Charlie lives in Denver with his fiancé and is an avid traveler and foodie.

• Glenn Figenholtz

  , SVP of Merchandising, Lowes Foods
• Charles Slezak

  , Director of Beverages, Lowes Foods
• Randy Ornstein

  , Sr Director of Beverages, GoPuff
• Rachel Krupa

  , Founder, The Goods Mart

  

  Rachel Krupa

  Founder, The Goods Mart

  With her finger on the pulse of better-for-you brands, Rachel Krupa is the Founder of The Goods Mart, a better-for-you, socially conscious convenience store which opened its doors in 2018 and now has three locations in New York City. As a professional “Snack Curator,” Rachel has deep insights into what makes a small brand stand out on the shelves with a goal of elevating emerging food brands to be household names, with a focus on female and diverse founders. She also offers personalized and customized snack curation for corporations, hotels, and beyond such as Standard Hotels in New York, Hotel Chelsea, The Smyth Tribeca, Jose Andres Catering, + more. Rachel is also the founder of Krupa Consulting, a boutique PR agency focused on food and wellness brands. She launched Thrive Market, Tastemade, Goop’s wellness vertical, Brownie Brittle, Barnana, Mercado Famous, Our Place, WTHN, Clean Market and played an integral part in the growth of MatchaBar, Milk Bar, LaColombe, The Class by Taryn Toomey, and many more. Rachel’s work as a leader in better-for-you food and wellness iterations has garnered her features in Fast Company, Marie Claire, New York Times, Today Show, and Vogue, among others. Rachel has graced Create & Cultivate’s annual list of forward-thinking women, and she is an advisor for Food Tank, Naturally New York, and New American Kitchen.

• John Lawson, Senior Forager, Local & Emerging Brands, Whole Foods Market
• Charlie New, Global Category Manager, Whole Foods Market
• Glenn Figenholtz, SVP of Merchandising, Lowes Foods
• Charles Slezak, Director of Beverages, Lowes Foods
• Randy Ornstein, Sr Director of Beverages, GoPuff
• Rachel Krupa, Founder, The Goods Mart

-- Main Session Starts --

Welcome Remarks + State of the Market: Supporting Innovation

• Charlie New

  , Global Category Manager, Whole Foods Market

  

  Charlie New

  Global Category Manager, Whole Foods Market

  Charlie is currently the Principal Category merchant for Refrigerated Beverages. He has been at Whole Foods Market for 13 years and has worked in several divisions and categories including the private label team, having worked his way up from the store level. Charlie lives in Denver with his fiancé and is an avid traveler and foodie.

• Sahra Nguyen

  , CEO, Nguyen Coffee

  

  Sahra Nguyen

  CEO, Nguyen Coffee

  Sahra Nguyen (“nu-win”) is the Founder & CEO of Nguyen Coffee Supply, America's first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean. Since 2018, the company has been importing green coffee through direct trade relationships and roasting in Brooklyn, NY. Nguyen fervently leads the company's mission to transform the industry through diversity, sustainability & cultural integrity, as evident through their work to destigmatize Vietnamese coffee and elevate robusta growing communities. Nguyen is often credited as the leader of the Vietnamese coffee movement in North America and has served as an expert voice on Good Morning America, Bloomberg TV, NY1, CNBC, The Drew Barrymore Show, and CBS Saturday Morning. She has been featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Forbes, VICE, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, and countless other media. A Vietnamese-American first generation entrepreneur-activist, Nguyen is also a member of the Gold House Collective Food & Beverage 2020 cohort, a leading network to celebrate and elevate the Asian American community. In 2021, Nguyen graced the July cover of Food & Wine as one of their 25 Game Changers and in 2023, she graced the cover of Inc. Magazine as one of their Most Dynamic Women Entrepreneurs. Additionally, the 2023 Sprudgie Awards awarded Nguyen "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence" for writing a new chapter in the story of Vietnamese coffee in America, and in June 2023 Crain's NY's "Diversity and Inclusion Awards" recognized Nguyen as an Emerging Leader. Sahra Nguyen's narrative shifting work through national media, social media and active involvement in industry events (ie. TEDx Speaker in 2019, inaugural member of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) Vietnam Chapter in 2020, a speaker at the Specialty Coffee Association Expo in 2022 and 2024, a speaker at Sintercafe’s International Coffee Week in 2023) has disseminated information about robusta coffee to a broad audience, reshaping perceptions within the retail sector and becoming a beacon of change in the industry Nguyen Coffee Supply products are available in all 50 states at Target, Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market, Gopuff, Krogers’ QFC, H-E-B, Nugget Markets, Bristol Farms, and more. Nguyen Coffee Supply also ships direct-to-customers in the U.S. through their website, Amazon, FreshDirect, Getir and Weee!.. Products are also available in restaurants and cafés including the iconic Boba Guys chain, in New York City, Washington D.C., Seattle, Boston, Kansas City and Los Angeles.

