Bill Creelman is the Founder of Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc. Founded in Charlestown, MA in 2010, today Spindrift is one of the fastest-growing brands in the country. Inspired by his upbringing in Western MA, his summers spent living and working on the island of Nantucket, and his longtime passion for unprocessed, seasonal, and fresh ingredients, Bill started Spindrift in 2010. At the time, no one had created sparking beverages using real squeezed fruit - so Bill and team were not only inventing a product but also an entire process. From sourcing the best-tasting fruit from farms to creating production processes to respect and celebrate that fruit. Through many years of trial and error, Spindrift has become a household name. Today, Spindrift products are available nationwide in retailers like Target, Costco, and Starbucks, and the Spindrift team has grown to over 175 passionate employees who are dedicated to making every beverage a positive force of nature. Bill lives outside of Boston with his wife, Harley, and their 4 kids.

Chris Lansing is a seasoned Chief Executive Officer known for her transformative leadership in both entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 environments. With a proven track record spanning companies such as Health-Ade, Nature’s Bakery, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, PepsiCo, Hershey’s and Procter & Gamble, Chris excels in driving growth and profitability across a breadth of consumer brands and categories.   Combining big CPG business discipline with entrepreneurial zeal, Chris specializes in revitalizing consumer brands and strengthening business models while preserving their entrepreneurial values and agility. Her strategic prowess extends across the business, with equal focus on driving consumer preferred innovation and topline growth and improving core business operations to improve overall cost structure.   Recognized for her team-building skills, Chris fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation, empowering teams to achieve ambitious goals and drive organizational excellence. Her commitment to talent development and mentorship has been instrumental in cultivating high-performing teams capable of navigating complexities and seizing opportunities.   Chris holds an M.B.A. from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor’s in Economics and Public Policy from Swarthmore College. With expertise in growth acceleration, turnarounds, M&A, and strategic planning, Chris is poised to continue shaping the consumer industry with her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to driving meaningful results.

A 25-year consumer packaged goods industry veteran, Bob is Managing Director of First Bev, a private equity firm that invests in innovative and transformational beverage brands, helping them grow and stand out in a dynamic and competitive industry. In addition to Health-Ade, First Bev has backed other industry-leading brands including Essentia Water, Q Mixers, Laws Whiskey and Drizly. Bob’s background includes two years at KeVita, maker of sparkling probiotic drinks and kombucha, where he led a high growth commercial strategy that accelerated the company’s already steep growth trajectory and resulted in PepsiCo’s largest acquisition in over 5 years, paying a premium multiple to buy a leader in the emerging functional beverage space.  Prior to KeVita, he spent 17 years at PepsiCo in leadership positions across business development, customer development, strategic planning and product commercialization and developed a strong track record for architecting and staffing teams for growth and leading them to above-plan results.  Bob lives in South Pasadena, CA with his wife, Kelly, and their two daughters. His volunteer work includes two terms on the Board of Trustees of the Mayfield Junior School in Pasadena where he chaired the Finance and Audit Committee. In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoys playing ice hockey in Pasadena’s adult leagues. He holds a BA from Denison University, where he also played on the men’s soccer team.

Maria Stipp is the CEO of Suja Life, the leading functional wellness platform and parent company of Suja Organic and Vive Organic. She has an impressive leadership track record and a deep understanding of the food and beverage market. Her most recent role was with Sapporo-Stone Brewing Company where as CEO she doubled the size of the business and oversaw its successful acquisition by Japanese beer manufacturer Sapporo. Previously, Stipp was the CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Company where during her tenure, the company achieved the number #1 IPA in the US. She sits on the board of Siete Family Foods, California Olive Ranch and Monte Vista Farms. Prior to entering the craft brewing world, Stipp was President of ecoATM, an automated kiosk business that enables consumers to sell or recycle their electronics for instant cash. Following her pivotal role in developing the commercial strategy for Redbox and Coinstar, The New Venture Team at Redbox, later oversaw the acquisition of ecoATM. Before joining ecoATM, Stipp was the Executive Vice President of the Owned Properties Business Unit at Activision. Maria was responsible for the Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and Tony Hawk franchises as well as the task of new IP invention. She also successfully launched Skylanders, a new IP that became a $1 billion franchise. Previous roles include working in sales, marketing, and new business development at Vivendi Universal Games, Miller Brewing Company and Kellogg Sales Company. Stipp started her career in retail management at the Nash Finch Company. Stipp holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, and is a proud mother of teenage twins (boy and girl), enjoys running and spending time with her family.

