Sinead Carey is the Director of Sales - Beer at Breakthru Beverage, CA. She joined Breakthru Beverage, CA following the acquisition of Wine Warehouse in April 2023. She holds a leadership role that includes overseeing a team of craft beer specialists, working with supplier partners on planning, market execution, and collaborating with Breakthru Beverage, CA Sales Teams to drive performance behind the category. With over 20 years of successful experience working in the beer industry, Sinead has held roles in sales, distributor management, channel management, and trade marketing with Star Brand Imports, Heineken USA and Anchor Brewing. Sinead is an Irish native and a graduate of Trinity College Dublin. She is a Cicerone Certified Beer Server and was awarded the Knighthood of the Belgian Brewers Paddle in 2022.

Michelle Abdollah is a seasoned retail expert with over 15 years of experience in merchandising and operations. Currently, she serves as Category Manager for Alcoholic Beverages and Private Label Development Manager at Extra Mile convenience stores, overseeing merchandising strategies for wine, beer, and spirits across 1,100+ locations in 11 states. With a proven track record of driving growth and profitability, Michelle has honed her skills through various leadership roles at 7-Eleven and Target. Her expertise has earned her recognition as one of the Top Women In Convenience by Convenience Store News in 2024. Michelle's dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction continues to propel her success in the convenience store channel.

Brian Fried is the General Manager of Stone Distributing Company (SDC). SDC is an independent beverage distributor that services all Southern California and represents a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic brands. SDC was founded in 1999 to distribute a few craft brands in San Diego with a hand full of employees. It has grown to be one of the largest craft-centric distributors in the country, employing over 350 passionate team members. Brian has been in the beverage business for 30 years with experience in beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. He began his career working at a beer distributor before a long tenure on the supplier side.  He has worked for such companies as Miller Brewing Company, Heineken USA, and Beam Suntory. He has held multiple management roles that have allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the beverage industry, as well as develop capabilities in business planning and organizational development.

Peter Heimark is President and CEO of Heimark Distributing LLC (HDC.) Heimark Distributing is an Independent Beer and beverage Distributor based in Indio, California servicing communities in eastern Riverside County and Southern San Bernardino County including the Coachella Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park, and surrounding communities. Peter is the third generation of Heimark Family Members at the Helm of Heimark Distributing. He began his career with an internship working for Anheuser-Busch in Spain and Denmark. He spent the first twenty-three years of his career with Heimark Distributing’s sister company, Triangle Distributing, based in Santa Fe Springs. Upon conducting a territory swap with Anheuser-Busch in 2020, Peter moved to Heimark Distributing LLC. Peter has served as the Anheuser-Busch Advisory Panel Chairman, the Chairman of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, and has served on the board of the California Family Beer Distributors Association.

As President of Markstein Sales Company since 2001, Laura Markstein has led the 105-year-old company in its continued growth and success as one of the largest independent family-owned groups of wholesale beer distributorships in the United States. Laura’s commitment to her customers, team and community is evident in the multiple awards received and organizations in which she has served. Laura’s strategic vision has simultaneously generated significant increases in the company’s sales numbers, while also increasing and diversifying a product portfolio that brings the highest accolades from both customers and supplier partners. From being consistently ranked one of the top ten women-owned businesses in the Bay Area of California to providing a work environment recognized as leading the way in employee satisfaction and wellness, Laura is proving that women leaders in the beverage distribution industry may be few in number, but big in impact.