Brewbound Session
San Diego 2016

Dec. 1, 2016
San Diego, CA
This is a past event. Replay all presentations and view upcoming events.

The Top Conference for Brewery Owners and Execs

The Brewbound Session is a place for serious beer professionals to gather and discuss the industry’s most important issues, exchange ideas and learn strategies for succeeding in the most competitive sector of the alcohol beverage industry.

Attendees will hear thought-provoking conversations with industry leaders, listen to inspiring presentations from emerging craft brewery entrepreneurs and engage in interactive panel discussions with executives from all three tiers of the beer industry.

The program is specifically designed to help attendees better understand a dynamic and rapidly evolving marketplace, while networking with like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, distributors, suppliers and retailers.

Brewbound Session returns to the Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego, CA on December 1.

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Brewbound Session Speakers:

  • Eugene Kashper, Chairman, Pabst Brewing Co. - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Eugene Kashper

    Chairman, Pabst Brewing Co.

    Eugene Kashper, Chairman, Pabst Brewing Co. - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Eugene Kashper

    Chairman, Pabst Brewing Co.

    Eugene Kashper is an American beer entrepreneur who acquired a controlling interest in Pabst Brewing Company in 2014. Mr. Kashper lives in Los Angeles where the company is headquartered, and currently serves as Chairman and CEO of PBC. Upon graduating from Columbia University, Kashper joined Ernst & Young as a consultant in International Business Services. In 1994, he left Ernst & Young to become the Stroh Brewery Company’s first and sole representative in the former Soviet Union. From 1995 to 1998, Kashper co-founded and served as CEO of North Winds Brewing, a beer and beverage import and distribution company based in Moscow, Russia. North Winds exclusively represented some of the brands Pabst owns today such as Strohs, Colt 45, Old Milwaukee, and Schaefer, as well as handling the marketing and distribution of Corona, Perrier, Heineken, Red Bull energy and other beer and beverage brands. In 1998, Kashper co-founded Ivan Taranov Breweries (ITB) and served as CEO until 2001. ITB grew to include 3 breweries and 23 wholly owned distribution operations in Russia. Kashper also co-founded the Syabr Brewing Company in Belarus and Vlad Pivo, a brewery in the Russian Far East. In 2008, Kashper co-founded Oasis Beverages, which currently has brewing and beverage operations in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. As CEO of Pabst, Kashper has worked to strengthen the company’s sales and distribution and supply chain capabilities, forge new partnerships with high-end brand owners, and take full advantage of the company’s unique portfolio of heritage brands which include such iconic brands as Pabst Blue Ribbon, Lone Star, Old Style, Stroh’s, Rainier, Colt 45 and others. Over the past 24 months Pabst has added 150 employees mainly in the sales and marketing functions, partnered with Small Town Brewery to launch Not Your Father’s Root Beer, become the exclusive importer for Tsingtao, and entered a partnership with Vermont Hard Cider Co., the maker of Woodchuck and other cider brands. Most recently, Pabst collaborated with Dog Tag Brewing Company founder Seth Jordan to launch Legacy Lager. Dog Tag donates 100% of its profits to benefit charities created or selected by Gold Star Families. Recent heritage brand innovations launched by Pabst include Stroh’s Bohemian Pilsner, Rainier Pale Mountain Ale, Ballantine Burton Ale and Old Style Oktoberfest. Mr. Kashper attended The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and graduated from Columbia University in 1992 with a major in East Asian Languages and Cultures. He is married and has two children.

