CBP Connects Charleston | Craft Beer Professionals

Attracting New Audiences

Panelists: Evan Blum (BrewedAt), Rich Bloomfield (Funkytown Brewing), Rob Day (Barrel One Collective)

Moderator: Victoria Howell (MoMac Brewing Company/Nansemond Brewing Station)

Growth does not come from doing more of the same. It comes from reaching people who are not already walking through your doors.

In this panel, we’ll hear from leaders bringing different perspectives to the table, including a Gen Z voice, a Black-owned brewery owner, and an operator running multiple taprooms across diverse markets. Together, they’ll share how they are building relevance, earning trust, and creating experiences that resonate beyond the traditional craft beer audience.

This conversation will focus on what it actually takes to expand your audience today. From programming and product decisions to representation, partnerships, and community engagement, you’ll hear real examples of what is working, what is not, and how breweries are intentionally broadening who feels welcome in their spaces.

Learning Objectives:

Identify practical ways to make your brewery more welcoming and relevant to audiences who may not currently see themselves in your space
Learn how to align product mix, programming, and messaging with the values and expectations of emerging consumers without alienating your core audience
Understand how operators in different markets approach growth across multiple locations and diverse communities
Walk away with specific strategies you can test to expand reach, increase visit frequency, and build long term loyalty with new audiences

Evan Blum is a Gen Z entrepreneur and the Founder of BrewedAt, a media & marketing agency redefining how craft brands connect with younger consumers. With over six years of experience in the beverage industry, Evan began his career in Supply Chain at Nestlé in 2020, gaining firsthand insight into how large-scale operations drive consumer products to market. Fueled by a passion for local business, marketing, and craft beer, he founded BrewedAt in 2023 to help brands authentically engage Gen Z audiences through strategic digital media. Evan brings a uniquely generational perspective to every campaign, meeting today’s consumers where they are.

Rich Bloomfield is the co-founder and CEO of Funkytown Brewery, a leading Black-owned craft beer brand based in Chicago. Since its 2021 launch, Funkytown has earned national recognition, including the Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream Award, VinePair Brewery of the Year, and a spot on Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40. Under Rich’s leadership, the brewery has expanded across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, ranking among the top 25% of Illinois breweries by volume and the 5th largest Black-owned brewery in the U.S. He also serves on the boards of the National Black Brewer’s Association (NB2A), the FAME Center, and the Beer Culture Center, where he continues to champion the intersection of craft beer, culture, and community.

Rob Day is a marketing leader with two decades of experience, currently serving as the VP of Marketing for Barrel One Collective, the 13th largest craft brewing group in the U.S. In addition to his work outside of beer, Rob has held marketing leadership roles at Lord Hobo, Jack’s Abby, and now at Barrel One. Beyond his role at Barrel One, Rob is an active member of the BA PRM Committee and contributed to mentorships with the BA and Kraft Kulture. Rob is a proud dad to a cool, brewery-going toddler and always down to talk food, drink and business.

Victoria Howell is a brewery owner and Director of Operations with extensive experience in the craft beverage and hospitality industry. She is known for building high-performing teams, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and driving community-focused business growth. Wearing many hats daily, Victoria oversees operations, mentors staff, and tackles challenges with a practical, people-first leadership style. Outside of work, she’s passionate about supporting her local community and believes the best conversations—and ideas—often happen around a shared table and a good beer.

finding money in your brewery through margins, efficiencies, and smarter decisions

Panelists: Chris Farmand (Small Batch Standard), Mike Corneille (Pryes Brewing), Tim Wilson (Caboose Brewing)

Moderator: Adam Howe (GoTab)

Every dollar matters right now. From getting your team more confident selling to-go beer to tightening up production and operating costs, small decisions can have a real impact on the bottom line. In this panel conversation, financial experts from across the industry will share where breweries can grow revenue, reduce costs, and protect margins through smarter, more intentional choices. The focus is not theory. You’ll hear practical, real-world examples of how breweries are tightening operations, improving efficiency, and making clearer financial decisions across all areas of your business. Attendees will leave with ideas you can actually test, measure, and apply in your own brewery.