Dr. Sebastian Dreher is Managing Director of Döhler Ventures US and has been leading early-stage investments into next generation food and beverage brands since 2016.   He is based in Venice Beach, California, and has been an active part of the local CPG community. His responsibility includes several board and board observer positions.   Sebastian holds a degree in industrial engineering (with focus on mechanical engineering) and a PhD in Strategic Innovation Management from Technical University in Darmstadt, Germany.

Kyle Watson serves as Chief Brand Officer of Celsius Holdings, Inc., where she’s responsible for stewarding brand equity, driving consistency across marketing, advertising, and communications, and deepening consumer loyalty across the portfolio. She is also responsible for advancing the brand’s DNA and cultural relevance, ensuring consistency and resonance across consumer touchpoints. Since 2019, Kyle has served as the Head of Marketing and led innovation strategy for CELSIUS North America, establishing a proven track record of pioneering campaigns that have elevated consumer engagement, accelerated loyalty, and driven sustained sales growth. From 2016 to 2019, Kyle served as Head of Marketing at Hiball Energy, where she architected and executed a comprehensive national strategy that strengthened brand positioning and facilitated the company’s acquisition by Anheuser-Busch in 2017. Earlier in her career, she held progressive marketing leadership roles across the retail, sports, and consumer packaged goods sectors, where she consistently delivered innovation, growth, and market impact. Kyle holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising from Florida State University. She resides in South Florida.

Melissa Angle is the Vice President of Natural Category Merchandising and Supplier Relationship Management for United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), a premier grocery wholesaler delivering a wide variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, ecommerce providers, and food service customers. Melissa began her career at UNFI in 1998 as a Custom Flyer Coordinator in the Dayville, Conn. facility. She quickly moved into a Category Management role for Grocery. In 2001, Melissa joined BIN Sales & Marketing, a natural broker, where she served as Brand Manager and later Director of Marketing before returning to UNFI in 2006. Over the years, Melissa has held several key positions of increasing responsibility at UNFI, including National Director of Marketing – East and West, East Region Director of Supplier Relationship Management, National Sr. Director of Supplier Relationship Management, and Vice President of Supplier Relationship Management. She’s played a pivotal role during numerous mergers, acquisitions, and organizational transformations, including the formation of UNFI and integrations with Millbrook, Haddon House, Trudeau, Tony’s, and SUPERVALU. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her two adult children, Ashleigh and RJ. She’s an avid pickleball player, a home project enthusiast with a passion for painting, and is currently diving back into sourdough baking.

Courtney O’Brien is a strategic brand leader behind some of the most successful beverage brands in the world. She built Apothic into a $100M+ wine powerhouse, led the U.S. launch and repositioning of Coke Zero into a $1B+ megabrand, and spearheaded Evian’s marketing strategy in one of the most competitive beverage categories. As founder of The Outlier Initiative, she helps ambitious beverage brands break through the noise, claim their space, and engineer demand - using the same proven strategies that built billion-dollar brands, without the Fortune 500 budget.

