Emily Berg is a seasoned marketing manager with a dynamic background spanning strategy, category and consumer insights and integrated marketing communications across both B2B and B2C landscapes. Currently serving as a Marketing Manager for Cargill’s vast ingredient portfolio for beverages, Emily partners closely with customers to drive innovation, uncover growth opportunities and co-create the future of beverages.

Leanne is a Senior Food Scientist at Cargill, where she focuses on supporting customers in the beverage category.  In this role, she leverages her deep technical expertise in sugar reduction and in-depth knowledge of ingredients like stevia, polyols and texturizers, to help customers create great-tasting beverages with less sugar and fewer calories.

Adams Berzins leads Global Sugar Reduction Applications at Ingredion Incorporated, where they focus on developing plant-based sweetener systems that enhance taste and support healthier products. With over 20 years of experience in product formulation, Berzins has driven innovations that bring new sweetener solutions to market. Their approach emphasizes system-level sweetening strategies, integrating technologies such as stevia, allulose, and next-generation sweeteners and taste modulators to align with consumer demand for natural ingredients. Berzins has shared expertise through industry publications and podcasts, offering insights on balancing sweetness and effective sugar reduction strategies. Their work continues to shape the food science landscape through strategic collaborations and thought leadership in sugar reduction

Kelcey Pusateri is a Senior Technologist who leverages her passion for tasty beverages to drive collaborative innovation projects forward. She has 10 years of product development experience with a focus on texture and healthful solutions.  She likes to engage with customers and help problem solve to find the best solution that can accelerate product development and improve performance.

Taylor May is a Senior Culinologist at Ingredion, specializing in sugar-reduction and front-end innovation. With a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and an emphasis in Culinology from Clemson University, Taylor integrates scientific rigor with culinary insight to deliver holistic product development solutions. Throughout her career, she has successfully led cross-functional initiatives focused on creating healthier, more sustainable food systems. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of consumer behavior, market dynamics, and emerging trends, allowing her to translate complex challenges into impactful, on-trend innovations. Taylor is known for her strategic approach to product development, her commitment to continuous learning, and her ability to bridge the gap between science and the culinary arts. She is passionate about driving meaningful change in the food industry—developing products that not only meet nutritional goals but also delight consumers.

Jessica Raskin is an Account Manager on Ingredion’s Healthful Solutions team, specializing in sugar reduction and beverage applications. She is based in Baltimore, MD and is a proud Penn State Food Science alumna.

Alexander Hinterkopf is the Managing Director and Owner of Hinterkopf GmbH, a global leader in digital printing technology for cylindrical packaging. Rooted in Eislingen, Germany — yet active worldwide — he is the driving force behind the company and its most significant innovations, including high-resolution, energy-efficient digital printing systems. Known for staying closely attuned to market needs and customer feedback, Alexander has helped transform on-demand, low-waste can decoration into a practical reality for brands of all sizes. His commitment to engineering excellence and sustainable production continues to shape the future of beverage and specialty packaging. At BevNET, he leads together with Michael Bedrosian the workshop “Revolutionizing Beverage Packaging: The Future of Variable Digital Can Printing.

With over 40 years of experience, Michael Bedrosian is a recognized innovator in the packaging industry. He’s known for pioneering iconic designs like the beloved Tim Hortons Timbit Box and advancing technologies such as flexographic printing and shrink sleeves. Combining his background in Business Economics and Chemistry, Michael has helped revolutionize sustainable aluminum beverage packaging. As COO and Director of Sales at Fast Track Packaging, he leads efforts to provide eco-friendly, high-performance packaging solutions for brands of all sizes. Michael’s passion for innovation continues to drive the company and set new industry standards.

Shawn Wells, MPH, LDN, RD, CISSN, FISSN is a globally recognized nutritional biochemistry expert with more than 20 years of experience in health, wellness, and product formulation. He has formulated over 1,100 products and holds 40+ patents, including enfinity® (Paraxanthine) and BHB salts. He has served as Chief Clinical Dietitian, Chief Science Officer, and advisor to multiple supplement companies, facilitating transactions exceeding half a billion dollars. Shawn authored the bestselling book The Energy Formula, featured by USA Today and Forbes, and he shares cutting-edge research on Mindvalley, in documentaries, and on his website shawnwells.com. He frequently speaks at events globally.

