Scott Rice is the Co-founder and President of Natural Careers, a boutique recruiter and career transition specialist focused on the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Natural Careers works with health/well-being food and beverage, dietary supplement, and ingredient companies, founder-owned and portfolio investments of many private equity group…

Emanuel Storch is the CEO of Blackbird Foods, a plant-based food company providing vegan seitan, frozen pizza, and plant-based meat to retail and wholesale customers. Under his visionary leadership, Blackbird Foods has successfully expanded its operations to over 3000 stores and 350 restaurants. Before his current role, Emanuel was in charge of ove…

Trey Lockerbie is the Co-founder and CEO of Better Booch, a premium single-batch kombucha brewed, bottled, and canned in downtown Los Angeles. He has been a musician traveling the world who prioritizes health and wellness. Trey is also a CNBC contributor and a member of Vistage Worldwide, Inc., the world’s largest executive coaching and peer adviso…

Chris Allen is the Co-founder of Osena Spiked Coconut Water, a beverage brand that creates better-for-you alcohol options. Osena drinks are made with coconut water, naturally occurring electrolytes, 100 calories, and zero sugar for the health-conscious fun seeker. A serial entrepreneur passionate about human health, Chris’ expertise spans food and …

Nick Brune is the Owner and CEO of Eco Caters, an organic event catering company that has been delighting clients in Washington DC., L.A., and San Diego for over 10 years. As a chef passionate about flavor and design, he served as a head chef at some of the city's premier catering establishments. Nick has a profound affection for organic farming, l…

Chris Conway is the Founder of Happy Being, a functional beverage brand producing iced white tea packed with turmeric, elderberry, vitamin D3, and polyphenols for a delicious and healthy refreshment that fights inflammation at the source. With over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space, Chris is also the Founder of Solutions 4 Hea…

Bill Birgen is the Founder and CTO of SAVRpak, an award-winning product that helps preserve the freshness and intended state of the food. As a serial entrepreneur, he has founded and co-founded numerous businesses, including AirFloe Mask, Midwater Collective LLC, Soggy Food Sucks LLC, Kyllburg Technologies LLC, and many others. Before becoming an e…

Andrew E. Johnson is the CEO of Goode Foods, a reputable provider of high-quality canned beans and vegetables dedicated to meeting individuals' dietary and nutritional needs. During his tenure, he led a sales team that expanded brand distribution by 700%, securing deals with major retailers such as Kroger, Meijer, Walmart, Associated Wholesale Groc…

Kristin Patrick is the Co-founder of Loren's Alcohol-Free Beverages, a women-owned alcohol-free boutique selling alcohol-free drinks and mixers. She is a digital learning consultant who builds outcome-based, culturally responsive interactive training modules that inspire and teach. Kristin is also a Blended Learning Coach at Noblesville Schools and…

Tia Glave is the Co-founder of Catalyst, a coaching program that helps organizations establish sustainable food safety cultures. The program employs a comprehensive approach incorporating proven strategies, leadership development, and technical training to build food safety systems within companies. With nearly a decade of experience, Tia is a food…

Joshua Rood is the Co-founder and CEO of Dr Hops, a globally recognized brand specializing in producing delightful and health-conscious alcoholic beverages. As an astute leader, creator, and builder, he has extensive experience in many domains, including videography, communication, group facilitation and training, event planning and supervision, co…

Michael Valenti is the CEO of Great Spirits Baking Company, a well-known and distinguished brand that crafts high-quality premium spirits-infused cakes using top-notch ingredients. As a results-driven professional, Michael uses his expertise in sales, marketing, and distribution strategies to deliver impressive outcomes for the company. An exceptio…

David Mesa is the President of We Grow CPG, a boutique sales management agency offering elevated sales partnerships to the CPG industry. The agency's core expertise lies in helping emerging brands expand their distribution by building aggressive and strategic revenue plans from the seed stage to the late stage. With over 20 years of experience in t…

Mariah Hilton Wood is the Co-founder and COO of Tilden, a brand that makes sophisticated, ready-to-serve nonalcoholic cocktails for the growing wave of consumers looking for choices beyond alcohol. A lifelong teetotaler from Las Vegas, she is passionate about food and beverages and solving complex supply chain issues. Previously, Mariah held variou…

Eric Hoang is the Co-founder of YATÉ Yerba Mate, a sparkling, naturally delicious twist on tea that gives you a clean boost of energy. YATÉ is made from 100% organic yerba mate and offers plant-based benefits without adverse effects such as crashes or jitters. Eric has founded two businesses and has an intimate understanding of the entrepreneurial …

Tina White is the Chief Commercial Officer at Brainiac Foods, a company specializing in creating delicious products to support brain development, performance, and health through food-based brain nutrition. With a well-established background in digital marketing, e-commerce, and brand management, it is Tina’s responsibility to grow the business by f…

Dino Dakuras works at Second City Beverage Co., the only micro-distillery in Augusta, Georgia. The company is a powerhouse in the spirits industry and has an expert team of master distillers, warehouse managers, mixologists, and sales and marketing professionals. Dino is also the President of Durty Gurl Cocktails, a company that focuses on providin…

