Jamie is currently an Area Sales Manager for High Brew Coffee in the Los Angeles market. He has been in the beverage industry for 5+ years in multiple roles across the country in major markets like New York Metro, Boston/New England, and Southern California. With experience in DSD Distributor management, retailer call points, route building, execution team Management, and retail activation; Jamie has found his way in the beverage world. We had a great conversation about what it takes to build relationships pre & post pandemic with retailers, distribution partners, other brands, and his own team. Continuous improvement and learning are the keys to Jamie’s success. He is always striving for better! I look forward to seeing his career progress as he is an exceptionally talented individual! We hope you enjoy!

On this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Marrandino, Former VP of Sales and Managing Partner of DSR Imports.  Paul and his partners created a company importing vodka from the Ukraine. Paul has since exited his business and moved out of the industry to IT Recruitment.  We discuss how starting his business helped him with his new career path, the challenges of starting a business in a field that you are learning about as you go, what it takes to be successful, and how starting your own business can be the best learning experience.  We hope you enjoy Paul and his story as much as we do!

Greg began his career in what he would eventually transform into Gamification Economics when he made his first sports bet at 7 years old. He went on to learn the business of a sell side bookmaker and then at 14 began studying Behavioral Economics, Market Mechanics and Quantitative Modeling at the old Garden State Park in New Jersey ("The poor man's stock market"). As an adult, Greg became one of the first Registered Market Makers on the International Securities Exchange and started working on a buy side proprietary options trading desk during the DotCom bubble of the late 1990s. Greg went on from there to work in consulting, educating and advising retail and institutional clientele on Technical/Quantitative Analysis, options theory and applications, etc and became a Registered Investment Adviser. After becoming disappointed with traditional financial markets following the crisis of the late 2000s, Greg created what is now known as the subdiscipline of Gamification Economics, as well as TheWolfLine, which is the application of financial market type trading theories and tools to the context of games (most notably, all forms of "sports betting"). TheWolfLine platform/products is the only known technology in the world to ever be rejected by the App Store for "violation of Rule 22.5 as an illegal gambling aid like card counting for sports betting". Greg holds a Bachelor Of Science Degree (NOT in "Economics" or "Finance" thankfully) from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA where he played Football as a linebacker and on special teams and is a Veteran of the United States Navy.

Gigi Newman is currently the Sales Operations Manager with Onnit Labs. With over 17 years of CPG experience, she has helped brands like Sweet Leaf Tea, Nulo Pet Foods, Texas Craft Beer Distribution, High Brew Coffee, and Love Good Fats grow from small regional players into national brands. Having been on the ground floor of most of these brands, her experience encompasses HR, Logistics, Marketing and Production. Basically, a well-seasoned Professional Cat Herder!

On episode 15, we had the pleasure of speaking with Co-Founder and CEO of Saint Luna. Saint Luna is paving a new way and revitalizing the Moonshine Category with a Premium Charcoal Filtered Moonshine, made with only the finest ingredients! It is the perfect base to any cocktail! We discuss the moonshine segment, starting your own business, running a business during a pandemic and the impact on Saint Luna’s Partners in the Bar & Restaurant Industry.

On Episode 14, Declan’s Birthday Episode, we talk with some of our great friends that are true industry pros! We discuss chain calls with those who’ve been doing that role for some time, as well as both the ‘to do’ and the ‘do not do’ lists. We also have a little fun and a lot of laughs! A little something for everyone! A huge thank you to Jen Almanza - Director of Retail Sales for the East at High Brew Coffee, Greg Moran - VP of National Accounts at Nutrabolt and Aaron Sorelle - NE Sales Director at Nutrabolt!

Born out of a true family need story, Biolyte is fast becoming a re-hydration/recovery drink player, currently focused on their regional growth in the SE of the US. Headquartered out of Atlanta this makes sense for local expansion where they can manage their own destiny. We speak to their CEO Jesslyn Rollins who gives us a the real growth story and how she, her family and team have managed the brand growth to date with no industry experience prior to jumping in. It’s a true testament to what passion for the vision can achieve and a must hear for those budding entrepreneurs thinking of creating a beverage brand…

In this week’s episode we speak to Mark McTavish, President of 101 Cider House, the LA based cider maker. Mark is also CEO of Pulp Culture, a hard-pressed alcoholic ‘full-spectrum’ juice company. On top of being a brand leader he also runs a self-distribution business in NorCal. Join us for a fascinating dive into fermentation and the benefits of letting Mother Nature do her job as well as a host of other really juicy nuggets as Mark and his teams disrupt the beverage industry with the goal of making the world’s best tasting and healthiest alcoholic beverages!

Big thanks to Brian Post & Greg Kaminski, Co-Founders of Cruise Beverages! We had a great conversation about CBD Beverages and what the future holds for this fascinating category! We look forward to seeing the evolution ahead for the category and this fantastic brand! Check them out at www.drinkcruise.com! For a limited time, listeners can use the code ‘drinkersinc’ at checkout and save an additional 20% off their order!

On episode 10 Declan and I had the pleasure of speaking with Jordan Bass, CEO and Co-Founder of HopWTR.  We dive into Adaptogens, Hops, NonAlcoholic Beer, Nootropics, the ever changing consumer trends in beverages, and the importance of building your business and brand in a focused manner.  I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!