Ila Byrne is co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer at Parch.  She was named by Forbes as one of the “Women Running the Spirits World” and after 10 years leading Brand & Innovation Strategy at DIAGEO for spirit brands like Crown Royal, Tanqueray, Bailey’s and Ketel One, she decided to go it alone.  After living in London, Melbourne, and Dublin she settled in Brooklyn where she consults to leading beverage brands around the world, advises spirit start-ups and is building the next generation of alternate adult beverages.  PARCH offers a range of distinctive, non-alcoholic agave cocktails, inspired by the Sonoran Desert and the lush biodiversity it keeps. Each sip offers a complex taste from unique pairings of desert ingredients, based on the ethos that "what grows together, goes together". Our blend of functional herbs and desert botanicals is designed to center your mind and body like no other.  Ila is passionate about offering consumers beautiful brands and better drinks that bring more people to the table and do less harm to people & our planet.

Bill Moses is an entrepreneur and investor with long experience in functional consumer products and health-focused brands. He was the Co-Founder and CEO of KeVita, the first organic functional beverage company acquired by PepsiCo in 2016. Following KeVita, Bill founded Fermented Science’s Flying Embers brand later acquired by JuneShine Brands. He previously served as a board member and investor in Vive Organic, which was acquired. Bill founded Casa Barranca Organic Winery, the first USDA-certified organic winery on California’s Central Coast, later sold to The Naturalist Winery. He currently works with a range of better-for-you and functional CPG companies, serving as a board member and investor in WILDE Brands, Kosterina, Koia, and JuneShine/Willie’s Remedy. He is also an early angel investor in DrinkPAK. Bill is the Founder of Cloud Lift Capital, his family office and investment platform, where he supports emerging consumer brands and health-innovation companies. Through Cloud Lift Capital, he remains active in both CPG and the growing field of personalized and precision health. Bill is a board member and or investor in several regenerative-health organizations, including JRNYS Wellness, Alpha BioMed, and the Eudemonia Health Summit, aligning his consumer-health background with advancements in personalized healthcare. He is also the Founder and Chairman of the Personalized Health Association (PHA), a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization formed to help advance responsible innovation in regenerative, precision, and longevity-focused healthcare. As the sector expands—shaped by telemedicine, peptide therapies, diagnostics, regenerative modalities, and emerging digital-health platforms—PHA works to protect patient access, support physician autonomy, and encourage thoughtful policy development in Washington. He is also a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Bill began his professional career at Bear Stearns before becoming a Partner at Axiom Partners, a New York–based investment banking and brokerage firm.

Ryan Fagan is a Deal Partner at Gryphon Investors, a $10 billion middle-market private equity firm. He focuses on growth investments in Consumer Health & Wellness and Better-For-You Food and Beverage. Most recently, Ryan led Gryphon’s investment in Spindrift in partnership with Founder and Chairman Bill Creelman and CEO Dave Burwick. He also serves on the boards of Metagenics and Mechanix Wear, and has supported prior Gryphon investments including Zicam and Dessert Holdings. He began his career at Gryphon in 2007, after earning a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Originally from Philadelphia, he now lives in the Bay Area with his wife and two daughters.

Kim Route is a Category Manager at INFRA, where she curates strategic promotions and identifies emerging trends across snacks, candy, chocolate, and beverages. With experience spanning both conventional and natural grocery, she is passionate about helping independent retailers thrive and advancing a more sustainable food system. Outside of work, Kim enjoys time with her three dogs, trying new recipes, exploring local breweries, and serving on the Advisory Board for Minnesota State University’s Women in Leadership program.

Jen Batchelor is the co-founder and CEO of Kin Euphorics, a category-defining brand in the non-alcoholic beverage space. With a background in Ayurvedic practice, psychology, and neuroscience, Jen launched Kin in 2017 to reimagine how we revel—without alcohol. She became the first Latinx woman to raise over $15 million in venture capital for a beverage brand and has since helped lead a movement that blends wellness, social connection, and cultural relevance. Her journey offers hard-earned lessons in category creation, consumer education, fundraising, and scaling a brand with soul. Jen is an inspiring, no-fluff speaker with a track record of pushing boundaries and building community. She brings real talk and actionable insights—from navigating growth in a crowded space to creating emotional resonance with customers. Her perspective is especially relevant for founders breaking into wellness, functional, and lifestyle categories—and for anyone seeking to build a movement, not just a product.