• Ryan Williams

  , Founder, FABID

  

  Ryan Williams

  Founder, FABID

  Ryan is the founder of FABID, a financial services and investment banking firm focused on CPG. Prior to FABID, he led finance and operations as CFO at RISE Brewing Co., a venture-backed coffee brand. Before RISE Brewing Co., Ryan was an investment banker at Houlihan Lokey, the country's leading advisor for mid-market branded consumer M&A.

• Patrick English

  , Owner & Vice President, Dana Distributors, Inc.

  

  Patrick English

  Owner & Vice President, Dana Distributors, Inc.

  Pat English is the owner & Vice-President of Dana Distributors Inc. in Goshen, NY. Dana employs 160 individuals that service the 5 counties north of the 5 boroughs in the Hudson Valley of NY. It was founded in 1970 by Fred C. Dana as an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler. Englash has 22 years working in the beverage industry. In 2009, he championed the task of building a soft-drink portfolio for Dana Distributors Inc. that today sells over 1.6 million CE’s and $20 million in gross revenue from 18 different non-alcohol suppliers. English is a board member & the treasurer of the Northeast Independent Distributors Association (NIDA).

• Jeff Klineman

  , Editor in Chief, BevNET

• Charlie New, Global Category Manager, Whole Foods Market
• Sahra Nguyen, CEO, Nguyen Coffee
• Ryan Williams, Founder, FABID
• Patrick English, Owner & Vice President, Dana Distributors, Inc.
• Jeff Klineman, Editor in Chief, BevNET

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Strategic Profile: KDP on Partnership and Progress

• Eric Gorli

  , Chief Commerical Officer, KDP

  

  Eric Gorli

  Chief Commerical Officer, KDP

  Eric Gorli is Chief Commercial Officer for Keurig Dr Pepper leading product commercialization, revenue management channel strategy and omni-marketing teams for the company’s hot and cold U.S. beverage business. He has been with the Company since the formation of Keurig Dr Pepper in 2018 having previously led Revenue Management and Commercial Strategy for Keurig Green Mountain. Eric has 25 years of experience in consumer products with a focus on beverages and specializing in developing pricing, promotional and packaging strategies that unlock top-line growth for leading brands. He worked in the US Coca-Cola System, leading revenue management for Coca-Cola North America. Eric is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering.

• Eric Gorli, Chief Commerical Officer, KDP

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Sponsored Workshop: Streamlining Beverage Development and Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• Derek Greer

  , Sr Director of Beverage R&D, Sensapure Flavors

  

  Derek Greer

  Sr Director of Beverage R&D, Sensapure Flavors

  - Global operations executive with technical expertise in liquids, foods, CPG, flavor/ ingredients and a long-standing record of achievement for driving innovation, leading project expansion, building high-performing teams, and harmonizing systems in a way that creates organizational agility. - Highly visible, accessible, and transformational leader who positively collaborates with all stakeholders and effectively reaches across disciplines to align scientific initiatives and expand the project pipeline. - Expert at bridging scientific research and connecting it to business initiatives with strong focus on ROI while creating critical tactical plans that streamline processes, improve efficiencies, and deliver significant revenue growth. - Career reflects a commitment to developing a workplace culture that is engaging, forward-thinking, inclusive, and transparent.