Learning Objectives:

Identify practical ways to increase revenue and control costs across different areas of your brewery.
Learn how to spot inefficiencies and make small operational changes that improve profitability.
Understand which financial metrics matter most and how to use them to make clearer, more confident day-to-day decisions.

Adam Howe is a hospitality and brewery operations leader with more than 20 years in the service industry and over a decade dedicated to craft beer. He has held leadership roles with Pyramid Brewing and North American Breweries, Drake’s Brewing, Upland Brewing, and Taxman Brewing — overseeing multi-location operations, flagship management, and expansion into new markets.

In his current role as Director of Product Enablement at GoTab, Adam partners with craft breweries, taprooms, and hospitality venues to modernize operations, elevate guest experiences, and unlock new revenue through flexible point-of-sale and engagement technology.

Adam regularly speaks on experiential marketing, brewery-forward tech adoption, and guest-centric service models that help breweries thrive in evolving markets. His work champions the idea that great beer and great hospitality go hand in hand — creating memorable moments that keep guests coming back.

Chris Farmand got his start in 2010 helping a new brewery build its back-office systems, a firsthand look at how complex running a brewery can be. That experience led him to found Small Batch Standard. He’s worked with more than 200 breweries, helping them uncover profit through outsourced accounting, tax compliance, and benchmark consulting. Chris holds a BS in Business Finance from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of North Florida, and is an active member of both the AICPA and FICPA.

Mike Corneille is the president and co-founder of Pryes Brewing Company in Minneapolis. Since co-founding Pryes, he has helped build it into one of the largest taprooms and the largest self-distributed brewery in Minnesota, with a focus on running a high-volume, community-driven taproom. Pryes has expanded beyond beer with a full food program, large outdoor concerts, and private events and catering that drive repeat visits and deeper brand connections. Mike also serves as president of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Legislative Committee, where he works on policy issues that impact craft breweries and the future of the industry.

Tim Wilson’s career in craft beer began about 10 years ago in Virginia, though he is originally from New Orleans. He joined the military in 2005, which gave him the opportunity to travel across the United States and abroad. After his military service, he attended the Culinary Institute of America, followed by Cornell’s hospitality program. Since then, he has found his niche in breweries and hopes to continue in the industry for years to come.

Smart Expansion: Increasing Your Production Capacity

Jon Simpson (Fullsteam Brewery), Kristie Nystedt (Raleigh Brewing Company), Matt Sprinkle (ABS Commercial), Pat Tuley (Wipfli), Tom Hudock (Craft Buildings), William Teasley (Khonso Brewing)

As the brewhouse counterpart session to Maintaining Consistency Across Taprooms, this session will focus on growth and expansion from the production side. The panel will offer insight from the brewery, equipment, and financial viewpoints to provide you with a playbook to consider as you scale. Our guests will discuss best practices, common mistakes, and share experiences how they have been able to successfully increase production capacity.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss factors including brewing equipment, fermentation capacity, packaging lines, and storage space to determine the extent of expansion needed to make anticipated growth
Understand the importance of a market analysis and the financial planning necessary to make expansion viable
Create a plan to maximize your current production capacity as you plan for the future

Jon Simpson holds a BS degree in Nuclear Medicine from the Rochester Institute of Technology and worked in various healthcare positions until 8 years ago when he decided to make a career change and pursue his passion, craft brewing. He is currently the Head Brewer at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham NC where he focuses on beers made with local ingredients, particularly local craft malt. Jon has overseen a number of expansion projects at Fullsteam, including the installation of a centrifuge, a new boiler, and a 5 bbl pilot system

In 2013, Kristie Nystedt opened the doors to Raleigh Brewing Company becoming the first woman in North Carolina to own a craft brewery. She is the president and CEO of Raleigh Brewing Company, with 3 locations across North Carolina, as well as Atlantic Brew Supply and ABS Commercial. Kristie’s passion for craft beer and her commitment to community extends beyond the brewery walls with partnerships like Bike MS, an organization that raises funds in support of those affected by MS, and Raleigh Little Theater. Kristie lends her voice to advocate growth and development in North Carolina.

