NBWA 2020 | October 6 | Orlando, FL
You are viewing a past event. Check out our upcoming content.

Past Speakers

Stay tuned for Brew Talks Orlando speaker announcements.

  • Sam Calagione, CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Sam Calagione

    CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

    Sam Calagione, CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Sam Calagione

    CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

    Sam Calagione is the founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware and Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He also owns the Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware. Sam is a 2016 James Beard Award recipient was named one of Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business. The Wall Street Journal has called Sam "a Pioneer of bizarre brews."

  • Graci Harkema, Former Diversity & Inclusion Director, Founders Brewing Co. - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Graci Harkema

    Former Diversity & Inclusion Director, Founders Brewing Co.

    Graci Harkema, Former Diversity & Inclusion Director, Founders Brewing Co. - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Graci Harkema

    Former Diversity & Inclusion Director, Founders Brewing Co.

    Graci Harkema, former Diversity & Inclusion Director of Founders Brewing Co., is a Diversity & Inclusion Consultant with graci LLC. She specializes in equity and inclusive leadership training within beverage, technology, and Fortune 100 industries. She is dedicated to driving inclusion and integrating diversity to ensure an open and safe work environment. She helps evolve strategies to attract and engage a diverse and inclusive workforce and workplace. Graci is committed to empowering employees to perform to their potential as their authentic selves. She partners with clients to help them achieve successful business results by maximizing talent and inclusion strategies. Graci is passionate about serving her community by volunteering her time on LGBTQ non-profit boards and committees in Michigan. She is recognized as a “40 Under Forty Business Leader of West Michigan” by Grand Rapids Business Journal and has her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Grand Valley State University.

  • Paul Gatza, Senior VP, Brewers Association - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Paul Gatza

    Senior VP, Brewers Association

    Paul Gatza, Senior VP, Brewers Association - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Paul Gatza

    Senior VP, Brewers Association

    Paul Gatza is the senior vice president of the professional division of the Brewers Association (BA), a not-for-profit trade association whose purpose is to promote and protect American craft brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. Paul is a member of the association’s Taprooms, Technical, Market Development, PR & Marketing and Government Affairs Committees. Paul is a key leader in the development of the independent craft brewer seal and the “That’s Independence You’re Tasting” marketing campaign. Paul’s origin in the beer community started when he took up homebrewing in 1990. He worked on the bottling line at Boulder Beer and would sneak over to the brewhouse when opportunity allowed. He owned a pair of homebrew supply shops in Boulder and Longmont, Colorado in the 1990s. He served as director of the American Homebrewers Association for 7 years and is in his 18th year leading the professional side of the BA’s work. Paul is ranked as a National Beer Judge by the Beer Judge Certification Program. Paul is also a former judge director of both the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, before moving to the judge panels for these elite competitions. He lives at 7,200 feet in Sunshine, Colorado with his wife, daughter, cat, snowshoes, hot tub, bears, and mountain lions.

  • Natalie Gershon, VP of Marketing, Boulevard Brewing Company - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Natalie Gershon

    VP of Marketing, Boulevard Brewing Company

    Natalie Gershon, VP of Marketing, Boulevard Brewing Company - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Natalie Gershon

    VP of Marketing, Boulevard Brewing Company

    Natalie Gershon is the vice president of marketing for Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, MO. In this role, Natalie oversees the creative, consumer and trade marketing initiatives for Boulevard. Before joining the organization, Natalie spent the prior fifteen years in Los Angeles, working primarily in natural and organic CPG where she lead the marketing team at Zevia, disrupting traditional CSD, and Dogswell, the innovator of functional pet food. Natalie was thrilled to return to her hometown, and join the Boulevard team, a brand with unparalleled respect in Kansas City.