  • Tomme Arthur, Founder, The Lost Abbey - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Tomme Arthur

    Founder, The Lost Abbey

  • Brett Joyce, President, Rogue Ales & Spirits - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Brett Joyce

    President, Rogue Ales & Spirits

    Brett Joyce, President, Rogue Ales & Spirits - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Brett Joyce

    President, Rogue Ales & Spirits

    Brett Joyce began his career at Rogue Ales & Spirits in 1989. At age 16 he worked as a keg washer and truck driver. Brett graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon in 1995 with a double major in History and Economics. He worked at Adidas for 10 years, principally in product marketing, and worked at Adidas-Taylor Made Golf in Carlsbad, California where he was Director of Global Golf Footwear. He spent two years at Fila North America, outside of Baltimore, Maryland, where he was General Manager. He eventually “returned” to Rogue in 2006, where he learned the business working along side of his father (Founder & Chief Wisdom Officer, Jack Joyce). Brett was named President in 2007. He is married 16 years to Rhonda, has two daughters -- Lauren (14) and Emily (13) -- and a dog named Rascal.

  • Vann Russell, Founder & Managing Partner, Arlington Capital Advisors - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Vann Russell

    Founder & Managing Partner, Arlington Capital Advisors

    Vann Russell, Founder & Managing Partner, Arlington Capital Advisors - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Vann Russell

    Founder & Managing Partner, Arlington Capital Advisors

    Vann Russell is the Founder and Managing Partner of Arlington Capital Advisors. At Arlington, Vann has developed specific expertise in the consumer sector advising on numerous transactions in various industry segments including craft beer, restaurants, retail, franchising, food and beverage, consumer products and education. Prior to founding Arlington Capital Advisors, Vann spent over a decade with the big four accounting firm Deloitte, starting his career in the audit services group working with both public and private companies from $250 million to $2 billion in revenue. Vann solidified his tenure at Deloitte in the tax division working with ultra-high net worth families and large corporations. Over the course of his career, Vann has also been a successful investor and entrepreneur, investing in, operating and monetizing several private companies beginning with a business he owned and operated while working his way through college. Vann graduated Cum Laude in 1994 from The University of Alabama, Birmingham with a B.S. degree in Accounting, where he was the top accounting student in his class and hired by Deloitte one year prior to his graduation. Vann helped found and currently serves on the board of Neverthirst, a charitable organization focused on making potable drinking water readily available in impoverished and developing countries. Vann also serves on the board of Milo’s Hamburgers. Vann is an active Certified Public Accountant and holds FINRA Series 79, 62 and 63 licenses.

  • Joel VandenBrink, Founder, Two Beers Brewing & Seattle Cider - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Joel VandenBrink

    Founder, Two Beers Brewing & Seattle Cider

    Joel VandenBrink, Founder, Two Beers Brewing & Seattle Cider - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Joel VandenBrink

    Founder, Two Beers Brewing & Seattle Cider

    Nearly one decade ago, Joel VandenBrink started brewing beer in the basement of his Seattle home. Today, he is founder and CEO of Two Beers Brewing and Seattle Cider Company, one of the country’s fastest growing craft cider brands. Responsible for the management and operations of the two Seattle-based companies, Joel has used his background as manufacturing engineer to craft his dream, taking it from an 170-square-foot ActiveSpace to a more than 29,000 square foot production facility and tasting room, distributing to 12 states and four countries. Most recently, VandenBrink led the companies through a merger with Agrial, France’s largest cider producer, expanding the brewery and cidery’s capital investments and international distribution.

  • Lester Jones, Chief Economist, NBWA - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Lester Jones

    Chief Economist, NBWA

    Lester Jones, Chief Economist, NBWA - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Lester Jones

    Chief Economist, NBWA

    Lester Jones tracks the economic factors that impact the beer distribution industry and alcohol policy decisions at the federal, state and local levels. He evaluates and develops primary industry data, including economic impact, tax impacts, sales and volume data. Jones has more than 20 years of experience in research, survey methodology and applied economics. He previously served as chief economist at the Beer Institute, where he developed and executed significant research initiatives that helped shape America’s beer industry. Jones also has become a respected public speaker, offering in-depth technical, analytical and quantitative expertise. In addition to his decade of work at the Beer Institute, Jones previously worked for Arbitron Company (Nielsen) in Columbia, Maryland, and the Regional Economic Studies Institute in Towson, Maryland. Jones holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Delaware as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

  • Bart Watson, Chief Economist, Brewers Association - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Bart Watson