Matt Sprinkle is a Brewery Design Consultant and East Coast Sales Representative at ABS Commercial. After getting his start at Foothills Brewing, he transitioned to Loeffler Chemical, where he spent the majority of his career building Cleaning and Sanitation programs for craft breweries and distilleries. Equipped with a rich brewing background and recognized for fostering lasting client relationships, Matt stands as a luminary in the brewing sector. Matt is also forklift certified.

Tim O’Neill is a senior manager in Wipfli’s tax practice, specializing food & beverage manufacturing, retail, and distribution. Tim leads Wipfli’s Craft Brewery Services team and has over 10 years of experience assisting craft breweries ranging from large, multistate breweries to breweries in planning with their tax and business compliance & planning needs. Brewery owners appreciate his tailored business solutions, commitment to excellence, and ability to build strong relationships with their team. Tim lives in St. Louis with his wife and three young children and loves any English-style brown ale just as much as he loves a beautifully formatted spreadsheet.

Bitten by the craft brewing movement over fifteen years ago, Tom Hudock brought his passion for brewing and experience with branding, marketing, and commercial real estate together in 2016. Sister companies My Beer Brand and Craft Buildings are the culmination of his years of careful planning, strategizing, and networking with others who share a passion for craft beverages. In addition, because a brewery without a piece of land to build it on is sort of a big deal, Tom is also a licensed REALTOR® serving clients by finding and securing property for their new craft-related business ventures.

A native of Tuskegee, Alabama, William Teasley became a craft beer fanboy when he tasted his first Samuel Adams Lager while at Boston College in the 1980s. Since then he has traveled and tasted beer worldwide while having an ever-evolving career in learning and technology. Brewing is an extension of his passion for learning deeply, blending flavors, committing to quality, and having fun. Beer is his canvas. He is also passionate about sharing the significance of beer’s connections to the African diaspora, brewing various beer styles, and staying abreast of current trends in the craft beverage world.

Let’s Taco ‘Bout Food in Your Taproom

Elise Strupp (Event & Programming Manager, MobCraft Beer)

If you can take the heat, don’t stay out of the kitchen! Serving food in your taproom is a great way to attract a wider range of guests and to keep them in your taproom for longer periods of time. While the promise of an increase in audience and sales is attractive, running a kitchen comes with a bounty of logistical challenges. But donut give up! In this session, we will explore different taproom food service models and the steps necessary to successfully implement a food service program at your brewery, allowing you to take a big bite of the potential revenue pie.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will gain an awareness of kitchen equipment that can be used in challenging spaces
Attendees will understand how utilizing catering software that can be utilized to increase food sales and improve internal and client communications
Attendees will develop an action plan for implementing or improving food service in their taproom

Elise Strupp is the Programming & Event Manager at MobCraft Beer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Elise holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from UW-Madison, and believes that beer is a universal experience (and that you don’t need a background in brewing or even science) to understand, appreciate, and talk about beer! Elise has over ten years of experience working in the brewing industry as a tour guide, bartender, taproom manager, tour manager, and event manager.

Wake Up Your Events: Strategies for Winning New Guests

Scott Kolbe (Advisor, Market Your Craft)

Are your events tired? Do breweries down the street crush it while you’re fully stuck in the Trivia Thursday rut? Have you run out of ideas on how to draw a new crowd to your tasting room other than BOGOs and weekly food truck schedules? And do drinkers pre-game at your place, only to spend a bulk of their evening (and dollars) somewhere else?

Time to wake up your events! Stop suffering from schedule sleepiness!

