Brewbound Live Agenda

Print the agenda for Thursday, December 12

Please note: All times US Pacific Time

• 8:00 AM-9:30 AM

  Breakfast & Registration

  Breakfast, coffee and beverages are served from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM PT and are included with registration. Registration and badge pick up opens for the day at 8:00 AM PT.
• 9:00 AM-2:30 PM

  One-to-One Meetings with Retailers & Distributors

  Location: Outdoor Sinder Lounge - Lobby Level
  Prior registration is required and meeting times are sent individually. Please check in at the One-to-One Help Desk before to heading to your meeting room. Meetings will be 10 minutes each and the complete schedule is posted at the Help Desk.

  • Mary Guiver, Principal Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market
  • Dan Barrera, Global Beer Category Merchant Analyst, Whole Foods Market
  • Samantha Fletcher, Senior Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market
  • Justin Ray, Senior Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market
  • Michelle Abdollah, Category Manager, Alcoholic Beverages, Extra Mile
  • Sinead Carey, Director of Beer, Breakthru Beverage
  • Kevin Day, Director of Trade Development - Beer, Breakthru Beverage
  • Jessica Muskey, VP of Craft and Innovation, Reyes Beverage Group
  • Laura Markstein, President, Markstein Sales Company
  • Peter Heimark, President, Heimark Distributing LLC
  • Brian Fried, General Manager, Stone Distributing
• 9:00 AM-9:30 AM

  Why Focus is Essential in 2025

  Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
  The numbers don’t lie: Wielding a focused portfolio will be a key to winning in 2025. Explore how craft brewers are becoming laser-focused, why it’s working and how a prominent retailer views those moves.

  • Peter Skrbek, CEO, Deschutes Brewery
  • Mary Guiver, Principal Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market
  • Brian “BK” Krueger, VP of Business Development and Portfolio Strategies, Bump Williams Consulting

  Watch Video

• 9:30 AM-10:10 AM

  Fireside Chat: Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione

  Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
  As Dogfish Head turns 30, co-founder Sam Calagione will discuss how craft producers can stay vibrant and relevant to younger generations of drinkers and how the Delaware craft brewery is charting its path for the future.

  • Sam Calagione, Co-Founder, Dogfish Head

  Watch Video

• 10:10 AM-10:25 AM

  Livestream & Networking Break

• 10:25 AM-11:00 AM

  Marketing Watch: Meeting Consumers Where They Are Online & IRL

  Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level

  • Zech Francis, SVP Global Marketing, BeatBox Beverages
  • Rebecca Dye Yonushonis, CMO, New Belgium Brewing
  • Julie Rhodes, Strategic Business Consultant, Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions

  Watch Video

• 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

  Brewbound Live Pitch Slam Final Round

  Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
  A panel of expert judges will offer participants and attendees valuable insights on what makes for a successful brewery and beverage-alcohol brands. They’ll evaluate the emerging brands, business plans and innovative products presented by our contestants.

  Watch Video

• 12:00 PM-1:00 PM

  Sponsored Workshop: Passion & Results - How to Use Data & Technology to Make Better Decisions

  Location: Promenade Ballroom - Lobby Level
  Combining your passion for the brewing industry with our experience and solutions to achieving business freedom. Hear how to lower your operating costs, optimize inventory levels, promote effectively, etc. Two former CPG executives from some of the world's top brands and current partners at ahatis will share how to use data and technology to make better business decisions and achieve key business results.

  • Timothy Weaver, Executive Partner, ahatis, LLC
  • Jeremie Davis, Executive Partner, ahatis, LLC

  Watch Video

• 12:00 PM-1:20 PM

  Lunch, Sampling + Livestream

• 1:20 PM-1:50 PM

  Prepare for Turbulence: Strategies for Survivng Craft's Choppy Times

  Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
  How do you survive a choppy alcohol market? Leaders from Allagash Brewing, Independence Brewing and Wisconsin Brewing share strategies that have carried their companies through uncertain times and helped them tap into growth opportunities.

  • Paul Verdu, President, Wisconsin Brewing Company
  • Rob Tod, Founder, Allagash Brewing Company
  • Amy Cartwright, Co-Founder & President, Independence Brewing

  Watch Video

• 1:50 PM-2:30 PM

  Emerging Audiences & Shifting Mindsets: Understanding Changing Drinker Demos

  Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
  Lindsay Kunkle, the head of the global firm’s U.S. consultancy, will examine shifting demographics, changing consumer mindsets and emerging audiences with an eye on how these factors are relevant to beverage-alcohol producers. She will offer insights into Generation Z’s outlook on alcohol, as well as dive into the “never old mindset” of Baby Boomers as they enter longevity, the new definition of diversity ,and the growing population of adults who opt not to have children.

  • Lindsay Kunkle, Director, Head of U.S. Consultancy, Foresight Factory

  Watch Video

• 2:30 PM-3:00 PM

  Welcome: Making Beer Accessible to Underrepresented Groups

  Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
  Visionaries who have made beer more accessible to underrepresented groups share how bev-alc can be more welcoming, expanding the reach of and opportunities for the industry through products, philosophies and events large and small.

  • Karen Hertz, Founder, Holidaily Brewing
  • Day Bracey, Founder, Barrel & Flow Fest
  • Samuel Chawinga, Co-Founder, People's Republic of South Central
  • Simon Chen, co-founder, Match Point Brewing

  Watch Video

• 3:00 PM-

  Brewbound Live Pitch Slam Winner Announcement

  Watch Video