• Derek Greer, Sr Director of Beverage R&D, Sensapure Flavors

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Finance: Untold Strategies for Raises & Exits

• Bader Alam

  , Founder & Managing Partner, Full Frame Growth Partners

  

  Bader Alam

  Founder & Managing Partner, Full Frame Growth Partners

  Bader Alam is the Founder & Managing Partner of Full Frame Growth Partners, a consumer-focused growth equity firm based in Austin, TX. Bader also serves as an advisor and strategic partner to Life Time Fitness, the largest health club chain in the US. Previously, Bader was a senior investor at CAVU Consumer Partners where he partnered with, had active board involvement, or served as an advisor to brands including Vital Proteins (acquired by Nestle), Waterloo Sparkling Water (acquired by Eurazeo Brands), ONE Bar (acquired by Hershey) and Nulo Pet Food (acquired by Apax Partners). Full Frame Growth Partners is a consumer-focused growth equity firm that partners with entrepreneurs in building high-growth and disruptive businesses. Full Frame’s unique playbook includes partnerships with major retailers in the natural and fitness club channels and a network of advisors who are highly sought after thought leaders in the consumer brands space. Full Frame looks to make equity investments of $10mm-$50mm. You can find out more about Full Frame at www.fullframegp.com.

• Bader Alam, Founder & Managing Partner, Full Frame Growth Partners

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Tough Calls: Key Moments at Lemon Perfect

• Yanni Hufnagel

  , Founder & CEO, Lemon Perfect

  

  Yanni Hufnagel

  Founder & CEO, Lemon Perfect

  Yanni Hufnagel is the Founder and CEO of The Lemon Perfect Company, maker of Lemon Perfect, a delicious and refreshing flavored lemon water with zero sugar and no artificial flavors or sweeteners. Powered by half a squeezed organic lemon in every bottle, Lemon Perfect contains only 5 calories, is high in immune-boosting vitamin C, and is proudly certified Plastic Neutral. Beyoncé-backed Lemon Perfect is the fastest-growing brand in the Flavor-Enhanced Water category and is widely considered one of the most innovative emerging beverages in the marketplace. The company's mission is to sustainably reimagine bottled water by promoting great-tasting, healthy hydration—anytime, anywhere, and for everyone. The Lemon Perfect Company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Before starting Lemon Perfect, Hufnagel served as an assistant men’s college basketball coach, with stops at Nevada, California, Vanderbilt, Harvard, and Oklahoma. Hufnagel earned the reputation as one of the most dogged recruiters in America and was consistently lauded for signing nationally ranked recruiting classes. In Hufnagel’s 10 years coaching college basketball, his teams reached the NCAA Tournament six times.

• Yanni Hufnagel, Founder & CEO, Lemon Perfect

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Diageo Ventures: Sallie Jian on Emerging Brands, Investment, and Growth

• Sallie Jian

  , Head of North America, Diageo Ventures

  

  Sallie Jian

  Head of North America, Diageo Ventures

  Sallie oversees Diageo’s investments in North America and sits on boards of various portfolio companies. Formerly, she helped launch and was Head of SAP.iO New York (corporate venture and innovation arm of SAP). She worked with SAP’s Corporate Development team on startup and growth equity investment and M&A opportunities. Prior to SAP, Sallie was a VP at SeedInvest where she was Head of the Venture Capital team. She was also CFO and Head of Business Development at Savile Row Society, a men’s e-commerce startup. Sallie began her career in financial services at Morgan Stanley Technology Investment Banking in Silicon Valley and General Atlantic in NYC. She graduated from the Haas Business Program at UC Berkeley. Sallie has been recognized by CNBC & America on Tech as a leader in Venture Capital and NYC Women in Fintech as a Top 50 Women Transforming FinTech. She is a frequent public speaker and has been invited to speak at Nasdaq, AdWeek, Retail X, NFT.NYC, SmartCon, Miami Hack Week, Solana, VC Summit, Women's Alternative Investment Summit, Supply Chain Revolution, and various business schools such as Fordham, Cornell Johnson, IESE, Stanford GSB, UC Berkeley.