We believe events are some of the most underutilized tools for bringing your brand story and personality to life. During this interactive workshop, attendees will brainstorm engaging themes and create a blueprint to maximize attendance:

Brainstorming event types
Laying out the building blocks of engagement
Knowing the tools available to promote
Building contingency plans

In a small group setting, teams will agree on a theme to present to peers for critique. Together we’ll discuss the basic building blocks of events worthy of your time and primed for participation. The idea of a budget to promote the event will be introduced, as well as the need for prioritizing tools and tactics to build awareness and drive ticket sales/traffic. And then there’s the contingency plan in case things go sideways…

The goal is for everyone to have at least one new and engaging event idea for when they return to their breweries, plus the gameplan to successfully promote. Workshop attendees will also have access to 10+ Complimentary Guides, with storytelling techniques to keep fans engaged and the proven tools to build momentum and capture new sales in this environment.

Learning Objectives:

Understand event types and identify the right theme for your next event.
Build a meaningful, engaging event for your customers and community.
Maximize event participation/attendance with targeted promotions.
Build a contingency plan for the unforeseen, ensuring event success.

Market Your Craft is a virtual team of experts in storytelling your craft beer brand. We’ve worked with some of the most iconic brands in the beverage industry, including Sierra Nevada, BJ’s Brewhouse, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and others. Led by Scott Kolbe, industry veteran of 20+ years, our goal is to help you become more discoverable in today’s crowded market. We measure success by how quickly we provide your internal team with the tools needed to drive traffic, build engagement and capture sales. To learn more or to schedule an hour free of charge with one of our storytelling experts, visit marketyourcraft.com.

Lager-Metrics: How Incremental Gains Can Lead to Big Wins

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Julie Rhodes (Owner, Strategic Business Consultant, Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions)

In baseball, there’s a strategic theory called Sabermetrics that establishes a roster of players that might not be household names but have skill sets that will produce the highest probability of success. Why? Because they contribute incremental gains, in this case, base runners or runs scored, that allow that team to win more games. This method of team management rose to popularity because some teams were playing at a huge disadvantage – a low spending budget and a high level of competition for players. The craft beer world is not that different from baseball. At a time when marketplace competition is high, the economy is low, and budgets are limited, craft beer brands might want to consider how to play Lager–metrics with their sales plans.

Learning Objectives:

How to leverage small, incremental sales wins to reach large sales goals
Identifying the key data points to track to implement this system of selling
How to structure sales goals for your team based on small, incremental wins

With over 2 decades of experience in the food and beverage industry, Julie Rhodes is an expert in off-site beverage sales, digital marketing, leadership, team management, and distributor partnership management. She is the owner of Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions, an educational services and strategic business consulting company built specifically for small to medium-sized craft beverage companies where she teaches owners and operators how to work smarter, not harder. She is also a freelance business journalist and active public speaker, belonging to multiple state brewery guilds and cider trade associations. She was the Mentor of the Year for the Brewers Association in 2022 and also sits on the BA DEI Marketing and Communications Subcommittee.

Maintaining Consistency Across Taprooms

Anthony Drago (Director of Hospitality, Monday Night Brewing), Jamie Young (Regional General Manager, Saucy Brew Works), Marcus Baskerville (Co-Founder, Weathered Souls Brewing Company

Moderator: Michael Varda (Founder, Craft Beer Advisory Services)

More and more we are seeing breweries consider not plans to be the next big regional or national player, but chart a path that includes expanding their presence into other communities. With this growth, comes the need to maintain the same high level of quality and experience across locations. In this panel conversation, we will discuss aspects to consider when planning an expansion, challenges you may face, and strategies for success while growing via the taproom model.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss methods to create and maintain a recognizable brand across taprooms while leaning into unique characteristics to reflect the local surroundings.
Discover strategies to implement, monitor, and maximize training among staff to create the most memorable and profitable experience for both guests and team members.
Demonstrate the importance of strong leadership, how management can best demonstrate company values, and metrics that can be valuable in understanding the health of a taproom.