Brandon is a Partner and Co-Founder of Convivialite Ventures, where he leads North American investments. CV is backed by Pernod Ricard, the second largest wine & spirits company in the world and invests in consumer startups that are reinventing the way people socialize, entertain, and share experiences together. Investments that Brandon has led include Fever, AvantStay, Fetch Rewards, Bartesian, Outdoorsy, ResortPass, Peerspace, ChowNow, WaveXR, Atmosfy, Liquid Death, Sanzo, AF Drinks, Ghia, and Glovo (acquired by Delivery Hero). He is currently on the Board of AvantStay, Bartesian, Sanzo, and AF Drinks. Prior to investing, Brandon worked as entrepreneur, startup operator, and management consultant and drove early business initiatives at three $1+ billion startups: Credit Karma, Datalogix, and Evernote. Brandon has an MBA from University of California, Berkeley and a BS in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University.

Scarlett Leung is a seasoned retail and e-commerce executive with deep expertise in strategy, operations, finance, and mission-driven brand building. She brings a proven track record of crafting customer-centric strategies that drive innovation and exceptional experiences. As Co-founder, Scarlett is currently leading brand, growth and strategy at Pretty Tasty, a better-for-you beverage brand positioned at the intersection of wellness and lifestyle. Pretty Tasty was awarded "Best New Beverage" in 2024 by BevNet and has grown to over 2,000 doors nationwide in its first year of launch. In addition to her operator role, she collaborates in advisory, investment, leadership, and consulting capacities with firms including Anthos Capital, Target, and Bain & Company. Earlier in her career, she began in audit at Deloitte & Touche and later held leadership roles at L’Oréal, AllSaints and FreshDirect. She holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. With more than a decade of leadership experience spanning strategy, team development, global operations, and end-to-end business optimization, Scarlett has lived in six cities and delivered projects across North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania.

Brian Rosen is a third-generation veteran of the adult beverage industry and the General Partner of InvestBev, the largest private equity platform dedicated exclusively to the spirits and adult beverage sector. Under Rosen’s leadership, InvestBev now manages over half a billion dollars in total assets under management (AUM) across equity, credit, and insurance strategies. The firm was honored as Preqin’s Growth Fund of the Year in 2024, and in 2025, Inc. Magazine named InvestBev one of the Top Equity Firms for Founders, underscoring its position as the premier institutional investor in the category. Through InvestBev Capital, Rosen pioneered and successfully executed a proprietary bourbon barrel arbitrage strategy, consistently delivering first quartile results since 2015—a track record that has established InvestBev as the global leader in spirits-based alternative assets. Rosen has launched five equity funds and two credit funds, along with a $70 million insurance platform dedicated to barrel inventory—making InvestBev the most diversified investment and risk-management platform in the spirits asset class. In 2025, he also secured a $100 million investment from the world’s largest global equity firm, further cementing InvestBev’s global leadership. Earlier in his career, Rosen led his own $100 million retail liquor enterprise, served as a partner at PwC in the adult beverage practice, and acted as lead trade marketing consultant at Anheuser-Busch. He has been recognized as Retailer of the Year (3×), Wine Innovator of the Year, Forbes Best of the Web (2×), and named to the Power Ranking’s Top 100 Global Beverage Leaders. A frequent keynote speaker, Rosen has addressed leading industry forums including the Wine Technology Symposium, WSWA, and the Beverage Expo, and his expertise has been featured in Forbes, Wine Spectator, Beverage Dynamics, CNN, FOX, and CBS. Rosen holds an Executive Leadership credential from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a degree in marketing and finance from DePaul University. He is also a member of Tiger 21 and YPO Gold.

Nate Cooper is the founder & Managing Partner of Barrel Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund based in Chicago that supports category-defining companies innovating in throughout the food ecosystem. He launched Barrel after founding L3 Hospitality Group and Wise Apple—an early venture aimed at reinventing kids’ lunch. An early investor in companies such as Olipop, Nowadays, Helaina, Jumbotail, Confido & many more, Barrel focuses on companies where they can add a disproportionate amount of value. An Emory University graduate from the Goizueta School of Business, Nate earned his MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management as a Kellogg Scholar and Zell Fellow. At home, he's supported by his wife Ariel and 3 young kiddos Sadie (5), Chase (3), and Maddy (1).