Shyam Jayakumar is the CEO and Founder of BevGenie, an emerging AI market intelligence platform reshaping how beverage companies understand consumers, anticipate market shifts, and drive profitable growth. A seasoned technology leader with more than 25 years of experience, Shyam has led high-impact digital transformation efforts at global organizations such as MicroStrategy, Salesforce, and Axway. He brings a unique blend of product vision, data engineering expertise, and operational rigor to every problem he solves.  In addition to BevGenie, Shyam is the Founder of Twenty20 Systems, a global consulting and integration practice that supports enterprise clients across data, automation, and analytics initiatives. His work sits at the intersection of AI, data strategy, and scalable systems—enabling brands to compete smarter in an increasingly complex market landscape.

Brian Berlin is an Industry Advisor at BevGenie and a seasoned insights leader with nearly two decades of experience shaping commercial strategy for some of the most recognized beverage alcohol brands. Known for his deep command of category dynamics and data-driven decision making, Brian previously led data solutions teams at Constellation Brands and played a pivotal role in establishing the Commercial and Shopper Insights function at Beam Suntory. His work has consistently helped brand and commercial teams understand consumer behavior, identify market opportunities, and translate data into profitable growth pathways. At BevGenie, Brian brings a forward-thinking, operator-minded perspective to leveraging AI and intelligence platforms for modern beverage decision-making.

Will, a Sports and Exercise Scientist by trade, has held various technical and commercial roles in ingredients and flavors in Europe and North America. He currently leads business development for beverage solutions at dsm-firmenich, focusing on innovative taste technologies that help brands deliver exceptional product experiences. With deep expertise in the B2B flavor and ingredient space, Will partners with beverage innovators to bring cutting-edge taste and ingredient solutions to market. His work spans strategic growth initiatives, and collaboration with leading beverage brands to meet evolving consumer preferences.

As a scientist, strategist, and innovator, Natalie Taake has spent her 25-year food & beverage career translating food science, culinary arts, consumer insights, and trend prediction into actionable business strategies.  A magnetic speaker and master taster, her sought-after expertise has been featured on America’s Test Kitchen and CNN.  Her novel approach to consumer segmentation, which identified consumer ‘foodie behaviors’ were agnostic to all traditional demographics including age, gender, ethnicity, and income, is patent pending.  After hours, she's hosting dinner parties, hitting the ski slopes, and sharing her love for music & movies with her husband and two young children.

15 years in the industry, a BS in Food Science and an MBA. Started my career in Food Microbiology, spent 10 years in PepsiCo, working on multiple beverage and new platform brands in both Product and Business Development. Been at dsm-firmenich for 4 years.

Srini Subramanian is a seasoned food scientist with over three decades of experience in the global food industry. Throughout his career, Srini has specialized in food and flavor ingredients, dedicating more than 20 years to advancing innovation in sweeteners and taste modulation. His expertise spans product development, sensory optimization, and strategic business development, enabling him to bridge technical excellence with market-driven solutions. Srini’s work has contributed to the evolution of healthier, better-tasting products through the application of cutting-edge ingredient technologies. Known for his deep understanding of sweetener systems and flavor interactions, he has collaborated with leading brands and ingredient suppliers to deliver impactful solutions that meet consumer demands for taste, functionality, and wellness. As a senior leader, Srini’s technical leadership and his passion for innovation positioned him as a trusted expert in the food and beverage sector.

Tess is a visionary marketing leader with a track record of reimagining billion-dollar businesses across food, beverage, and flavor industries. From heading brand marketing and strategy at market leading brands to her current role as VP of Marketing at dsm-firmenich, Tess has consistently driven growth through innovation, digital transformation, and insight-led strategies that shape the future of brands.

Camilo (Cam) Parris is the Health Benefit Solutions Manager for dsm-firmenich, a function that connects consumer insights, science, translation, and advocacy with product development. During his 10 ½ year tenure at dsm-firmenich, Cam has served in several market research roles across several segments and has provided direction to providing value-added food and beverage solutions within the Americas region. Cam has an MBA with a concentration in business analytics from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where he still resides with his wife and son.

Ben Larson has spent over a decade building, coaching, and investing in early-stage companies across the tech and cannabis sectors. As CEO of Vertosa, he leads a science-backed, service-first company specializing in advanced infusion technologies that power some of the most trusted cannabis and hemp-infused brands on the market. He also co-hosts the High Spirits podcast, where he explores the evolving landscape of the cannabis industry. A recognized leader in cannabis innovation, Ben co-founded Gateway in 2015, California’s Silicon Valley-style cannabis accelerator, helping to shape the industry’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. He previously played a pivotal role at Founder Institute, mentoring startups and managing global operations across 100+ cities. His contributions have earned him recognition from Forbes three years in a row as one of the 42 Pioneers to Watch in the Green Rush. Ben is deeply engaged in shaping policy and industry standards for the cannabis industry. He is a founding board member of the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives (CABA) and currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA).