• Sallie Jian, Head of North America, Diageo Ventures

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Lunch, Sampling & Taste Radio Studio

Building the Category: Pitching NA Retailers

• Nick Bodkins

  , CEO & Founder, Boisson

  

  Nick Bodkins

  CEO & Founder, Boisson

  Founder and CEO of non-alcoholic spirits retailer Boisson, Nick Bodkins has shepherded the brand to the forefront of the category. Graduating from the University of Central Florida, he cut his teeth at Universal Studios Orlando, orchestrating special event products a la Halloween Horror Nights and more. Relocating to New York, he accepted a job at Ogilvy Mather where he led campaigns for the likes of American Express and Barclays before spending two years at Tough Mudder, producing massive events and races throughout the United States and Canada. Following a stint at Active Network in Dallas, he became Director of Client Development for Simon Data. In the midst of the Global Pandemic, he and his pregnant wife sought non-alcoholic alternatives to continue the ritual of their post-work drink together. Recognizing a void in the market, the couple imagined a retail space tailored to sophisticated alternatives to alcohol. 43 days after devising the initial concept, Boisson—French for drink—opened its first brick-and-mortar locale in Brooklyn. Fueled by his experience powering marketing campaigns and events for numerous household name brands and uncontainable enthusiasm, he transformed the company from a nascent idea into a consumer favorite with five locations in New York, two in Los Angeles, one in San Francisco and Miami, a booming e-commerce business, and an even brighter future.

• Emily Heintz

  , Founder & Chief Curator, Sèchey

  

  Emily Heintz

  Founder & Chief Curator, Sèchey

  Emily launched Sèchey in 2021 after over two decades in the luxury retail industry. She created the concept based on her own journey living alcohol free and discovering sophisticated alternatives for socializing and connecting. In a nod to the French word for “dry,” Sèchey is a destination for celebration fueled by the no/low movement and the cultural shift to non-alcoholic and functional beverages instead of alcohol.

• Chris Marshall

  , Founder, Sans Bar

  

  Chris Marshall

  Founder, Sans Bar

  Chris Marshall, founder of Sans Bar, the first non-alcoholic bar in North America established in 2017, has emerged as a leading figure in the non-alcoholic beverage industry. His virtual academy has been instrumental in the establishment of over 52 non-alcoholic bottle shops and bars globally since 2022. Renowned as a beverage consultant and mental health advocate, Marshall's pioneering efforts have garnered attention from major media outlets, including CNN, NPR, and Men's Health Magazine.

• Nick Bodkins, CEO & Founder, Boisson
• Emily Heintz, Founder & Chief Curator, Sèchey
• Chris Marshall, Founder, Sans Bar

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Sponsored Workshop: Craft the Perfect Collagen Beverage: Differentiate Your RTD with BCP®

• Ginger Waller

  , Manager, Technical Services, Gelita

  

  Ginger Waller

  Manager, Technical Services, Gelita

  Ginger manages Technical Services for food and beverage applications at GELITA USA. Ginger says she has the best job in the world as she gets to play with confectionary, edible and drinkable formulations! Ginger received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in Business from Briar Cliff University and a Certificate in Food Science from Washington State University. Ginger is a member of GELITA’s Global Application Technical and Product Development Team and is actively involved in research and development of innovative solutions of collagen products.

• Angie Rimel

  , Marketing Communications Manager, Gelita

  

  Angie Rimel

  Marketing Communications Manager, Gelita

  Angie leads GELITA’s marketing efforts in North America where she can pursue her passion in living GELITA’s motto of Improving Quality of Life.  Industry media in the Health & Nutrition and Food industries often consult with Angie on topics where collagen proteins are relevant (healthy aging, sports/active nutrition, bone & joint health, beauty from within, and food specialties and so much more)! Reach out to learn more about #AmazingCollagen#AmazingGelatin!