Co-Founder Susan Buckwalter Hartman set out to create the clean-label drink she wanted after a workout or surf session—one that went beyond hydration. An adventure sports enthusiast and former college athlete, she’s long been passionate about wellness. With deep experience in natural products and innovation, Susan teamed up with her co-founder, Siwat, to build Recoup: a mission-driven brand that champions resilience for people and the planet. Before launching Recoup, Susan held brand and innovation leadership roles at Unilever, Campbell’s, and eos Products, where she developed and launched more than 50 consumer products. She holds a BA from Gettysburg College and an MBA from Cornell University.

Marian Leitner-Waldman is the founder and CEO of Archer Roose Wines, one of the fastest growing wine companies in the U.S., dedicated to uniting world-class winemaking with sustainable packaging. She is on a mission to democratize fine wine by making the wine industry more inclusive and leveraging format to fit the lifestyles of modern consumers. The brand’s Emmy-award winning commercials, starring business partner and actress Elizabeth Banks, have been lauded by the San Francisco Chronicle as the "most innovative wine marketing around." Marian is the recipient of Wine Industry Advisor’s “Most Inspiring Person in Wine” in 2025. Archer Roose Wines sold over 100,000 cases in 2024 and was awarded the prestigious Hot Prospect Award by Shanken. The brand has also been recognized by Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, and the Beverage Tasting Institute, and is now available in James Beard Award–winning restaurants, Target, Sprouts, Regal Cinemas, Princess Cruises, on JetBlue – as well as stadiums, venues, and retailers nationwide. Underscoring its leadership in innovation, Archer Roose Wines co-funded research on hydrogen sulfide formation in canned wine with the NY Wine and Grape Foundation in collaboration with Cornell University’s Food Science Department, earning the Best Oenology Paper award from the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. In 2022, Constellation Brands, Inc. announced its investment in the brand through its venture capital group. Marian holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University in International Relations, where she guest lectures. She is Co-Chair of the Board of United South End Settlements. She is a MassChallenge Finalist and a Babson Breakaway Challenge Finalist and has been featured on CNBC Power Pitch. Marian lives in Boston’s South End with her family.

Danelle Kosmal is a seasoned professional in the beverage alcohol industry, known for her expertise in research, data analytics, and marketing strategies. Danelle joined 3 Tier Beverages in March 2024, where she brought a passion for leveraging data to drive industry insights and actions. Prior to her role at 3 Tier Beverages, Danelle served as the vice president of research at the Beer Institute, where she led data analytics and policy research, and delivered talks at key industry events. Before her tenure at the Beer Institute, Danelle spent 16 years at NielsenIQ, where she led industry thought leadership initiatives and best practice solutions for clients in the beer, wine, and spirits sectors, as well as for industry groups and the media. Danelle’s insights have been featured in national media outlets, including CBS This Morning, WSJ, NYT, CNN, Fox News, and The Washington Post, along with leading trade publications. Danelle earned her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and her BA in International Studies and Economics from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Tokyo, Japan with her husband and son. When in the U.S., they call the Washington, DC area home.

Todd Putman is the Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) at Generous Brands, a leading beverage platform dedicated to inspiring people to thrive through the power of vibrant nutrition through its four brands (Bolthouse Farms, Health-Ade, Evolution Fresh and SAMBAZON Beverages). Throughout his career, Todd has been a consumer strategist and advocate for mission centered organizations, successfully leading transformational change for some of the most recognized Fortune 100 companies. Todd has been with Generous Brands (formally Bolthouse Farms) for over 15 years, returning most recently in 2021. From 2018-2021 Todd stepped away from Bolthouse and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at Bumble Bee Foods, where he focused on reinventing its core business and developing a well-stocked pipeline of new products.?From 2012-2016, Todd was with the Campbell Soup Company, where he served as General Manager of the Campbell Fresh business unit. His career with Campbell also included roles as CMO and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for Bolthouse Farms and General Manager of Garden-Fresh Gourmet. Todd has held senior leadership roles in Marketing, Innovation, Sales and Brand Management for organizations including The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney and Procter & Gamble. Todd holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Purdue University and is the Author of Be More, Find Your Truth, Tell Your Story and Get What You Want Out of Life”. Todd currently resides in Santa Barbara, California.

