Mel Landis is the President of OLIPOP, the leading functional soda brand founded in 2018. With more than three decades of experience at industry-leading brands, Mel has helped drive growth across a range of business models both domestically and internationally. Prior to joining OLIPOP, he held executive roles at Coca-Cola, BodyArmor, The Clorox Company and Kraft General Foods, where he played a key role in sales growth, marketing and commercial strategy. Throughout his career, Mel has focused on improving enterprise productivity and financial performance through organizational redesign, cost reduction and re-allocation of capital to growth investments. Mel graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Business Administration, and currently resides in Florida with his family.

Anthony Kiedis, co-founder, JOLENE Coffee, is an American rock icon and the lead vocalist of the legendary rock band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis and his bandmates have produced five top-five albums and have sold over sixty million records worldwide since their formation in 1983.

Marisa Bertha is Chief Strategy Officer at Liquid Death, the healthy beverage company and one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic brands. Since joining in 2022, she has driven the company’s growth strategies by accelerating top line sales, expanding retail distribution, and successfully entering additional beverage categories. She leads fundraising and investor relations efforts, helping the company raise over $150 million and achieve a $1.4 billion valuation. Prior to Liquid Death, Marisa spent nearly a decade at 7-Eleven, where she served as Vice President of Growth and Head of 7-Ventures, the company’s corporate venture arm. She managed sourcing, diligence, and deal structuring for dozens of investments, primarily high-growth beverage brands. Her portfolio achieved top quartile venture capital returns and had three exits. She served as a board observer for three portfolio companies. In parallel to leading the venture arm, Marisa pioneered the 7-Eleven emerging brands strategy, built the merchant team from the ground up, launched the nationally recognized annual Brands with Heart showcase, and tested hundreds of better-for-you products in thousands of 7-Eleven stores nationwide. Marisa began her career at Deloitte Consulting working with Fortune 500 clients in the retail and TMT sectors. She holds a BBA from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She is a 2025 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Marisa resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and two energetic children.

John Frost serves as Chobani’s Chief Customer Officer where he is focused on advancing Chobani’s position in the marketplace for both Chobani and La Colombe branded products. Prior to joining Chobani, Frost served as Senior Vice President of Retail for PepsiCo Foods US where he was responsible for the commercial and retail P&L management of Frito-Lay products across national and regional customers. Frost joined PepsiCo in 2000 as a District Sales Leader and has held numerous positions in sales operations, customer leadership, and headquarter commercial sales roles specifically within Frito-Lay and across most U.S. geographies.

Scout brings a dynamic blend of academic excellence and industry prowess to the non-alcoholic beverage space. With a degree in Neuroscience from MIT, Scout's professional journey spans over seven years in management consulting at McKinsey and venture capital at M13. In 2020, Scout co-founded a highly successful better-for-you CPG brand, DEUX, innovating a functional alternative with edible cookie dough. During the pandemic, Scout sought ways to sustain a balanced lifestyle, navigating the challenge of enjoying an occasional glass of wine while prioritizing her morning Peloton classes. During this time, Scout began exploring non-alcoholic drinks that allowed her to relax without sacrificing the next day. She quickly recognized the industry's potential for growth among consumers just like her. In 2021, Scout connected with the De Soi team before the brand's official launch. At the age of 27, she assumed the role of CEO, alongside co-founders Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan. Under Scout's leadership, De Soi's presence in retail has grown to over 6,000 doors, with retail revenue up 150% YoY and big names that include Whole Foods Market, Target, Sprouts Farmers Market, Publix, Fresh Thyme, BevMo, and Total Wine & More.

Jack Belsito is currently the CEO of VOSS Americas. He is also the former CEO of Health Ade, former Managing Partner of First Beverage Group, and from 2009-2018 he served as Group CEO for VOSS of Norway. Belsito is the former CEO of the Snapple Beverage group and a long-time senior executive for Cadbury Schweppes' North American beverage business. He has more than 35 years of experience in the consumer products industry and over 20 years in beverages with companies such as Procter & Gamble, Pepsi, Snapple and Cadbury Schwepps Americas Beverages. A graduate of Boston University and a native of Worcester, Mass., Belsito lives in New York City.