• Ginger Waller, Manager, Technical Services, Gelita
• Angie Rimel, Marketing Communications Manager, Gelita

Growing Strong While Staying Lean

• Reza Mirza

  , Group CEO, Icelandic Glacial

  

  Reza Mirza

  Group CEO, Icelandic Glacial

  Reza Mirza brings over 20 years of consumer product experience as Group CEO of Icelandic Glacial, a leading super-premium natural spring water. Prior to Icelandic Glacial, Mirza was President of Activate Drinks. Mirza has also held several management positions at Nestle Waters North America and at Colgate-Palmolive in New York and with Bosch in India. Reza graduated with a degree in biochemistry from the University of Madras, India, An MBA from the International Management Institute, New Delhi, and a Masters in International Business and International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.

• Reza Mirza, Group CEO, Icelandic Glacial

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Sports Marketing Evolution 1: Using NIL

• Andrew Mavis

  , Founder & CEO, 98Strong

  

  Andrew Mavis

  Founder & CEO, 98Strong

  Andrew Mavis, a 2020 graduate of George Washington University and a three-time All-American water polo player for the university team, has emerged as a trailblazer in the realm of collegiate athletics as the CEO & Founder of 98Strong. His journey began before the legalization of Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) in April 2021, inspired by his own experiences and fueled by a desire to empower student athletes. Aiming to fill a void in his post-collegiate athletic landscape, Andrew founded 98Strong as a platform dedicated to supporting NCAA student athletes across various sports and universities. His vision is to equip the 98% of athletes who won’t turn professional in their sport of excellence to maximize their collegiate experience and beyond. 98Strong has rapidly evolved into a thriving community boasting over 25,000 NCAA student-athletes across all three divisions and 1,000 universities. By harnessing the influence of these elite Gen Z student athletes and employing cutting-edge technology alongside white glove agency services, 98Strong has become a top innovator in the NIL arena. Andrew's commitment to delivering tangible results is evident in 98Strong's partnerships with renowned brands such as OLIPOP, C4 Energy, Vuori, and Brooks Running. Through strategic collaborations and a steadfast focus on key performance indicators (KPIs), 98Strong is redefining the intersection of collegiate athletics and brand engagement.

• Manny Lubin

  , Co-Founder, Slate Milk

  

  Manny Lubin

  Co-Founder, Slate Milk

  Manny Lubin is a Co-Founder of Slate Milk, a protein drink brand available nationwide in over 15,000 stores including Target, Walmart, Publix, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Kroger, Albertsons, and others.

• Andrew Mavis, Founder & CEO, 98Strong
• Manny Lubin, Co-Founder, Slate Milk

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Sports Marketing Evolution 2: The New Pro Partnership

• Mubarak Malik

  , CEO & Founder, barcode

  

  Mubarak Malik

  CEO & Founder, barcode

  Mubarak “Bar” Malik spent 10 years working in the NBA as an Athletic Performance Coach for the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his career, Bar has trained and worked with big names like Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony,  Wayne Ellington, Hugh Jackman, Ryan Seacrest, Halle Berry and Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates. With a background in Athletic Performance and Sports Science, and his extensive experience with nutrition, Bar developed Barcode while working for the Knicks to optimize the performance of his players. He saw the need for a healthier alternative to the popular sports drinks that already exist, and Barcode is the first plant-based, hydration drink on the market with added benefits and ingredients like Vitamin D from a shiitake mushroom, B6, B12, magnesium and adaptogens. Barcode has now become one of the fastest growing functional beverages in the market.