Hunter Thurman is the founder of Alpha-Diver, the market research consultancy that’s been advancing how leading businesses understand consumer behavior since 2011. By combining PhD-level expertise in psychology with proprietary AI-powered data, Hunter helps leading brands, retailers, and Wall Street analysts move beyond surface-level metrics to uncover the why behind consumer decisions—and what to do about it. His work turns complex human behavior into clear, actionable strategies that drive confident decisions and double-digit growth. As a frequent speaker, author, and contributor to industry conversations, Hunter plays an active role in shaping how the marketplace thinks about and activates consumer understanding.

Jordan Bass co-founded HOPWTR after seven years at The Wonderful Company where he was Head of eCommerce and rapidly scaled the business to become leaders in CPG eCommerce. Jordan also held roles in corporate strategy and worked in venture capital. After garnering more than a decade of strategic experience spanning technology, management consulting, finance and CPG, Bass, who comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and has this DNA in his blood, was eager to get back to it. Losing his drinking partner (when his wife got pregnant) and wanting to lose his beer gut, he saw a need for a functional healthy beer alternative and partnered with his friend Nick Taranto to bring it to life. Jordan lives in Los Angeles with his amazing wife and three daughters.

Runner and entrepreneur Michael Brandt created Ketone-IQ, now the fastest growing energy shot in the U.S., after his obsession with marathon running and performance optimization evolved into a deeper curiosity about how the body generates and uses energy. A 2:35 marathoner, he is a Stanford graduate with a BS in computer science. Running Ketone-IQ, he has doubled revenue year-over-year and raised over $10 million from investors including a16z, Vital Proteins founder Kurt Seidensticker, Joe Montana, Chris Hemsworth, and Jake Paul.

Angela Bozo is the Director of Member Programs at INFRA, joining the team in late 2021 with extensive experience in grocery retail, customer experience and training.  Angela was part of the leadership team that grew New Seasons Market to 20+ locations operating in 3 regions, managing a specialized culinary team at all stores that focused on elevating customer service and increasing overall product knowledge. She is proud to have contributed to New Seasons Market becoming the world’s first B Corp grocer. In 2018, she transitioned to IDDBA where she led the creation of the Charcuterie Professional Certification as well as oversaw the IDDBA-IRI partnership that resulted in Integrated Fresh, a data-based hierarchy for perishable departments. Angela is a lifelong learner, self-described grocery nerd and finds joy in ideating and creating resources and education to continue to evolve the grocery shopping experience for retailers and customers. And yes, her last name is pronounced exactly as you think it would be. 

Adam Kroener and his wife disrupted the beverage industry with their zero carb, zero sugar, 100 calorie and gluten free, Carbliss!  Carbliss is a Premium Ready to Drink cocktail that actually boasts flavor.  Since 2019, Adam and Amanda have skyrocketed their success, expanding backyard to backyard into 19 states all while receiving many accolades including: the #1 Fastest Growing Food and Beverage company in the Nation, and #1 Fastest Growing Regional company on the Inc. 5000 List of Privately Owned Companies. In 2024 Carbliss was listed as the #1 Growth brand GLOBALLY for Insurgent Brands and #2 Fastest Growing Spirits company GLOBALLY in 2025.  The company has also been named a Hot Brand in 2022, 2023 and 2024. It’s not just their products that stand out, Adam’s leadership and entrepreneurial journey has rewritten the playbook and set a new leadership precedence . He was named to the list of Best and Brightest CEOs and he and his wife Amanda were named Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist 2025.