Theo Terris is the CEO of Uncle Arnie’s, one of the fastest-growing cannabis beverage brands in the U.S. Under his leadership, the company has earned a reputation for crafting high-quality, great-tasting drinks that are both affordable and accessible, helping push cannabis beverages into the mainstream. Uncle Arnie’s products are now available in 18 states and via direct-to-consumer at unclearnies.com. Before founding Uncle Arnie’s, Theo built and ran a successful video advertising business, sharpening his expertise in brand storytelling, digital strategy, and consumer engagement. He brings a creative and entrepreneurial mindset to building culturally resonant brands with lasting impact.

Diana Eberlein is Chief External Affairs Officer at Vertosa and Chair of the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives (CABA), where she advocates for responsible cannabis beverage regulation. With over 15 years of marketing experience and a deep understanding of infused beverages, Diana has become a prominent industry voice, speaking at SXSW, Adweek NY, BevNET, and Benzinga, which named her one of the Top 20 Most Influential Women in Cannabis in 2024. Her career began in entertainment marketing after graduating from Loyola Marymount University, later shifting to cannabis after moving to Seattle in 2015. Passionate about education and advocacy, Diana also serves on the Forbes Agency Council. In her downtime, she enjoys cigars, sports, high heels, and being cat mom to Gherkin and Darby.

With more than 15 years of leadership across beverage and CPG, Samantha Catalina has built and scaled culturally relevant brands from ideation to shelf. She’s led global marketing strategy at Phusion Projects, driving the evolution of flagship brands like Four Loko and launching Mamitas. Her background spans powerhouse names, including Anheuser-Busch, Pabst Brewing Company, Twitter, and leading shopper marketing agencies. For the past 7 months, Samantha has brought this expertise to the hemp beverage and alcohol space as a Fractional CMO, partnering with brands like Cann, Happy Dad, Climbing Kites, and Highpour. She combines creative brand storytelling with sharp commercial strategy—building launch frameworks that drive velocity, cultural relevance, and retail impact. Her edge lies in blending innovation, consumer insight, influencer ecosystems, and retail execution to help brands move fast and win.

Ryan Pinsky is Vice President of Sales at Vertosa and brings over a decade of experience driving revenue across emerging markets. With a passion for innovation, Ryan helps partners develop and scale infused product lines by aligning scientific integrity with commercial strategy. He’s known for building high-performing sales teams, launching successful ventures, and navigating complex markets with speed and precision. Ryan’s goal: bring high-quality, compliant products to consumers efficiently—and at scale.

Kevin Senn is the CEO and Co-Founder of AisleAI, a company transforming how consumer brands grow by bringing verticalized AI to the fragmented world of small-format retail. With a background spanning data, retail technology, payments, and growth strategy, he has built AisleAI into a fast-scaling, VC-backed platform trusted by emerging and established CPG brands across the country. Kevin is known for turning messy data into clear outcomes — making AI practical, usable, and revenue-generating for the teams on the ground. He speaks frequently at BevNET, NGA, Plug and Play, and other industry events, offering pragmatic guidance on demand prediction, pricing intelligence, whitespace identification, and the next wave of AI adoption. At the heart of his work is a belief that AI should make brands faster, smarter, and more profitable — not more complicated.

George is an experienced CPG Executive of 32 years with a demonstrated history of growing brands in the food & beverages industry. He has accomplished professional skills in Marketing Management, Market Planning, Business Planning, Field Execution, and Sales. George and his co-founders have built a team at Aisle AI that are industry-leading CPG experts committed to harnessing the power of AI for dynamic and accessible data analytics, available for all in the CPG industry. Aisle AI provides secure, AI-driven retail analytics on both first-party and third-party data through a language model fine-tuned specifically for CPG.  The results are actionable insights that grow brands for manufacturers and retailers.

After 25 years of leading the market in c-store foodservice, Ultimate Sales has now expanded our focus to become a “one-stop shop” across all CPG categories including candy, snacks, and packaged beverages for our customers. Because of the long-standing relationships and trust we’ve cultivated with both single-store operators and the largest chains in the country, we see expanding our product offerings as an opportunity to add value for our retailers partners and brands.  C-stores are not a division of our company, they ARE our company, and we’ve established strong relationships with retailers, distributors, and client manufacturers allowing us to work from concept to consumption, and every step in between.