Megan Klein is the founder of Little Saints, a brand of non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits powered by mushrooms. As a two-time brand founder and three-time wellness entrepreneur, Klein boasts one successful exit (The Fresh Factory, a plant-based foods manufacturer) and one failure (FarmedHere, the one-time largest indoor aquaponic farm in the U.S.). Before diving into entrepreneurship, she was an environmental attorney for Earthjustice. Klein created Little Saints in 2021 as a solution to a problem that many face: the work hard, play hard mentality surrounding booze took a toll on her health, but the non-alcoholic options on the market left much to be desired. With the help of an expert food scientist, Klein developed Little Saints: zero sugar, non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits fueled by mushrooms that capture the flavor, feeling, and enjoyment of alcohol—without the hangover. Klein has been featured on Shark Tank Season 16, Marketplace Morning Report (2022, 2024), Taste Radio, Second Life Podcast, and more.

Ralph D. Crowley Jr. is the President and CEO of Polar Beverages, the largest privately owned sparkling beverage bottler in the country. He has been in this position since 1992. Under Ralph’s leadership, Polar has grown from $18M to over $1B. Key acquisitions of manufacturing facilities that accelerated the grow of the company included Adirondack Beverages in Scotia NY, Polar South of Fitzgerald Georgia, and Polar Texas Bottling in Temple Texas. Ralph and his siblings also own Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton, Massachusetts. Ralph was President from 1981 till 1982 when he stepped down to become the Treasurer in 1992. Ralph received his BA from Bowdoin College and his MBA from Clark University.

Russell Wallach is the President of Live Nation Entertainment’s Global Media & Sponsorship business, leading strategy, growth, and execution for the world’s most impactful brand partnerships in live music. He oversees a team of over 700, connecting brands with 150+ million fans each year across more than 50 countries through Live Nation’s unmatched scale, including 50,000 concerts, 5,000 touring artists, 300+ venues, and 250+ global festivals. Under Russell’s leadership, Live Nation has become the go-to partner for brands looking to drive cultural relevance and deep fan engagement through unforgettable live experiences. He has built award-winning programs for some of the world’s most recognized companies — including Coca-Cola, Mastercard, Citi, Bacardi, PayPal, and 7-Eleven — while also spearheading investment partnerships with emerging brands like Liquid Death, about-face, and JOLENE, helping to scale products that resonate with fans across the live ecosystem. Prior to Live Nation, Russell held leadership roles at Clear Channel Entertainment, SFX Entertainment, and ProServ, where he played a key role in shaping the modern sponsorship landscape — from integrated brand campaigns to landmark stadium and arena naming rights deals. He holds a degree in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

As CEO, Ben is the driving force behind Yerba Madre's regenerative mission, leading initiatives to certify more of their products and ingredients to the ROC Gold level, conserve and restore the Atlantic Forest, and improve the livelihoods of producers and harvesters. Previously, as the CEO of Harmless Harvest, Ben restructured the company’s supply chain, achieving 100% zero waste, converting to 100% rPET bottles, and implemented regenerative ag practices across 50% of their farms. Prior to Harmless Harvest, Ben worked in various brand marketing and innovation roles at leading companies including Plum Organics, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, and Interbrand.

With over two decades of experience in the beverage industry, Jill Sites has built a career at the intersection of innovation, brand building, and strategic sales. Currently serving as Executive Vice President of Sales atThe Pathfinder, a trailblazer in the non-alcoholic space, Jill also founded Soak Up the Sites in 2024, consulting across a vibrant roster of forward-thinking beverage brands including Little Saints, Moth Drinks, and others. Previously, Sites was Vice President of Wholesale Sales at Boisson, where she drove exponential growth in national partnerships and built a wholesale division for a robust portfolio of non-alcoholic brands. Prior to that, she played pivotal roles at Betty Buzz, Redwood Brands, and Breakthru Beverage Group, spearheading national campaigns, launching innovative brand strategies, and leading dynamic sales teams in emerging craft and premium categories. Her roots in operations and entrepreneurship—from scaling Greenbush Brewing Co. to helming her own PR firm—underscore a holistic, ground-up understanding of how to connect products with consumers in authentic and scalable ways. A seasoned speaker and brand advocate, Jill Sites brings unmatched insight into trends shaping the modern beverage landscape, including the rise of functional drinks, the evolution of non-alc, and the art of blending culture with commerce.