Brandon Hanson is the co-founder of Goodmellow, a functional beverage infused with hemp-derived THC, crafted to bring people together through real flavor, intentional ingredients, and a balanced buzz. A lifelong innovator in the beverage industry, Brandon is also the co-founder and Master Blender of Hanson of Sonoma Distillery, the first certified non-GMO spirit in the U.S. and California’s best-selling ultra-premium organic vodka. With a background that spans mixology, flavor development, and organic production, Brandon has built a career around reimagining what mindful drinking can look like. The idea for Goodmellow began when Brandon started searching for a better way to drink—something that offered the ritual and relaxation of a cocktail without the hangover. Even on vacation, he wanted a drink that was social and uplifting, yet clean and balanced. When he discovered low-dose THC beverages, he loved the effect but found most options overly artificial or lacking in flavor. Drawing on his years of experience blending spirits and developing infusions, Brandon began experimenting with natural ingredients and thoughtful flavor combinations. The result is Goodmellow: a beverage that tastes as good as it makes you feel—crafted for those who want to unwind, connect, and savor the moment with intention.

Mike Perry is founder and chief creative officer of Tavern, a Brooklyn-based global creative agency crafting timeless brands across food, beverage, hospitality, and beyond.   With 15+ years at the forefront of brand building, Mike’s earned a reputation as a certified creative powerhouse. His career spans leading roles at top global studios like Stranger & Stranger, Design Bridge, and JKR, and media giants like NBC Sports and TikTok. He’s the creative mind behind some of the industry’s most recognizable rebrands for clients such as Budweiser, Burger King, and Diageo. Driven by Tavern’s Modern Heritage philosophy, Mike blends legacy and innovation to create dynamic brands that flex to the lightning-fast pace of culture. In a world of trend-chasing, Tavern focuses on what lasts: commercially powerful, future-ready brands and ambitious experiences that resonate at every touchpoint. Recent collaborations include Sizzler, Overholt Whiskey, Fishers Island Lemonade, and New York City FC.

Jake is the Co-Founder & CEO of Cann, the THC-infused social beverage company that’s changing the way people socialize by providing a range of micro-dosed beverages that are better-for-you alcohol alternatives made with simple, all-natural ingredients. Prior to Cann, Jake was an associate at Bain Capital’s North American Private Equity fund evaluating potential investment opportunities with a specific focus in the consumer space. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Jake worked at Bain & Company in the San Francisco office on strategy and due diligence projects across technology, healthcare, private equity, and hedge funds. Prior to that, he worked as an investment banking analyst at Allen & Company in New York providing M&A advisory services. Jake graduated summa cum laude from Duke University with a B.S. in Economics and Political Science and received his M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Ben Starmer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dad Grass, one of the country’s leading low-dose cannabis beverage brands. With boots-on-the-ground experience across DTC and DSD distribution, Ben brings a practical, operator-level perspective on how THC drinks can scale inside traditional bev-alc systems. He is a vocal advocate for low-dose, sessionable beverages as the foundation for mainstream category growth, and his work with distributors across multiple states gives him a unique view into the opportunities—and risks—shaping this emerging space.

Justin Tidwell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Nowadays, one of the fastest-growing beverage companies in the U.S. and the category leader in the hemp-derived beverage market. He has scaled the brand from an idea into a national business with 10,000+ retail doors and major cultural partnerships including the Formula One Miami Grand Prix and Palm Tree Crew. Widely regarded as an industry leader in building and scaling modern beverage brands, Justin continues to push the category forward through innovation, brand building, and consumer-first execution. Prior to Nowadays, Justin co-founded and led a cannabis packaging company that became one of the industry's largest ancillary companies within four years.