    Chief Economist, Brewers Association

  • Daniel Lust, Co-Founder, Pints LLC - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Daniel Lust

    Co-Founder, Pints LLC

    Daniel Lust, Co-Founder, Pints LLC - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Daniel Lust

    Co-Founder, Pints LLC

    Daniel Lust, the former Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc., a family-owned beverage wholesaler based in Tucson, AZ, is an independent consultant with PINTS LLC supporting the beverage industry in strategic planning, data analysis, marketing and branding, territory expansion, and wholesaler management. During his tenure at GED he was focused on developing internal process improvements, profitable pricing initiatives, business intelligence tools and portfolio development. His sales leadership was recognized by supplier partners, including national recognition by Anheuser-Busch for developing innovative solutions to measure sales performance and execution. He is also an avid mountain biker, road cyclist, golf nut, home brewer and active member of various charitable organizations in the local community.

  • Alva Mather, Partner & Chair, Alcoholic Beverage Practice Group, Pepper Hamilton - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Alva Mather

    Partner & Chair, Alcoholic Beverage Practice Group, Pepper Hamilton

    Alva Mather, Partner & Chair, Alcoholic Beverage Practice Group, Pepper Hamilton - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Alva Mather

    Partner & Chair, Alcoholic Beverage Practice Group, Pepper Hamilton

    Alva Mather is partner and chair of Pepper Hamilton’s Alcoholic Beverage Practice Group and co-chair of the Food and Beverage Practice Group. Alva is a business lawyer, litigator and first-chair trial attorney with more than a decade of experience who has established herself as a leading attorney in matters affecting the highly regulated alcoholic beverage industry. She has advised breweries, distilleries, wholesalers, distributors, and restaurateurs on all aspects of manufacturing, distributing and selling alcohol. Alva is an active writer and speaker and on social media at @alcohollawyer.

  • Amy Gutierrez, Category Manager – Beer, BevMo! - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Amy Gutierrez

    Category Manager – Beer, BevMo!

    Amy Gutierrez, Category Manager – Beer, BevMo! - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Amy Gutierrez

    Category Manager – Beer, BevMo!

    Amy Gutierrez, a native Northern Californian, started her beverage career, with Southern Wine & Spirits. The last two years there, she was the BevMo! Category Captain, where she helped open 19 stores. She joined BevMo! in 1997, in the same roll and then transitioned to Assistant Buyer for Food and Hardlines. Amy has always had a passion for beer, and in 2003 was promoted to the Assistant Buyer for beer. Then four years later, was promoted to her current position as Category Manager for Beer. She is responsible for all beer buying in 163 stores, in three states.

  • Karmen Olson, Senior Manager of Emerging Business, Craft Brew Alliance - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Karmen Olson

    Senior Manager of Emerging Business, Craft Brew Alliance

  • Tom Bleigh, Innovation Brewmaster, Craft Brew Alliance - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Tom Bleigh

    Innovation Brewmaster, Craft Brew Alliance

  • Stephen Bossu, Co-Founder, Hopewell Brewing Company - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Stephen Bossu

    Co-Founder, Hopewell Brewing Company

  • Vivien Azer, Managing Director, Cowen and Company - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Vivien Azer

    Managing Director, Cowen and Company

    Vivien Azer, Managing Director, Cowen and Company - Brewbound Session San Diego 2016

    Vivien Azer

    Managing Director, Cowen and Company

    Vivien Azer is a managing director and senior research analyst specializing in the beverage, tobacco and cannabis sectors. Ms. Azer is the first senior Wall Street analyst to cover the emerging cannabis sector, resulting in notable press coverage across periodicals such as Barron’s and Forbes. Ms. Azer's coverage of the tobacco sector earned her a spot on Institutional Investor's All-America Research Team on several occasions. In 2015, Starmine ranked Ms. Azer #3 for earnings estimation in tobacco, and in 2014 she ranked #1 in tobacco and #3 for earnings estimation in beverages. Prior to joining Cowen and Company in 2014, she spent over 9 years at Citi covering consumer staples. Ms. Azer holds a BA from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.