Chris Hunter is a successful entrepreneur focused on creating, investing in, and scaling pioneering brands. He is the Co-Founder of iconic alcohol brands Four Loko and Not Your Father’s Root Beer, and plant based brand, Koia. As CEO of Koia, he has led the brand to become the leader in refrigerated plant based protein, with distribution into over 35,000 retail locations across the country including Whole Foods, Starbucks, Kroger, 7 Eleven and is currently focused on scaling Koia into the leading plant-based nutritional platform through both category and channel expansion. Furthermore, Hunter founded Perspective Projects, his venture capital arm, in 2016, which has invested in brands such as Ghost, Factor, Wilde, Vive Organics, among others. Hunter grew up in Northeast Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Marketing and currently lives in Miami with his wife and three young sons.

Dan Lourenco is the CEO and Co-Founder of GHOST, a global sports nutrition and energy brand known for its disruptive collaborations, ingredient transparency, and loyal community. Though fitness has always been a passion of his, Dan’s professional journey started outside the industry, as a commercial pilot and flight instructor in his early twenties, before he made the leap into sports nutrition. A self-proclaimed cereal connoisseur and sneaker enthusiast, Dan teamed up with longtime friend and now Co-Founder, Ryan Hughes, to launch GHOST in 2016. What started as a self-funded venture on the floor of Dan’s apartment has grown into a category-defining lifestyle brand that resonates with consumers worldwide. Under Dan’s leadership, GHOST has become known for industry-first brand collaborations, innovative content, and strategic partnerships with athletes and influencers. In October 2024, Dan and the team announced a majority sale to Keurig Dr Pepper, valuing the company at $1.65 billion, a milestone that underscores the brand’s rapid growth and cultural impact. And while the GHOST story is just getting started, Dan remains committed to creating a brand that helps people feel and perform their best - wherever they are in life.

Manny Lubin is a Co-Founder of Slate Milk, a strength and energy brand that sells high protein milk shakes and iced coffees. He is a graduate of Northeastern University.

Kurt is a retail industry veteran with extensive experience in beverage across the supplier landscape, grocery industry, and category leadership across convenience. In his current capacity as Head of North America Merchandising for Couche-Tard, he is leading efforts to drive growth across all strategic in-store product categories, with a heavy focus on packaged and dispensed beverages.

Kurt Seidensticker is a NASA aerospace engineer turned serial entrepreneur and wellness innovator and strong consumer analytics background. He founded Vital Proteins and defined an entire new category of dietary supplements and defined an entirely new category of lifestyle consumer goods. He successfully led Vital’s strategic acquisition by Nestle Health Sciences, making him one of the most successful consumer entrepreneurs of the past decade. He is now the Founder and Managing Principal of Starshot Ventures, a venture studio and venture capital firm with a portfolio of emerging consumer brands. He is also the Co-Lead Investor on Ghost Energy.

Jackie Atlas is the Managing Director at Jolene Coffee, where she leads brand and portfolio strategy, go-to-market execution and oversees overall operations. A global brand and innovation leader with over a decade of experience, Jackie has driven growth for some of the world's most iconic consumer brands. Prior to Jolene, Jackie held key roles on global brand teams at leading CPG and F&B companies, including Reckitt and AB Inbev/Zx Ventures, developing deep expertise across the beverage, personal care and wellness categories. Her career has spanned both powerhouse brands and scrappy start-ups, giving her a unique perspective on how to scale with agility and purpose. A passionate builder at heart, Jackie thrives at the intersection of creativity and strategy. After years advising and working alongside early-stage brands, she's now channeling that energy into building Jolene from the ground up, alongside an incredible team of creatives, operators, and partners.

Sally Lyons Wyatt is the leading global consumer packaged goods and foodservice industry advisor. She is a go-to expert and frequent keynote speaker on future-forward consumer and retail insights, industry trends, and a multitude of topics related to F&B, Nonfood, sustainability, emerging categories, and more. Lyons Wyatt also leads a global team of industry experts. She is frequently quoted about the latest trends and insights in national business media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and leading CPG trade media publications. In her prior role as EVP and practice leader for Circana’s Global CPG division, Lyons Wyatt drove integrated client initiatives and managed the company’s center store and produce account teams. She has more than 25 years of industry expertise in partnering with Fortune 500 clients. She leverages Circana data to optimize a wide range of strategies with clients – from consumer and media to merchandising and supply strategies. Lyons Wyatt is a two-time “Top Women in Grocery” recipient and a proud executive sponsor of Circana’s Early Career Professionals Business Resource Group.