Sahar Ayinehsazian is of counsel at A.Y. Strauss, where she focuses on corporate law, banking, and the cannabis industry. She represents businesses, investors, and financial institutions in complex corporate transactions, including formations, financings, mergers and acquisitions, licensing agreements, and creative restructuring solutions for cannabis-related businesses that lack access to traditional bankruptcy protections. Sahar serves as a steadfast advisor, confidant, and protector to clients, maintaining enduring partnerships that rely on her judgment and care. Recognized as a leading corporate attorney in highly regulated industries, Sahar has guided multi-state operators and emerging companies through intricate regulatory frameworks and national expansion. Her work is informed by her prior role as Director of Regulatory and Governmental Affairs at a multi-state money transmitter serving the cannabis industry, where she gained deep expertise in banking, credit flow, and compliance at the intersection of finance and cannabis law. Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Sahar was a partner at one of the nation’s top-ranked cannabis law firms, where she chaired the Banking and Financial Services Access practice and advised major operators on complex transactions. She also served on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Banking & Financial Services Committee, advancing strategies to expand financial access for state-licensed businesses. Sahar has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® (2023–2025) for Corporate Law, the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women of Influence: Attorneys (2024), and the Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers list (2024–2025). She frequently writes and speaks on topics related to cannabis finance, corporate structuring, and compliance.

Whitney Stevenson is President and Chief Commercial Officer of JuneShine Brands, bringing nearly 20 years of beverage industry experience. She previously spent 15+ years at Boston Beer Company as Director for the Pacific Division, leading a 100+ person team across the western US and Hawaii. Her career includes roles at Molson Coors and PepsiCo, establishing her as a proven leader in brand growth and sales excellence.

Ashley co-leads Bluestein Ventures, driving the firm’s strategy, portfolio company support, and deal pipeline. Ashley has made over 30 investments in the space, and is an observer on three boards, including Base Culture, Grovara, and Rethink. Ashley has deep experience leading growth strategy and establishing scalable infrastructure necessary to build sustainable ventures. Prior to Bluestein, Ashley was Vice President of Strategy & Operations at Hartman Windows & Doors, where she was responsible for growth strategy, leading expansion across the U.S. as well as setting the platform on which to grow. Ashley also worked for Coinstar in Business Development, focusing on launching their new ventures. After college, Ashley was an Analyst at NERA Economic Consulting. Active in the Chicago and food community, Ashley serves on the Board of Naturally Chicago, on Selection Committee of the Good Food Accelerator, and as a mentor at Food Foundry, The Hatchery, and the LeAD Accelerator, in addition to being a judge at Booth’s new venture competitions. She is also on the National Leadership Council of United States Artists. Ashley received an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School and a BA in Political Economy, summa cum laude, from Williams College.

Venture pioneer Dan Gasper has worked at the nexus of beverage for much of his career and in Adult Non-Alc for 12 years. He co-founded Distill Ventures in 2013, which invested in several of the leading ANA brands, including Seedlip, which is widely recognised for starting the global ANA category. Having coached and advised more than 150 independent drinks brands and deployed over $130m into independent drinks brands, Dan is an experienced investor, trusted advisor & a widely recognised authority on the future of social beverages.

As Editor-in-Chief of BevNET, Jeff Klineman oversees the organization's reporting across all of its web sites, as well as BevNET Magazine. Jeff also plans, curates, and hosts the BevNET Live and NOSH Live conferences. Jeff previously worked as a newspaper reporter for the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, the Boston TAB and the Metrowest Daily News, and has freelanced for publications like Slate, Boston Magazine, Self, George, Commonwealth, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy. He is a graduate of Yale University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. A frequently-cited expert on the beverage industry, Jeff has also twice been named in Forbes as one of the 25 Most Influential when it comes to Consumer and Retail Companies.

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.

Ferron Salniker is the Spirits Editor, guiding our coverage of the spirits and RTD cocktail space. She reports for BevNET.com and Brewbound.com on everything from new subcategories in established liquor types to the growth of the craft spirits business.

Martín writes news articles and feature stories covering the non-alcoholic beverage industry for BevNET. A graduate of Boston University, Martín's previous work has appeared in USA Today, The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald.