Adam DeBower is co-owner of and co-founder of Austin Beerworks, a small regional craft brewery based in Austin, TX. Adam and his 3 partners opened Austin Beerworks in early 2011 and the brewery has since grown to nearly 60 employees and produces more than 20,000 bbls of beer annually. Austin Beerworks is also the largest wholly self-distributed brewery in the state of Texas. A brewer by trade, Adam is currently the Operations Manager for the brewery and oversees the engineering, installation, and maintenance of major plant equipment. Adam also serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. He was first elected in 2015, has been Vice-Chair of the board since 2017, and has served as the Guild's Legislative Committee chair since 2017. Most notably, Adam led the Guild's 2019 legislative efforts to modernize Texas' outdated and byzantine alcoholic beverage code, and successfully advocated to legalize beer-to-go sales for Texas Craft Brewers.

In late 2017, Colucci took over marketing the No. 2 U.S. brewer’s innovation portfolio. She’s been busy. She led the successful April 2019 launch of Cape Line Sparkling Cocktails, which ranked among the category’s top ten growth brands for 14 weeks, according to Nielsen. She also spearheaded the launch of MoVo wine spritzers and the push behind a La Colombe branded hard cold-brew coffee drink for fall.  A year earlier, she spearheaded the successful national rollout of Arnold Palmer Spiked, another innovative co-branded product.   If that seems like a lot in a little time, it’s because she’s worked to make the brewer more agile, in one case cutting 10 months off the usual timeline for a national launch. Prior to joining MillerCoors, Sofia spent seven years at PepsiCo in a variety of roles, including leading innovation for its North American Nutrition portfolio, which includes brands such as Tropicana, Quaker and Naked Juice. The Canadian-Uruguayan Colucci began her career at Toronto-based Maple Leaf Foods. She’s fluent in Spanish and her out of office interests include music, food, fitness and travel.

Jeff Heck co-founded Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta, GA in 2011. The company began when a small group Bible study started homebrewing in Jeff’s garage socially, and has grown to a two (soon-to-be-three) taproom operation distributing across the Southeast, with nearly 50 full-time employees. In his role as CEO, Heck oversees all aspects of Monday Night’s operations and strategy, with the aim of fulfilling the company’s purpose of “deepening human relationships over some of the best beer in the country.” A native of Cincinnati, OH, Heck graduated from Harvard University and spent over 10 years in private equity and corporate M&A before co-founding Monday Night. He and his wife of 15 years have four children and live just a mile from the brewery in Atlanta.

Veronica Vega is the Director of Product Development at Deschutes Brewery, the 10th largest craft brewery in the U.S. Veronica is a member of the senior leadership team at Deschutes and brings a high level of expertise to the brewery’s daily operations as well as the strategic vision for the company. She started at Deschutes in 2006 as a tour guide and in 2015, at the age of 35, Veronica became the Brewmaster of Product Development and is now in one of the top positions in the company as Director of Product Development. Veronica is a member of the Master Brewers Association of Americas, shares her passion for brewing and beer in many respected speaking engagements and has been highlighted in several craft brewing and lifestyle publications. Veronica is extremely creative, enthusiastic and passionate not only about craft beer and brewing, but in her life and activities outside of her career as well.  Veronica is very involved in the brewing community and is a mentor for many women both in and out of the industry. Veronica is devoted to her husband and two children, her passion for farming and outdoor recreation and her Deschutes Brewery family. Veronica can be reached at vvega@deschutesbrewery.com.

Chris Cramer has been a pioneer in the craft brewing industry for more than 30 years. When Chris and his college buddy, Matt Rattner, co-founded Karl Strauss Brewing Company in 1989, it was the first new brewery to open in the City of San Diego since Prohibition. Since then, the Karl Strauss locations have grown to include a main production brewery, a tasting room & beer garden, and ten brewpubs throughout Southern California. Karl Strauss is one of the top 50 craft breweries in the United States, while still only distributing in its home state of “Karlifornia”! Chris is the current Chair of the California Craft Brewers Association and a community activist who has personally championed many business and legislative reforms that helped pave the way for San Diego to become the world’s capital for craft beer. He takes particular pride in having introduced many Californians to their first craft beer, and his passion for continued innovation ensures that many new fans will have that same opportunity for years to come.