Past Attending Breweries Include:

View Past Attendees

Attendee Testimonials

“I was very impressed with how the conference was run, the quality of the content and speakers and the ease with which you guys seemed to pull everything off.  My marketing guys and reps will absolutely be attending future sessions.” — Joey Redner, Founder, Cigar City Brewing Co.
“It was an action packed day. It was a good opportunity to meet and greet and we did plenty of that.” — Jim Fick, Owner/VP, General Distributors (OR)
“As both an attendee and presenter at numerous Brewbound conferences, I have come to appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into such a top notch event.  The presentations are amazing, the speakers are succinct, and a great learning environment is always on tap.  I’m excited they exist and can’t wait to be part of the next one.” — Tomme Arthur, Director of Brewery Operations, Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey

Recent Announcements

Startup Brewery Challenge 7: Meet the Players

We’re less than 24 hours away from the 2016 Brewbound Session in San Diego, and it’s time to introduce our presenters and judges for Startup Brewery Challenge 7, our on-of-a-kind business pitch competition presented by Craft Brew Alliance. Six craft brewery entrepreneurs who have been on the market for two years or less will take the stage tomorrow to show off their business plans, sample one core product offering and receive immediate feedback from a panel of five expert judges.

Networking Opportunities Abound at Brewbound Session San Diego

Brewbound Session San Diego will take place this Thursday and, in addition to featuring a thought-provoking discussions with a stellar lineup of industry executives and entrepreneurs, we’ve also carved out plenty of time for attendees to enjoy some great beers and intimate conversations with one another. To kickstart the networking, registered Brewbound Session attendees are invited to join the official welcome reception, sponsored by Blue Horseshoe, taking place at the “Paradise Terrace” at Paradise Point on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 6:00 PM.

Final Agenda Now Available for Brewbound Session San Diego

We’re just 10 days away from the 2016 Winter Brewbound Session, happening on Thursday, Dec. 1 in San Diego, and the final agenda is now available for viewing. And, as always, we’ve saved one final surprise announcement for attendees. Joining next week’s full-day event will be Vann Russell, the founder of Arlington Capital Advisors.

Brewbound Session: Discussing Pabst’s Partnership Strategy with Eugene Kashper

Pabst Brewing is the country’s fifth largest beer maker, but unlike competitors Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors, Constellation and Heineken -- all of which have made significant investments in the craft space -- the company has yet to enter an otherwise frothy craft beer market teeming with eager sellers. But it’s not because the company lacks a desire to get serious about the segment. In fact, Pabst CEO and chairman Eugene Kashper has publicly acknowledged the fact that a true craft brand is a “big hole” in the company’s portfolio.

Craft Beer Entrepreneurs: Pitch Your Brand in Startup Brewery Challenge 7

Are you a new brewery owner? Do you want to win $5,000 and take an all-expenses-paid trip to Beervana? Interested in brewing a specialty batch of beer at the new Widmer Brothers innovation brewery? On Dec. 1, at the Brewbound Session conference in San Diego, six craft brewery entrepreneurs who have been on the market for two years or less will have an opportunity to participate in Brewbound’s one-of-a-kind business pitch competition -- Startup Brewery Challenge 7, presented by Craft Brew Alliance.

Brewbound Session: Exploring the Impact of a Growing Marijuana Economy on Alcohol

Tomorrow, voters in five states will decide whether to legalize sales of recreational marijuana. And on December 1, Vivien Azer, Cowen and Company's managing director and senior research analyst specializing in the beverage, tobacco and cannabis sectors, will discuss how a growing marijuana economy could impact companies in the alcohol sector.

Initial Speakers Announced for Brewbound Session San Diego

We’re less than two months away from our next Brewbound Session, and the team is excited announce its initial lineup of speakers for the December 1 event. The Brewbound Session, a full-day business conference for serious brewery professionals, will gather more than 200 attendees to discuss important industry issues and exchange ideas while learning strategies for success in the most competitive sector of the alcohol beverage category.

 

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