The Platinum Mask

John Lamey is the Executive Vice President/General Manager at San Luis Spirits, home to the award winning Dripping Springs Vodka & Gin, 1876 Vodka/Bourbon, Paula’s Liqueurs, Republic Tequila/Whiskey, Pepe Zevada Tequila, and Martine Honeysuckle Liqueur. His 30 years in the Wine & Spirits industry included 18 years at a wholesaler, 4 years at the supplier level, and 3 years in retail. His career began at the Julius Schepps Distributing Co. in Dallas, TX. After 14 years at Republic National Distributing, he accepted the Vice President of Operations position at H&H Beverages (Retail Spirits Chain). John attended Texas Tech University on a golf scholarship and graduated with a BBA in Marketing. He enjoys spending time with his wife of 29 years and 26-year-old daughter who is also employed in the wine industry.

Jacob Lovett is a marketing and events professional turned full-time artist. When he was approached with the idea to turn a warehouse in the Thelin Industrial Park into an art gallery, he saw the potential for something even bigger: a curated space designed to attract, empower, and inspire Fort Worth’s best creative minds. The native Fort Worthian is passionate about creating community and collaboration instead of competition within the creative scene of Fort Worth and aims to do that through his shared studio and event space, Muse.

https://www.jacoblovettart.com/me

Anneliese Aeria is an actress, model, dancer, musician, artist, entrepreneur, and, most of all, a pet lover which is why at the age of 17 she founded AAPETPEOPLE. Growing up, she was painfully shy, and incredibly unconfident. Anneliese began modeling and acting when she was 12-ish, and working on sets with new, initially intimidating people was a very scary and nerve racking experience for her. She found over time that if she was able to some how slide in the question, "do you have pets?" to those around her, and find some common ground, all of the sudden the ice was broken! This simple question has put her at ease countless times, and made Anneliese realize that the individuals who were initially so intimidating, were just like herself at the end of the day. 

She credits her love of animals to her mother who is an entrepreneur of sorts and a veterinarian. With 2 parents working as veterinarians, Anneliese grew up around animals, fostering puppies and kittens with her siblings are some of her fondest memories, and she has always had a deep connection with pet rescue. Now, Anneliese Aeria is a full time model/actress, and has decided to connect her two worlds. AAPETPEOPLE is the uniting of my two worlds, into a brand which is focused not only on the pet, but their owner as well. Seeking to connect people, and pets, in the Fashion and Arts industries, as well as aiding in pet rescue, is the motivation behind the brand, AAPETPEOPLE.​

As a successful tech entrepreneur and global business leader, Tim Angelillo brings 15+ years of experience running divisions of publicly traded companies like Yahoo! and Time Warner as well currently founding and leading three start-up businesses in Austin, TX. These experiences allow Tim to share detailed insights on how to apply an entrepreneurial drive and marketing, sales, technology, and management skills both inside global companies and the tech start-up world.

As Global Business Leader for $900 million of revenue overseeing Yahoo! Sports and the Y! Commerce divisions and Executive Director founding and overseeing $100 Million of Sports Illustrated licensing, properties, and retail business units, Tim shares his experience with audiences around the world on the following topics:

· 5 Keys to Being a Successful, Halfway Sane Start Up Entrepreneur

· Be the Entrepreneur in a Global Corporate Machine or Tech Start Up

· Apply Your Corporate Experiences and Relationships to Your Own Start Up

· Launch Fast, Listen, and Never Fail

· Be the Best Brand Ambassador for your Start Up

· Lead a Lean, Mean “Team”…of Free Lancers

· Entrepreneurship Lesson One: Don’t Know…Teach Yourself, Quickly

· The 2 Most Dangerous Items to threaten your Start Up – Cash Flow & Distractions