After years of experience in the B2B Tech and E-Commerce, Margaret transitioned into building a consumer-focused brand at Sufferfest Beer Company. Motivated to disrupt one of the oldest industries in America, marketing a women- and athlete-focused beer brand allows for equally innovative and disruptive marketing strategies to capture and inspire the consumer. She has built an engaged community within the "better for you" movement, advocating for the role of beer in the fit and active consumer's beverage lineup. Sufferfest was acquired in early 2019 by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, where Margaret maintains her role as Director of Marketing. When she’s not waxing poetic about booze, Margaret’s out earning her brew on the trails as a runner or in the gym as a yoga teacher.

Brian has 17 years of sales and distribution experience in cannabis and craft beer and is a proven leader with experience building sales and logistics teams, national account strategy, and brand development. Prior to Kiva, Brian spent 16 years in craft beer leading sales and distribution strategies for the leading craft beer organizations including Stone Brewing Co. (Sr. Director Sales), Golden Road Brewing (VP Sales), and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. After developing Stone Brewing’s national account strategy as Director of National Accounts he most recently lead Stone Distributing as the largest craft only distributor on the west coast, 2nd largest in the United States, managing a portfolio of 40 craft breweries, 90 sales professionals and logistics teams reaching Southern & Central California. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Theory from Arizona State University.

As Vice President of Nielsen’s Beverage Alcohol Practice, Danelle provides industry thought leadership and best practice solutions to beer, wine, and spirits clients, industry groups, and the media. She is committed to leveraging Nielsen’s breadth of resources to provide an integrated and holistic understanding of consumer behavior and retail trends across beer, wine, and spirits. Danelle has more than 15 years of marketing experience, and has been with Nielsen for over 10 years, working across various clients in the food, beverage, and consumer goods industries. Prior to joining the Beverage Alcohol Practice, Danelle led Nielsen’s business at MillerCoors in Chicago. Danelle received her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and her BA in International Studies and Economics from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.

Caitlyn Battaglia is a Manager within Nielsen's Beverage Alcohol Practice Area, where she supports Nielsen's initiatives and thought leadership across beer, wine, and spirits clients. She has been with the Practice Area for more than three years. Prior to joining the Beverage Alcohol Practice Area, Battaglia worked in advanced analytics focusing on pricing and promotion as well as sales and marketing effectiveness. A current Roanoke, VA resident, she holds a B.A. from Denison University and has been with Nielsen for over six years.

Marty helped build two well-known field teams from scratch during stints with both Oskar Blues Brewery and Ninkasi Brewing Co. Founder of E3 Craft Strategies, he consulted with craft brewers on branding, annual business plans, core competencies, and responsibilities within sales, supply chain, key account operations, and marketing. Going on his forth year, Marty instructs a course on sales and distribution for Portland State university in their Beer Business certificate program. Today, Marty leads a team of regional sales directors at Brew Pipeline, focusing on innovative revenue generation for breweries, retailers and distributors.

Eddie Rodriguez represents District 51 in the Texas House of Representatives, a diverse district spanning from urban neighborhoods in East Austin to rural communities in Southeast Travis County. He was first elected to represent District 51 in 2002 and was re-elected to his ninth term in office in November 2018. Eddie serves on the House Committees on Calendars, State Affairs and Ways & Means in the 86th Texas Legislature, playing a central role in influencing some of the most significant bills before the state legislature and controlling their flow through the legislative process. His accomplishments in the most recent legislative session included changing the law to allow "Beer-to-Go" sales by Texas craft brewers, expanding the state's cottage food law and expanding options for survivors of family violence to terminate their leases in order to escape threatening situations. Rep. Rodriguez is a co-founder and chair of the Texas House Farm-to-Table Caucus and the first-ever policy chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. His legislative priorities include affordability, economic development & job creation, public education, voting rights, improving nutrition & reducing hunger, gun safety, fighting for equality, protecting the environment and ensuring that all Texans have access to quality, affordable healthcare.