The insight offered will not only give actionable strategies to those actively pursuing the taproom model, but also provide immediate takeaways for maximizing the operation of a single location.

Anthony Drago is the Director of Hospitality for Monday Night Brewing. He oversees all taproom, private events, and restaurant operations across five locations and four states, and he has been with Monday Night Brewing for five years. At Monday Night Brewing, Anthony has been responsible for increasing to-go sales through staff education and merchandising opportunities. He led the charge on developing new cocktail and culinary programs at Monday Night’s taprooms, including launching artisan pizza programs in Atlanta and the soon-to-open Charlotte location. Anthony has 15 years in the service industry. He spent 4 years in the wine industry advancing through the sommelier program until he made the switch from grapes to hops. Anthony can stand on one foot for longer than 30 seconds but no longer than 34 seconds.

Jamie Young is the Regional General Manager at Saucy Brew Works. “Hey everyone! I like to call myself a humble narcissist with a focus on good old-fashioned genuine hospitality. My specialties are identifying like minded misfits and motivating them for the cause of spreading good times, joy, and wealth. With over 20 years in the industry (17 in brewery land) I’ve managed to cultivate my passion for drinks and dining while breaking through that hoppy ceiling that was once entirely male dominated. I demand respect, compassion, and desire for success from my associates all the while disguising myself in this lovely lady package. I curse like a sailor and don’t trust those who don’t.”

Marcus Baskerville, 38, was born and raised in Rancho Cordova, California. Co-owner of Weathered Souls in San Antonio, TX and Charlotte NC. Marcus has received several accolades while operating Weathered Souls Brewing Co. such as San Antonio’s Brewery of the Year five times running, 2019 Best 33 Stouts in the World, Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40 Top Taste Makers in 2020, Craft Beer & Brewing 2020’s Break Out Brewer , 2020 Best Brewery in The US, 2021 top 20 beers by Hop Culture, Imbibe 75, 2020, Imbibe 75, 2021 and many others. In 2020, he created the worldwide initiative called Black Is Beautiful, a cause supporting equality and inclusion through a collaborative effort. Recently Black is Beautiful was recently added to the world’s greatest beer book by CAMRA books. To start the Year of ’23, Weathered Souls was a semifinalist for The James Beard foundation award for Best Bar. Marcus also is a founding member and sits on the BOD of the NB2A and sits on the BOD of the Brewers Association.

As a lifelong hospitality veteran, Matt Russell specializes in building high performing teams, executive leadership development, scaling business, launching new brands, all while utilizing a positive people focused approach. Matt is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Strategic Management. He’s held executive level and senior leadership positions in several private and corporate hospitality companies as well as served on the University of Richmond’s CX Advisory Board. Currently serving as Chief Operation Office for New Realm Brewing and Distilling Company’s Restaurant division. Fun fact, while in college Matt opened his own sports bar and grill, and that passion for craft beer, great food, and southern hospitality lives on today. In his free time Matt enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, cooking, and all things Dallas Cowboys.

Michael Varda is the Founder of Craft Beer Advisory Services (CBAS), a market research firm exclusively dedicated to craft beer. He began his professional career in market research roles advising some of the nation’s top universities on attracting students and several Fortune 50 companies on improving brand perceptions. In addition to CBAS, he also leads brand perception research at a Fortune 100 financial company. Combining his research skill with a passion for craft beer, CBAS was born in Fall 2021. Since its founding, Michael has delivered CBAS research to more than 250 breweries in 45+ states and 10+ countries.

Building Community Through Mutually Beneficial Relationships

Day Bracey (Founder, Barrel & Flow)

Day Bracey is a comedian, podcaster, activist, & founder of America’s first Black arts and craft brew fest, Barrel & Flow (formerly Fresh Fest). In this session, he’ll discuss how he and his team built one of America’s most inclusive brew festivals, & the initiatives behind it. Barrel & Flow has been named one of America’s best brew fests by the readers of USA Today four years in a row, and has gained international recognition and following since it’s inception in 2018. Attendees should expect to be entertained and prepare to engage in meaningful discussions surrounding the benefits and difficulties in connecting with your community, building culture, & creating mutually beneficial relationships for the betterment of both business and society.

