Nick grew up in the beverage industry, where he learned early the value of long hours and discounted family labor. He began his beer career as a cook and dishwasher in the Firestone Walker Taproom kitchen, later taking on roles in groundskeeping, forklift driving, and cellar work. Leaving home, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy, competing on the national USNA Parachute Team. He went on to serve five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Artillery Officer, deploying to Afghanistan in 2014. After military service, Nick earned his MBA at UC Berkeley and worked as a Senior Strategy Consultant for L.E.K. Consulting, advising clients in technology, private equity, and retail. Today, Nick serves as Chief Executive Officer of Firestone Walker. As a fourth-generation member of the family beverage business, he is deeply committed to advancing the brewery’s legacy through innovation, sustainability, and long-term stewardship....and he looks forward to one day employing his three kids at the Firestone Walker Taproom.

With over 20 years’ marketing experience, Rebecca Dye Yonushonis is fueled by curiosity, a passion for brand building, and a love for growing and developing talented teams. Rebecca joined New Belgium Brewing as Chief Marketing Officer on March 18, 2024, and plays a vital role in driving growth of America’s largest craft brewery’s beverage portfolio. Rebecca’s leadership and marketing insight have driven significant brand transformations across a range of companies and industries, most recently as CMO of True Food Kitchen she led the wellness-focused restaurant brand through rapid expansion and growth. Previously, she held senior marketing, brand strategy, and consumer insights roles at Land O’ Lakes Inc, Dollar Shave Club, Starbucks, Molson Coors, and the Wrigley Company. She has worked on several Effie award-winning campaigns and was named Brand Innovators "40 under 40 Innovative Marketers" among several other personal accolades throughout her career. Rebecca holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, and a BS in Marketing and International Business from The University of Dayton. Originally from the Midwest, she currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, Ian, two stepdaughters, Mircea and Siena, and a very spoiled Springer Spaniel/Poodle mix named Elbie. Outside of the office you can find her hiking, traveling the globe, and enjoying a football game with friends and family, likely with a Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze in hand.

Rosalie Kennedy is the Director of Marketing at Athletic Brewing Company, where she leads the company's strategic initiatives. Her industry-leading work has shaped Athletic’s leading brand presence and helped define the modern non-alcoholic beer category. With a background in brand management, Rosalie previously honed her expertise at Boston Beer Company, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the brand strategy for Angry Orchard Hard Cider, which became the country's No. 1 hard cider and drove the overall cider segment. Her career also includes notable agency experience in New York City, where she coordinated high-profile campaigns for Heineken USA's portfolio of brands. Outside of the office, Rosalie is actively involved in her community and has volunteered her time to small business growth initiatives. She is also a certified yoga instructor and a proud mom. She graduated with a double major in marketing and psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Leah is the second-generation family owner, President and CEO of Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC. Founded by her father Oscar Wong in 1994, Highland is the founding brewery in Asheville. It is also the largest independent brewery native to NC and in the nation’s top ten breweries led by women. Leah’s past board service includes the NC Brewers Guild, Asheville Chamber, Buncombe County Tourism Authority, Riverlink, AB Tech Community College. Currently, she serves on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors. Recognitions include Brewbound’s Person of the Year, Woman Executive of the Year from the Asheville Chamber, James Beard semi-finalist for Beer, Wine or Spirits Professional. But her only trophy with a disco ball is for Best Dancer in a local version of Dancing with the Stars. Leah is married to Brock Ashburn, Highland’s VP of Facilities and Engineer, and is stepmother to two amazing young women.

Whitney Stevenson is President and Chief Commercial Officer of JuneShine Brands, bringing nearly 20 years of beverage industry experience. She previously spent 15+ years at Boston Beer Company as Director for the Pacific Division, leading a 100+ person team across the western US and Hawaii. Her career includes roles at Molson Coors and PepsiCo, establishing her as a proven leader in brand growth and sales excellence.

Tate Huffard is the founder and CEO of Best Day Brewing, one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic craft beer brands in the U.S. A longtime builder of CPG brands, Tate has spent his career in high-growth startups that obsess over exceptional product quality and cultivating deep brand love. He launched Best Day believing that category-redefining NA beers, paired with an optimistic and irreverent lifestyle brand rooted in the “Best Day Yet” ethos, would reshape the future of drinking—giving consumers true freedom of choice and expanding the moments where beer belongs. Tate lives in the Bay Area with his wife, four kids, and a black lab who is never not at his side.

Growing up in the former Czechoslovakia, Rudy Kellner is no stranger to the mountains, rivers, and crisp beer that that surrounds the home of pFriem Family Brewers in Hood River, Oregon. While spending his first career in high tech, Rudy co-founded pFriem Family Brewers with a couple friends, and now serves as CEO of pFriem, a 50-thousand barrel brewery known for its breadth of beers, and religious commitment to quality, hospitality, and local Pac NW presence.

Kaleigh has 10 years of NIQ experience and considerable background working with clients in multiple categories. She has been involved with the Beverage Alcohol category for the last five years working on Thought Leadership, industry insights, and client specific business questions and projects. Kaleigh brings a unique skillset of analytic capabilities, as well as commercial selling story creation, and has significant background in bringing consumer insights to the forefront in support of sales trends. She has been pivotal in the NIQ strategy and tactics for Beverage Alcohol as the industry changes and develops.