Kyle Fitzpatrick is the founder of paperboy ventures, a media platform connecting the next generation of breakout consumer brands with early-stage investors and top talent. A seasoned CPG operator, Kyle has held leadership roles at brands like Red Bull, Numerator, IQBar, and The Feel Good Lab. He currently serves as a strategic advisor to Pizza Wine and is an active member of The Angel Group. Outside of work, Kyle coaches varsity basketball in his hometown of Woodbury, CT, where he lives with his wife and three young children.

Rob Welcome is a broker and consultant for the convenience channel, and the founder of Welcome Beverage Partnerships   Rob entered the CPG industry in 1999 with Tradewinds, a tea company where he spent eleven years learning all aspects of the beverage business as their Director of National Accounts, departing there in 2010, after it was purchased by Nestle. He then moved to New Leaf Tea as the Vice President over national accounts for the convenience channel. In 2011, he founded Welcome Beverage Partnerships, with a goal of specializing in the convenience channel by offering strategic direction and consultation to both small and very large retailers and brands, towards building lasting partnerships for all involved.

Alyssa Arnold is a partner at The Angel Group, bringing over 14 years of experience investing in and advising early-stage companies through periods of growth and acquisition. In 2022, she founded Pearl Influential Capital, a syndicate that raised over $1.5 million across 12 deals before being acquired by Cherub Investments. Alyssa lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and four children.

With a background consulting on innovation and insights projects with big-beverage, and a penchant for old-fashioneds but not hangovers, Lewie dove head first into the non-alc space with Flyers Cocktail Co, building the future of drinking with award winning sparkling, non-alcoholic cocktails, to help New Yorkers and the world imbibe, and live their life without compromise (hangovers). Lewie is a TedX speaker, Guinness World Record holder, Freediving Instructor, wingsuit pilot and proud father of a rambunctious Australian Shepherd. Lewie has worked on fast-pace projects with global and local teams at Budweiser, Bud Light, Red Bull, NFL, NHL, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo and helps start-ups scale through VC Incubator introductions, brand strategy and marketing. Lewie managed a world-first and USA's biggest beverage activation; live-syncing of 80,000 Bud Light Touch-Down Glasses to scoring moments at SuperBowl LII, working with NFL, Anheuser-Busch and Buzz Connect. Lewie believes in a future where consumers have more choice during traditional alcohol occasions, across alcoholic, low-alc, non-alc, and cannabis beverages.

Nicholas Giannuzzi is currently a Founding Partner at Humble Growth, an investment firm with a $312 million debut fund dedicated to propelling disruptive companies that are changing the ways we eat, drink, feel, and live. Prior to founding Humble Growth, Mr. Giannuzzi was the Founder and Managing Partner of Giannuzzi Lewendon LLP, previously known as The Giannuzzi Group, LLP, the leading law firm in the high-growth food, beverage, and personal care industries. Founded in 2011, the firm currently represents over 1,000 consumer products companies, as well as some of the leading private equity funds, distributors, and multinational companies operating in these sectors. Although Nick is well-regarded in the health and wellness space generally, he has always been most passionate about helping founders. In addition to providing a comprehensive range of day-to-day services, under Nick’s direction, he has advised some of the most successful start-up companies in the world, including Glaceau (creator of VitaminWater and SmartWater), BodyArmor, Pirate’s Booty, Pretzel Crisps, Vita Coco, Califia Farms, KRAVE, HappyBaby, Essentia, Vital Proteins, Siggi’s, RXBar, Tate’s Bake Shop, Schmidt’s, Oatly, Bumble Bee Tuna, Hu Products, Hello Products, GT’s Kombucha, Kevita, Sir Kensington’s, WTRMLN WTR, Orgain, KOPARI, and many more, creating over $10 billion in exit value for clients. Nick and his co-founders at Humble Growth have recently acquired a $32 million minority stake in Momentous, a fast-growing business that seeks to bring to the masses the kind of products used by professional athletes and the military. Most notably, Nick represented BodyArmor in Coca-Cola’s largest-ever brand acquisition by which Coca-Cola purchased the remainder of BodyArmor for $5.6 billion at an enterprise value of $8 billion. The Giannuzzi Group was named The Deal’s 2018 “Food & Beverage Law Firm of the Year” and accepted The M&A Advisor’s “Cross Border Deal of the Year” award at the 11th Annual M&A Awards in 2019 for its involvement in the acquisition of Yucatan Foods by Landec Corporation. Nicholas attended Harvard University, New York University School of Law, and currently resides in Greenwich, CT with his wife and family.