Learning Objectives:

How to meaningfully connect to your community through mutually beneficial relationships.
The benefits of inclusion in action. The importance of culture in the long term success of your business.
Pitfalls of event planning.

Day Bracey is a comedian, podcaster, activist, & producer. His credits include co-host of the award winning Drinking Partners Podcast, co-host of TV Show Ed & Day in The Burgh, & founder of America’s first Black arts and craft brew fest, Barrel & Flow (formerly Fresh Fest). When he isn’t drinking or paying Black people, he’s trolling bigots online.

Brewery Data Diagnostics: Immersive Quality Control Workshop

Brynn Keenan (Founder and CEO, Grist Analytics)

Join us for an immersive Brewery Data Diagnostics workshop, where we delve into real-world production data to collaboratively diagnose brewery issues. This interactive experience goes beyond theory as we analyze actual data from the brewhouse through packaging, providing hands-on insights for troubleshooting and enhancing overall quality.

For production teams, this workshop unlocks the keys to streamlined operations, precise scheduling, and early issue identification, providing brewers with the predictability they need to foster creativity and innovation when production flows seamlessly.

Front of house positions, including taproom and sales personnel, will gain a fundamental understanding of what “quality” truly means, empowering confident communication with customers and distributors.

Whether you’re a seasoned brewer or a sales rep seeking a competitive edge, this workshop equips you with skills to understand your brewery’s data and elevate your quality control practices.

Learning Objectives:

How to analyze brewhouse data, including brewlogs, spreadsheets and control charts.
How to diagnose issues using data and identify root cause.
How to effectively communicate and validate that you have good quality product.

Brynn is a biochemist by training and fermentation scientist by trade. Her experience in brewing QC includes building micro, sensory, and analytical programs for Left Hand Brewing and Inland Island Yeast Laboratories. Brynn started Grist Analytics to bring big brewery QC tools to craft by making data entry, visualization, and analysis easy. She now helps breweries across the world turn production data into actionable information. Brynn is passionate about good beer, rock climbing, and building community.

Mighty Malty Marvels: Assembling Your Brewery’s Brand Superhero Universe

Brian Winkeler & Jennings Hammack (Robot House)

Your beers are your brand’s superheroes. They each have their own distinct, otherworldly powers and a fervent fanbase of frenetic followers. How do they relate to one another? How are you telling their strange & wonderful tales? Branding experts Brian Winkeler & Jennings Hammack with Robot House will discuss how you are the architect of your brewery’s one-of-a-kind universe and lead an interactive exercise that will encourage you to reflect on each beer’s origin story and unique strengths, and what their names, designs and iconography say about the craft beer world you’re building.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will be encouraged to analogize their brewery’s collection of craft beers to a team of superheroes and reflect on how they can best position each of their craft beer heroes for success as individual brands and as part of a larger brand family.
Attendees will see a demonstration of a brand development process that resulted in the creation of a storytelling system to visually connect The Nook Brewing Company’s 12 beers while also infusing layouts with maximum personal detail to highlight the origin and unique powers of each style.
Attendees will engage in an interactive activity giving them the opportunity to create their own brewery superhero wielding powers unlike any other – because there’s no other brewery like theirs.

Brian Winkeler & Jennings Hammack represent 1/3 of Robot House, an Oklahoma City-based six-person team of creative thinkers, dreamers and doers who craft emotional brand stories with fresh, cool, award-winning design in collaboration with clients around the country. Specializing in brand development, packaging design and all things creative, Brian & Jennings are on a mission to find passionate people eager to build and explore a brave new world for their craft beer brand.

Benchmark Your Beer: Pricing Competitively While Keeping Your Guests Happy

Your costs have increased, meaning your menu prices must follow to keep revenue positive. But how do you balance pricing competitively with keeping your guests happy?