Dr. Josh Anthony is the Founder and CEO of Nlumn, a consulting company that helps businesses compete in the personalized nutrition and health marketplace by delivering personalized strategies at scale. Before starting Nlumn, Dr. Anthony was the Founding Chief Science Officer at the personalized nutrition company Habit. He was also the Vice Presiden…

Duncan Alney is the Founder and CEO of Firebelly Marketing, an award-winning, top-ranked agency that helps founders of mission-driven food and beverage brands grow their businesses and connect with their audiences through social media marketing. Duncan has worked in marketing for 30 years and brings his expertise in engaging with clients and rebuil…

Jordan Russell is the Founder and CEO of Ra Natural Beverages, a company that produces delicious coconut water with functional benefits. To optimize the beverage's benefits, Jordan formulates the product using ancient traditional remedies and modern scientific principles. He is a former chef and nutrition consultant with a communications and journa…

Vedant Saboo is the Co-founder and President of Frutero Ice Cream. Frutero is a food and beverage brand that makes 100% tropical fruit ice creams. Vedant has spearheaded product distribution and development, significantly increased the gross margin, and led the charge to land their products in 5,000 stores and major retailers. Before Frutero, Vedan…

Mark Haas is the CEO of Helmsman Group, a full-service food commercialization agency. The agency helps new and existing food and beverage brands by advising on and developing CPG products, processes, and operations optimized for success. Mark is a self-proclaimed foodie who has been active in the food industry since his teens. He has a professional…

Joey Angelo is the Founder of Su Casa Mezcal, a beverage brand producing mezcal with floral and tropical notes, hand-crafted from simple and natural ingredients to deliver the taste and essence of Mexico's natural wonders. He is also the Founder of SipMARGS, a brand that offers a bold and great-tasting sparkling margarita in the convenience of a ca…

Matt Oscamou is the Co-founder of Weller, a hemp-infused sparkling water brand that provides accessible, functional beverages that are simple, delicious, and natural. Before Weller, he founded and served as the CEO of Frontier Snacks. Additionally, Matt has worked as an engineer in various companies, including JVA, Inc., the City of Menlo Park, and…

Vinny (CocoVinny) Zaldivar is the Founder and CEO of CocoLove Water, a beverage brand that delivers the best-tasting coconut water with a purpose. In his role, he is on a mission to make coconut water fun, convenient, and better for the planet. In 2013, after inventing the world's first zero-waste coconut water removal system, he founded Coco Taps.…

Will Nitze is the Founder and CEO of IQBAR, a company that produces plant-based nutritional protein bars, hydration mixes, and instant coffee that boost brain and body performance. IQBARs are keto, vegan, and paleo-friendly and are made with nutrient-dense ingredients. Before IQBAR, Will was a Sales and Marketing Manager for Wood Mackenzie, a globa…

Scott Frohman is the Founder and CEO of Odyssey Elixir, a line of unique, delicious, and refreshing holistic beverages that harness the power of adaptogenic mushrooms, which boost energy, focus, endurance, immunity, and mood. Odyssey was born out of Scott's passion for creativity and his approach to business, which makes him eager to develop concep…

Michael ZonFrilli is the CEO of Bambucha Kombucha, a brand making chef-crafted, well-balanced kombucha with a flavor-forward profile and just the right amount of tart without the vinegar bite. He is a classically trained veteran chef deeply rooted in the culinary arts. Previously, Michael held chef roles at Culimetrics Restaurant & Hospitality Cons…

Jordan Haddad is the Co-founder, President, and CEO of La Tierra de Acre Mezcal, a brand that creates award-winning artisanal mezcal from the best regions in Mexico. His prior experience includes working on the High Yield Bond team at Oaktree Capital and two years of M&A investment banking at Lazard. Jordan has a BBA and a bachelor's degree in fina…

Laura Silverman is the Founder of Zero Proof Nation, one of the only fully comprehensive global resource hubs devoted to non-alcoholic beverage culture. She got sober at 24, and today, she's a mental health advocate passionate about non-alcoholic beverages. As a serial entrepreneur, Laura is also the Founder of Zero Proof Nation, Booze Free in DC, …

Vanessa Royle is the Co-founder of Tilden Cocktails, a brand that makes sophisticated, ready-to-serve nonalcoholic cocktails for the growing wave of consumers looking beyond alcohol. She has previously worked at WE Communications, Cloudflare, Jam.dev, and was a fellow at Harvard Business School and The Capital Network. Vanessa earned her BA in poli…

Sid Sharma is the Founder of Wild Bay Kombucha, a vertically integrated beverage company making kombucha based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Before Wild Bay, he was an Energy Analyst at Resource Energy Systems and an Independent Consultant at The Entrepreneurs EDGE. Sid earned his BA in biochemistry and environmental studies from Case Western Reserve…

Joni Kindwall-Moore is the Founder and CEO of Snacktivist, a specialty food business that sells baking mixes, specialty flours, and finished cookies made from healthy and sustainable ancient grains. She worked as a nurse before she grew Snacktivist into a full-time business. Joni is an entrepreneur, food systems activist, and ethnobotanist who stud…

