Brewbound Live Winter 2024 - AGENDA
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Breakfast & Registration -- Breakfast, coffee and beverages are served from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM PT and are included with registration. Registration and badge pick up opens for the day at 8:00 AM PT.
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Why Focus is Essential in 2025 -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
The numbers don’t lie: Wielding a focused portfolio will be a key to winning in 2025. Explore how craft brewers are becoming laser-focused, why it’s working and how a prominent retailer views those moves.
with Peter Skrbek, CEO, Deschutes Brewery; Mary Guiver, Principal Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market; Brian “BK” Krueger, VP of Business Development and Portfolio Strategies, Bump Williams Consulting
9:30 AM - 10:10 AM Fireside Chat: Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
As Dogfish Head turns 30, co-founder Sam Calagione will discuss how craft producers can stay vibrant and relevant to younger generations of drinkers and how the Delaware craft brewery is charting its path for the future.
with Sam Calagione, Co-Founder, Dogfish Head
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM One-to-One Meetings with Retailers & Distributors -- Location: Outdoor Sinder Lounge - Lobby Level
Prior registration is required and meeting times are sent individually. Please check in at the One-to-One Help Desk before to heading to your meeting room. Meetings will be 10 minutes each and the complete schedule is posted at the Help Desk.
with Mary Guiver, Principal Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market; Dan Barrera, Global Beer Category Merchant Analyst, Whole Foods Market; Samantha Fletcher, Senior Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market; Justin Ray, Senior Category Merchant, Beer, Whole Foods Market; Michelle Abdollah, Category Manager, Alcoholic Beverages, Extra Mile; Sinead Carey, Director of Beer, Breakthru Beverage; Kevin Day, Director of Trade Development - Beer, Breakthru Beverage; Jessica Muskey, VP of Craft and Innovation, Reyes Beverage Group; Laura Markstein, President, Markstein Sales Company; Peter Heimark, President, Heimark Distributing LLC; Brian Fried, General Manager, Stone Distributing
10:10 AM - 10:25 AM Livestream & Networking Break --
10:25 AM - 11:00 AM Marketing Watch: Meeting Consumers Where They Are Online & IRL -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
with Zech Francis, SVP Global Marketing, BeatBox Beverages; Rebecca Dye Yonushonis, CMO, New Belgium Brewing; Julie Rhodes, Strategic Business Consultant, Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Brewbound Live Pitch Slam Final Round -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
A panel of expert judges will offer participants and attendees valuable insights on what makes for a successful brewery and beverage-alcohol brands. They’ll evaluate the emerging brands, business plans and innovative products presented by our contestants.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Sponsored Workshop: Passion & Results - How to Use Data & Technology to Make Better Decisions --

Location: Promenade Ballroom - Lobby Level
Combining your passion for the brewing industry with our experience and solutions to achieving business freedom. Hear how to lower your operating costs, optimize inventory levels, promote effectively, etc. Two former CPG executives from some of the world's top brands and current partners at ahatis will share how to use data and technology to make better business decisions and achieve key business results.


with Timothy Weaver, Executive Partner, ahatis, LLC; Jeremie Davis, Executive Partner, ahatis, LLC
12:00 PM - 1:20 PM Lunch, Sampling + Livestream --
1:20 PM - 1:50 PM Prepare for Turbulence: Strategies for Surving Craft's Choppy Times -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
How do you survive a choppy alcohol market? Leaders from Allagash Brewing, Independence Brewing and Wisconsin Brewing share strategies that have carried their companies through uncertain times and helped them tap into growth opportunities.
with Paul Verdu, President, Wisconsin Brewing Company; Rob Tod, Founder, Allagash Brewing Company; Amy Cartwright, Co-Founder & President, Independence Brewing
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM Emerging Audiences & Shifting Mindsets: Understanding Changing Drinker Demos -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
Lindsay Kunkle, the head of the global firm’s U.S. consultancy, will examine shifting demographics, changing consumer mindsets and emerging audiences with an eye on how these factors are relevant to beverage-alcohol producers. She will offer insights into Generation Z’s outlook on alcohol, as well as dive into the “never old mindset” of Baby Boomers as they enter longevity, the new definition of diversity ,and the growing population of adults who opt not to have children.
with Lindsay Kunkle, Director, Head of U.S. Consultancy, Foresight Factory
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Welcome: Making Beer Accessible to Underrepresented Groups -- Location: California Ballroom - Lobby Level
Visionaries who have made beer more accessible to underrepresented groups share how bev-alc can be more welcoming, expanding the reach of and opportunities for the industry through products, philosophies and events large and small.
with Karen Hertz, Founder, Holidaily Brewing; Jessica Fierro, Owner & Head Brewer, Atrevida Beer Co.; Day Bracey, Founder, Barrel & Flow Fest
3:00 PM Brewbound Live Pitch Slam Winner Announcement --
Please note that event agendas are subject to change.