• Mubarak Malik, CEO & Founder, barcode

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New Beverage Showdown Semifinal Round

• Mike Schneider

  , CMO, BevNET / NOSH / Brewbound

  

  Mike Schneider

  CMO, BevNET / NOSH / Brewbound

  Mike Schneider is BevNET’s CMO and the co-host of Taste Radio podcast. Mike has over 20 years of experience building products and brands. Mike loves soccer and will talk your ear off about the Arsenal. His favorite holidays are St. Totteringham’s Day and Michael Thomas Day.

• Janki Gambhir

  , Senior Director, Marketing - Red Tree Beverages, The Coca-Cola Company North America
• Lexy Prosszer

  , Investment Principal, Btomorrow Ventures

  

  Lexy Prosszer

  Investment Principal, Btomorrow Ventures

  After graduating from the London School of Economics, Lexy started her career as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank, focusing on the consumer and retail industry. She was later recruited into BAT’s M&A team, where she was an integral part of the founding of Btomorrow Ventures. Lexy speaks six languages, has started the Binspired series and has been nominated to represent BAT as a Future Young Leader at the Confederation of British Industry Next Gen Conference.

• Max Baumann

  , Founder & CEO, Basemakers

  

  Max Baumann

  Founder & CEO, Basemakers

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

• Ray Latif

  , Editor/Producer, Taste Radio, BevNET

  

  Ray Latif

  Editor/Producer, Taste Radio, BevNET

  Ray has been with BevNET since March 2011 and oversees strategic planning and content for the Taste Radio podcast, BevNET's education platform and various aspects of BevNET conferences.

• Mike Schneider, CMO, BevNET / NOSH / Brewbound
• Janki Gambhir, Senior Director, Marketing - Red Tree Beverages, The Coca-Cola Company North America
• Lexy Prosszer, Investment Principal, Btomorrow Ventures
• Max Baumann, Founder & CEO, Basemakers
• Ray Latif, Editor/Producer, Taste Radio, BevNET

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Sponsored Workshop: Developing Functional Beverages with ActiveTR®? Micro-encapsulated Creatine and Other Bioactives

• Samil Ozavar

  , President, Innovative Food Technologies

  

  Samil Ozavar

  President, Innovative Food Technologies

  Samil Ozavar received his BSc in Electronics Engineering from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. He established a company distributing specialty food ingredients and later founded a Research Center focused on developing better-for-you products at the ITU-KOSGEB Technopark, which developed several blockbuster products. In 2013, he moved to the US and joined the snacks manufacturer Cibo Vita Inc. as their SVP of Strategy & Innovation, playing an instrumental role in the company’s impressive growth. Several award-winning products, including the Yoggies Probiotic Yogurt Covered Fruit Bites, were developed by his team. He co-founded Innovative Food Technologies in 2019, a company focusing on next-generation better-for-you products in the Dietary Supplement and Beverage categories. With a focus on sugar replacement, fiber enrichment, probiotics, and prebiotics, he holds several patents on novel products and functional ingredients.

• Sinead Bleiel

  , Founder Director, Anabio Technologies Ltd

  

  Sinead Bleiel

  Founder Director, Anabio Technologies Ltd

  Dr. Sinéad Bleiel received her BSc in Food Science from the University College Dublin, UCD, Ireland; MSc in Protein Chemistry from Michigan State University, MSU, USA and Ph.D in Microencapsulation from Teagasc Moorepark and University College Cork, Ireland. Dr Bleiel's doctoral studies focused on encapsulation technologies using protein material for enhanced bioactive delivery, functionality and bioavailability in the body. Following this, Dr. Bleiel transitioned into the food and dietary supplement industry to commence research development with a leading multinational companies in the area of functional foods and therapeutics. Dr. Bleiel, has since founded her own technology companies, AnaBio Technologies (Food and Dietary Supplements applications) and InsuCaps Ltd (pharmaceutical applications). To date, AnaBio’s encapsulation technologies have been commercialised to stabilise ingredients for food and beverage applications, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical applications.

• Samil Ozavar, President, Innovative Food Technologies
• Sinead Bleiel, Founder Director, Anabio Technologies Ltd

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