Maggie Sadowsky is the Owner and President of 8 Track Foods, a brand producing premium organic and non-GMO canned beans. She transforms food categories and innovates products with her technical food science background, consumer research insights, and intuitive eye for catching new trends. Maggie has influenced and launched over 100 successful produ…

Josh Sizemore is the CEO of Beloit Kombucha Company, a venture-backed kombucha brand with an unusual but unbelievable form factor. He is an entrepreneur with multiple successful ventures, including The CITRUS, EZ-Beverages, and Bleu'print Hospitality. Josh serves on the board and as a C-suite exec of several organizations, including the University …

Elizabeth Seelye is the Founder and Brand Wayfinder of StarryEyed Strategy, a global consultancy that provides insights, strategy, innovation, and design services to help teams navigate the future with creativity. Elizabeth currently serves on two boards — one focused on reinventing restaurant loyalty and the other on pioneering renewable energy. A…

Mark Bitterman is the Selmelier and CEO of The Meadow, a company offering a curated selection of artisan salt, chocolate bars, cocktail bitters, fresh-cut flowers, wines and vermouths, and accessories for the kitchen and table. He is also the CEO of Bitterman Salt Co., a salt provider to some of the world's most renowned chefs, bartenders, retailer…

Arshad Bahl is the Founder and CEO of Amrita Health Foods, a purpose-driven health food brand on a mission to develop a line of plant-based nutrition products that are vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free, GMO-free, preservative-free, and cholesterol-free. He is passionate about food manufacturing and has spent 20 years in strategic m…

Lisa Li is the Founder of The Qi, a wellness brand empowering consumers through whole flower tea rituals. After feeling burnt out from working in the demanding fashion industry for 10 years, Lisa took a transformative trip to Shangri-la, where she discovered local rose tea. She launched The Qi after tasting, testing, and sourcing over 100 flowering…

Nolan Lewin is the Executive Director of Rutgers Food Innovation Center (FIC), a unique food business incubator and accelerator unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. The Center supports established early-stage entrepreneurs and existing food companies from concept to commercialization. Nolan worked as a Plant Manager for n…

Sierra Thomas is the Founder of Pink Cloud Beverages, a premium non-alcoholic functional hemp beverage with sunshine and a swell of tropical fruit. She is a creative think tank with a marketing mindset and over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing. Sierra excels at new business development, client relationships, and developing high-profile…

Eli Bank is the Co-founder and COO of Absurd Snacks, a functional trail mix that replaces traditional nuts with crunchy beans. He is a Startup-In-Residence at the University of Richmond, bridging the gap between students and startups by helping other young entrepreneurs take advantage of resources and programs that can maximize their success. Eli g…

Jake Leonti is the CEO of F+B Therapy, a service-driven company in the food and beverage industry with a keen focus on coffee. He is a food and beverage business expert, coffee enthusiast, and leader with experience in project management, international product launch, retail market development, and operations. Jake is the Editor In Chief of CoffeeT…

Jason Bronstad is the CEO of MALK Organics, a premium plant-based milk brand. MALK Organics promotes clean eating by creating products with six or fewer certified organic ingredients. Jason has a lot of experience working with top brands in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space. He is an expert in specialty brand management, product development, …

Ahmed El Azizi is the CEO of Innoviom, a global innovative food and beverage company that builds on new trends to create healthy and delicious products. Ahmed is an internationally seasoned executive with multicultural experience that spans four continents and several Fortune 500 companies and startups. He is a passionate leader who has built motiv…

Doug DuMars is the CEO of Rebellious Beverage Company, known for producing high-quality, organic, pre-brewed green tea infusions. He is also a Board Member and Chief Investment Officer at DAK Global, a capital management company. In addition, Doug has held various leadership roles at The Kraft Heinz Company. He has a BS in finance from Western Mich…

Ruth Halpern is the Chief Executive Officer of CCD Innovation, a women-owned culinary product development company. Driven by strategic vision, trend insights, the creativity of the Chefs’ Council, and commercialization expertise, the CCD Innovation team has provided world-class culinary development for 30 years. As the CEO, Ruth leads a team of pas…

Tim Krauss is the Co-founder of Mammoth Creameries, a brand that claims to make the cleanest and best keto ice cream on the planet. He is an experienced senior leader with a demonstrated history of working in the computer software and food and beverage industries. Before Mammoth Creameries, Tim held senior roles in General Mills, EPIC Provisions, a…

David Delcourt is the Co-founder and Chief of Flavor of Seed Ranch Flavor Co., a brand that creates sophisticated flavors to make everyday meals extraordinary. David and his team handpick quality, fresh ingredients and blend, stir, and simmer every sauce to perfection. David is also the Founding Member and Advisor of Hygge Power, a technology firm …

Adam Jenkins is the Founder of Flavor Seed, a spice company that provides customers with the freshest, safest, organic, Non-GMO herb and spice blends. He is a sales and operations expert with 15 years of experience, 12 of which were with General Electric. Adam is also the Founder of Rugged Supply, but before Flavor Seed, he was the Vice President o…