Ted Whitney is a seasoned sales professional with deep experience in the craft beer industry. He transitioned to the cannabis industry to serve as Sales Director of vertically integrated cannabis brand NUG and develop a highly effective sales team focused on developing a meaningful and rewarding place for its members to thrive. Before joining Oakland, CA-based NUG, he built out Avery Brewing Company’s sales program in Boulder, CO and expanded the organization’s footprint nationally. Following his role as Sales Director at Avery, Ted worked as National Sales Director for 21st Amendment in San Francisco, growing the brewer’s sales team and developing various programs that increased demand for craft beer. There, he hired and led a 30-person sales team and helped the organization become one of the fastest-growing breweries in the country. After just two years under Ted’s supervision, 21st Amendment moved from its position as 150th to being ranked the 38th largest craft brewer of nearly 6,500 brewers at the time. Most recently, Ted served as National Sales Director and Partner at Melvin Brewing, growing the organization’s sales team and playing an integral role in helping it become the third brewer ever to reach 20,000 beer barrels in sales in less than two years.

After successfully elevating the Oskar Blues Brewery brand nationally for over a decade, Chad Melis has become a brand of marketing professional uniquely his own. Chad Melis was the driving marketing force growing Oskar Blues Brewery from a small Colorado craft brewery of 13,000 bbls. to an iconic national brand in all 50 states, producing over 200,000 bbls. at his departure. As the company grew he took on the Marketing Director role with CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, playing a key role developing and announcing the CANarchy go to market strategy and narrative as they approached 500,000 bbls. In July of 2018 Chad and his wife Marily started “Turn It Up Media”, their own Brand Strategy/Sales & Marketing Integration, Media Relations and Content Development company, CANarchy became their first client. With PR savvy and an uncanny knack for brand strategy, Chad has an iron-clad grasp on how to provide clients with a road map to meet their individual goals. Chad was the marketing chair for the Colorado Brewers Guild and is a founding (and active) board member of Can’d Aid, a national non-profit that spreads people powered do-goodery through Towns, Tunes, Treads + Trails and Love Yur Mama efforts nationwide.

Activator. Strategist. Leader. An astonishing achiever who transforms passion into action. A sought-after brewery industry finance and accounting expert, Maria grew up in South Carolina. Before she became a CPA, far-flung interests took her to the College of Charleston, where she earned an Arts Management degree and launched her first career in the radio and music industry. Honoring a lifelong love of business, Maria then earned a post-baccalaureate in Accounting from Linfield College shortly after moving to Oregon. Over a decade, she worked as a tax accountant, founded a successful accounting business that served the alcoholic beverage industry, spoke at countless brewery conferences, and recently authored Small Brewery Finance (available October 7, 2019). We couldn’t be happier to have this dynamo at Perkins & Co as our newest Client Accounting Services Principal. Here, you’ll find her digging deep to help clients solve problems and build better businesses—that is, when she’s not teaching classes, taking in a concert, admiring professional photography, or traveling the world. There’s little Maria hasn’t done, and undoubtedly far more she has yet to do.

Brendan is partner with law firm Harris Beach and based out of in New York. He represents over 160 clients in the alcoholic beverage space including with regard to issues ranging from trademark to distribution contracts to real estate and bankruptcy. He’s been quoted on legal issues in the beer industry in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and San Francisco Chronicle among other places. Brendan is also a dedicated craft beer fan and has been a home brewer for over 10 years. Several of his recipes have even been brewed commercially.

Justin Kendall provides daily coverage of the beer industry on Brewbound.com, conducts live-streamed interviews during Brewbound's events and co-produces the Brewbound podcast. Kendall is a 17-year career journalist who led alt-weekly newspapers in Kansas City, Missouri, and Des Moines, Iowa.