We brought in the experts:

Maria Pearman, CPA at GH&J Advisors
Chris Ranere, Owner at Indigo Reef Brewing Company
Pearce Fleming, Proprietor at Commonhouse Aleworks
Moderator: Rachel Kesley, Solutions Engineer & Director of Partnerships at Arryved

We’ll dive into creative solutions to combat rising vendor costs and pricing strategies of real-life brewery owners. You won’t want to miss it!

Learning Objectives:

How to approach vendors to receive more competitive prices
What data other breweries are using to help with their pricing model
Creative solutions breweries are using to offset costs

Maria Pearman, CPA, CGMA, has more than 15 years of public accounting experience providing accounting and advisory services to clients. She is an expert in the beverage and alcohol industry and specializes in internal accounting processes, financial reviews, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, financial strategy and succession planning.

Christopher Ranere and his wife Nicole started homebrewing in 2014 in Madison, WI. They started with homebrew extract kits and quickly fell in love with the process and final product. They moved on to brewing all grain batches when they moved to Charleston, SC in late 2014. In 2017, Christopher started working in production at Two Blokes Brewing. In 2019, Christopher and Nicole opened Indigo Reef Brewing company, a 7 BBL brewery with a taproom, small kitchen, and local distribution. Indigo Reef Brewing has changed a lot over the course of nearly five years, including multiple partners in the kitchen, new distribution areas and a canning line!

Pearce Fleming is an accomplished and award-winning homebrewer. In addition to his homebrewing experience, Pearce has completed the Institute of Brewing & Distilling’s General Certificate in Brewing exam. Outside of brewing, Pearce has served in healthcare administration, been responsible for leading one of the largest healthcare consultancies in the country, as well as developed multiple quality, education, and wellbeing technology platforms serving patients, providers, insurers, and employers. Pearce’s family roots lie in rural South Carolina and the mountains of western North Carolina. He was often entertained in his youth by his Grandaddy’s stories of running shine from his home in the mountains to the state capital of Raleigh to help with expenses while attending North Carolina State University. His grandfather always laughed about the time he was caught and hauled in front of the school’s disciplinary board, saying, “little did the President of the University know that nine of the ten people on the board were my regular customers.” True to form, Pearce’s father’s first words when told of the plan for Commonhouse, “Well, you know you’re going to have to pay the Revenuers their due.

Rachel Kesley Kesley is a hospitality master, working as an executive chef and in the craft beer world for over two decades! Now she’s leading the Arryved partnerships team to help other craft establishments grow their revenue through a point-of-service (POS) solution. Outside of work she is busy traveling, exploring Colorado on her bicycle, and chasing around her pup Truvy Tennessee!

Crowdsourced: A Collaborative Hour of Problem Solving

CBP Connects attendees continually list the ability to connect and learn from others as a highlight from our workshops. We are excited to host a session dedicated to learning from your peers. In this session, we will field questions from you and then develop the best solutions together. Plan to walk away with strategies to problems many of us are facing and best practices to improve brewery operations. Together, we can grow stronger.

Learning Objectives:

Collaborate with your peers to solve problems faced by other Craft Beer Professionals
Discover new strategies and solutions to help you see greater success at your brewery
Build new relationships that you can reach out to with future questions

How to Create A More Efficient Taproom Experience

Moderator: Ron Nelson (Arryved)

Panelists: Brandon Stirewalt (Town Brewing Co.), Dan Callendar (Salty Turtle Beer Co.), Kiel Arrington (Vaulted Oak Brewing Company)

Hear from a panel of experienced taproom managers and brewery owners as they share real-world insights into running smoother, more profitable taprooms. These industry pros will discuss how to streamline operations with smart technology, track key performance metrics to boost efficiency, empower staff with effective tools, and keep inventory and production in sync. This engaging conversation is packed with actionable tips for anyone looking to elevate their taproom experience.