Shane Powers, co-founder of JOLENE Coffee, is an entrepreneur, father and former Survivor contestant. He is passionate about good, quality coffee, believing in its ability to bring people together, and shares a weekly coffee ritual with his longtime friend Anthony Kiedis - the inspiration behind his latest venture, JOLENE Coffee. Shane’s proudest accomplishment is raising his son, Boston, who is now a nationally ranked basketball coach.

Josh Wand is the Founder and CEO of ForceBrands, a strategic talent for consumer brands that provides end-to-end hiring solutions designed to help today’s most innovative companies match talent strategy to growth strategy. Josh is also the founder of PINATA, a task management software that optimizes operational field management and data transparency. His latest endeavor, The Family Fund, is a specialized venture capital firm he launched alongside fellow entrepreneurs that invests in top-tier firms and repeat entrepreneurs.

Lou Prignano is a longtime executive with KDP and its associated companies. He has more than 30 years of M&A and Brand Licensing experience with over 50 completed deals. Some of those key deals involved the Keurig/ Dr Pepper Snapple merger; Snapple Beverage Group, Bai Beverages, Nantucket Nectars, Hawaiian Punch, Orangina/Yoo-Hoo, Halls Cough Drops, Trident Gum as well as nearly 30 independent beverage distributors. Key distribution agreements/ investments include Body Armor, Vita Coco, Bai Beverages, Core Hydration, and High Brew Coffee.

Jennifer Cabrera is a partner at A.Y. Strauss and leads the firm’s Cannabis Group. With a background in litigation and a reputation as a persistent problem solver, Jennifer is known for her highly organized, responsive, and client-centered approach. She works tirelessly to help clients navigate the complex legal landscape of cannabis law with efficiency and precision. Jennifer advises cannabis businesses throughout New Jersey and New York, providing strategic guidance on regulatory compliance, state and local licensing, and fundraising. She works with companies of all sizes, from startups to multi-state operators, and often serves as outside general counsel. Through her leadership, clients benefit from full-service legal support in collaboration with A.Y. Strauss’s broader capabilities. Before joining the firm, Jennifer led the New Jersey branch at one of the nation’s top-ranked cannabis law firms for six years, where she supported the development and growth of businesses throughout the state. Earlier in her career, she managed her own boutique law firm focused on commercial litigation and arbitration. Jennifer began her legal career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she represented clients in complex commercial disputes. She completed her LL.M. at the University of Cambridge, Clare Hall, earned her J.D. at Harvard Law School, and holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. Jennifer is deeply involved in leadership, education, and community initiatives. She serves on the board of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council and previously held a position on the Board of Trustees of the Harvard Club of New York City. In addition to her legal practice, she has served as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law and St. John’s University School of Law, and as a visiting lecturer at Duke University School of Law. Jennifer is also a frequent speaker at cannabis industry conferences, where she lends her expertise to shape conversations around law, business strategy, and equity in the evolving cannabis landscape. Her accomplishments have been recognized by Best Lawyers in Cannabis Law (2023–2025) and New York Super Lawyers in 2022.

Brandon Pollock is the founder and CEO of Theory Wellness, established 2015, which is the country’s largest employee owned cannabis company, with cannabis licenses in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio.  Theory’s beverage products, including New England’s top selling THC beverage, “Hi5,” have recently been introduced to the hemp derived national market via both state by state alcohol distribution channels as well as direct to consumer sales. 

As founder and CEO of BevNET, John Craven is a widely-recognized authority on the beverage industry and he is frequently cited in mainstream media. His vision shapes the editorial, publishing, and positioning of all of BevNET's properties, including BevNET.com, NOSH.com, BevNET Magazine, Brewbound.com and their associated conferences. John is a graduate of Boston College with a BS in Marketing and Computer Science.