  • Todd Ahsmann, President, Goose Island Beer Company - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Todd Ahsmann

    President, Goose Island Beer Company

    Todd Ahsmann, President, Goose Island Beer Company - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Todd Ahsmann

    President, Goose Island Beer Company

    Todd is the president of Goose Island Beer Company, a Chicago-based brewery owned by Anheuser-Busch. He fell in love with craft beer culture in 1988 as a bartender at Goose Island’s Chicago brewpub. From there, he launched a 20-year career in music marketing, but beer was always his first passion; he never stopped offering Goose Island his help on the side (in exchange for beer, of course). Todd’s marketing career took off; he served as an executive for several of the biggest labels, working with artists from Pitbull to the Ramones, Beyonce to Blur. He developed a sixth sense for what people want to buy, and a penchant for disruptive marketing. As a bonus, he also worked mostly on the road, which allowed him to visit new breweries across the country just as craft brewing began to take off. Soon, he was back in the business, serving as Goose Island’s Consumer Experience Director. There he was responsible for the brewery’s long-term marketing strategy, leading to a national and finally, international footprint for Goose Island, all the while maintaining its authentic identity. After a two year stint running the Blue Point Brewery in New York, Todd returned home to Chicago, this time as the President of Goose Island. He’s more excited than ever to bring Goose Island into the future and give Chicago, and the rest of the world, the damn fine beer it deserves.

  • Garrett Marrero, Founder & CEO, Maui Brewing Co. - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Garrett Marrero

    Founder & CEO, Maui Brewing Co.

    Garrett Marrero, Founder & CEO, Maui Brewing Co. - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Garrett Marrero

    Founder & CEO, Maui Brewing Co.

    Garrett co-founded Maui Brewing Company in 2005 and has made it a successful Regional Craft Brewery and Hawaii’s Largest Craft Brewer. Under his leadership, Maui Brewing Company has grown from a seven-barrel brewpub with 32 employees producing 320 barrels of beer in 2005, to a pub and brewery with over 400 employees on pace to produce nearly 53,000 barrels of beer in 2017. In the ten years since opening, revenues have grown from $1.8M in 2005 to $18M in 2017. Garrett has led numerous legislative initiatives succeeding in changing laws to better support the growing craft industry in Hawaii. In 2014 Garrett also co-founded Maui Stone Craft Beverages, a joint venture between Maui Brewing Company and Stone Brewing Co. in order to distribute craft beers across the State. Garrett holds a BA in Economics, a BA in International Relations, and an AA in Finance. He is passionate about craft beer, food, and Hawaii. Garrett is a Board Member of the Hawaii Small Business Development Center for the SBA, Vice President and Founding Member of the Hawaiian Craft Brewers Guild, and sits on the Government Affairs Committee of the Brewers Association representing Hawaii at the Federal level.

  • Shyla Sheppard, Founder & CEO, Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Shyla Sheppard

    Founder & CEO, Bow & Arrow Brewing Co.

    Shyla Sheppard, Founder & CEO, Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Shyla Sheppard

    Founder & CEO, Bow & Arrow Brewing Co.

    Shyla Sheppard is the founder and CEO of Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., a three-year old brewery and beer hall specializing in wild, sour and Southwest-inspired beers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Shyla is originally from the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, where she is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes. She earned her Economics degree from Stanford University and completed Oxford University’s SAID School of Business Impact Investing Executive Program. Her professional background includes nearly a decade of investing and business experience as well as corporate and non-profit board directorships. With a love of funky and sour beers, she enjoys bringing a diverse perspective to the craft beer industry.

  • Adam Hiner, Co-Founder & CMO, Boochcraft - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Adam Hiner

    Co-Founder & CMO, Boochcraft

    Adam Hiner, Co-Founder & CMO, Boochcraft - Brew Talks Orlando 2020 (NBWA)

    Adam Hiner

    Co-Founder & CMO, Boochcraft

    Adam has been brewing regular kombucha for over a decade and began brewing for retail sale at his own restaurant in 2011. His restaurant, Local Habit, was one of the first restaurants in the country to offer kombucha on tap. Adam is currently the Chief Marketing Officer and resident Stunt Man at Boochcraft. His biggest goal is to make a difference in the communities and for the people where Boochcraft has an impact, like the Farm to Families program created in tandem with Wild Willow Farm just a couple miles from the brewery. Adam’s passions include acroyoga, surfing, organic gardening, and cooking.

Join The Discussion at Brew Talks on October 6th

REGISTER