· Pacing? It’s a not a Marathon but a Sprint with no Finish Line

With 18 years of service experience in the DFW area, Alex Fletcher has gone on to run and design some of Dallas most well-known beverage programs. From Irish pubs and New Orleans style dive bars to speak easy and cocktail lounges. After opening The People's last stand in 2012 he quickly was promoted to General Manger where he learned to build a business from scratch. Helping to drive the craft cocktail movement in DFW and change the drinking culture as a whole. After 3 years with People’s Alex was asked to head up the cocktail program at a well renowned cocktail den called Victor Tangos. There he really was able to slowly concentrate on fast paced high quality interesting cocktails and refine his craft and leading amazing team. After Victor Tangos Alex was approached to build a brand new program bar from scratch Henry’s Majestic. After the opening and success of Henry’s Majestic, Alex designed one of Dallas’  most unique cocktail experiences, a tiny 900 sqft cocktail den in the back of an alley, Atwater Alley, which quickly became a drinking destination in Dallas. From there Alex was prompted to be Beverage Director of the Dog and Pony Show including, Bread Winners Café’s, Atwater Alley, The Quarter Bar Dallas, The Quarter Bar Trophy Club, Harlowe MXM, Trick Pony, Shaken and Stirred Services 4 of these concepts he helped design and concept from scratch.

After 5 years with the Dog and Pony show group he was invited to work on an amazingly game changing concept with Hospitality Alliance and help to design and run the Beverage portion of the new downtown AT&T Discovery District .

Jamie Biel joined Treaty Oak Distilling in June 2018 with a focus on science and sustainability. As a botanist and former high school science teacher, she understands and appreciates the biochemistry of fermentation, distillation, and maturation. From water quality and conservation to sustainable farming techniques and locally sourced organic and heirloom grains, sustainability is a pillar of Treaty Oak Distilling. Jamie has found her passion and palate in bourbons and is always happy to raise a glass. Cheers!

David Stutz is an accomplished Entrepreneur, Senior Executive and Consultant who has demonstrate success spanning technology, commercial real estate, mobile & digital marketing, and advertising. David has held leadership positions with organizations including PIVMO, D1 Ink, C2C Outdoor, OMG Direct Inc., and Meredith Corporation. He co-founded Beach Juice Co. which is a brand of canned wine & spirits products. 

Adam von Gootkin brought his family legacy into the next generation by co-founding Onyx Spirits Co., an award-winning craft distillery offering America’s first ultra-premium moonshine and New England’s first whiskey. In 2015, his nationally released book Living Proof: Onyx Moonshine’s Journey to Revive the American Spirit, chronicled his unique approach to traditional business principles. After successfully building Connecticut’s first distillery in over 100years, Adam’s next venture would take him from the Connecticut coast to the rolling grasslands of the English countryside and to one of the most famous homes in the world. Partnering with the Godson to Queen Elizabeth II, the 8th Earl & Countess of Carnarvon, the owners of Highclere Castle (known to millions of fans around the world as the home in the award-winning tv series and motion picture, Downton Abbey). In 2017, Adam co-founded the Highclere Castle Cigars Company, produced with world-renowned cigar blender Nicholas Melillo in Nicaragua. The cigar went on to win many awards, with the brand rapidly expanding throughout the US, UK and mainland Europe. Highclere Castle Spirits joined the budding empire the following year, in keeping with Adam’s vision to create a global portfolio of hyper-authentic prestige brands with deep roots. In 2019, the award- winning Highclere Gin became the first of a super-premium line of spirits made from the oats and botanicals grown on Highclere Castle Estate, specifically, lavender planted by the Bishops of Winchester in the 9th century. 

Deron Brewer has been an Edna Valley based entrepreneur in San Luis Obispo CA for 20+ years and now owns Ragtag Wine Co. with his wife Sarah. Ragtag Wine Co. sources from nearby vineyards, most of which are in San Luis Obispo County. This allows the Ragtag Wine brand to be more diligent during growing and harvest seasons. The labels underneath Ragtag Wine also is made through a small batch process, allowing them to take the utmost care while overseeing the development of each grape varietal. They constantly strive for perfection in all they do; a concept that is never quite attainable, yet always deserves their foremost efforts.

In December of 2015, Acre Distilling opened in the neighborhood that was Fort Worth's den of sin and vice in the Old West – aptly named Hell's Half Acre. Where Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Etta Place once walked, Acre's team set out to take a dash of that renegade Texan spirit and produce small batch libations of uncommon quality. Today, Acre Distilling is a nationally acclaimed, award-winning creator of single malt whisky, bourbon, gin, vodka, rum, liqueurs, and cordials.