Learning Objectives:

Learn how to streamline service to reduce wait times and create a smoother guest experience.
Discover ways to track and analyze performance metrics that help optimize taproom operations and profitability.
Explore techniques to empower your staff and ensure every shift runs efficiently and effectively.

Brandon Stirewalt is the Director of Operations at Town Brewing Co., bringing extensive experience from various breweries across the Carolinas. A proud North Carolina native, he has deep ties to the state and has lived in Charlotte since attending UNC Charlotte. Brandon’s passion for craft beer goes beyond the beverage itself; he values the community and culture it fosters. Outside of work, he enjoys live music, often with great company. His love for craft beer and the arts reflects his commitment to celebrating the unique experiences and vibrant local culture of North Carolina.

Daniel Callender is a founder and co-owner of Salty Turtle Beer Company in Surf City, established in 2017. He takes on the role of General Manager for the company and heads operations at their new satellite taproom in Raleigh. Originally from San Diego, CA and former United States Marine, he now calls this beautiful state home. Daniel enjoys spending time with his Wife, Son, and cycling around town.

Ron Nelson is the VP of Sales at Arryved, helping provide innovative solutions for the craft beverage industry. With a background in scaling software companies, Ron brings a deep passion for helping craft makers thrive. Drawn to the creativity and connection that define the craft community, he is committed to supporting breweries, taprooms, and beyond with tools that fuel their success. Under his leadership, Arryved continues to champion the unique needs of craft businesses, ensuring they have the technology to serve guests seamlessly and grow sustainably.

Open to Innovation: What We Can Learn from Outside the Beer Industry

Moderator: Lisa Parker (NC Craft Brewers Guild)

Panelists: Alvaro Fernandez (Bank of America), Emily Ladd (Charlotte Hornets), Michael Krimmer (Bojangles)

“Creativity is the focused combination of unlikely things. Your mind locks onto a certain element and then searches widely for something unexpected that fits with it. What can scuba diving teach you about agriculture? What can trees teach you about public speaking? There is always some connective tissue between disciplines. If you wish to be more creative, look for the connections between two previously unconnected things.”

That quote, by James Clear from ‘Atomic Habits,’ nails it. If we continuously look to each other as our only source of inspiration, we risk becoming an echo chamber of sameness.

In this conversation, we will hear from guests who do not work in the beer industry. We will learn their stories, hear their challenges, discover similarities, gain outside-the-box ideas, and ask unique questions to inspire you to greater success.

Learning Objectives:

Hear real-world stories and challenges from professionals outside the beer industry, providing practical examples of how overcoming obstacles and applying fresh perspectives can lead to success
Recognize and apply innovative concepts from unrelated fields to the beverage industry.
Break free from conventional thinking patterns by examining how unconventional practices and ideas from other sectors can inspire novel approaches in their work.

Alvaro Fernandez is a Commercial Banking Senior Relationship Manager for the Charlotte market at Bank of America. His responsibilities include leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client’s unique needs to deliver strategic guidance and financial solutions. Alvaro’s mission is to help local companies thrive and achieve their business goals, no matter how simple or how complex. Bringing eleven years of experience, Alvaro began his banking career at Bank of America, where he has also served as a Small Business Banker. Throughout his banking career, Alvaro has served his business clients holistically to support their growth. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Alvaro graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of South Florida. He resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Emily Ladd is the Senior Director of Game Presentation for the Charlotte Hornets. An Indiana native, she has spent her entire career with the Hornets and is currently in her 18th season. At the helm of Game Presentation, she is tasked with leveraging entertainment assets, production elements, and technology to create an engaging fan experience, help meet revenue goals, and maintain a home court advantage. Career highlights include helping bring the Hornets name back to Charlotte in 2014, and producing several All-Star Weekend events, most recently the 2025 All-Star Game in San Francisco.

A North Carolina native, Lisa Parker has worked with the NC Craft Brewers Guild since 2015. As the current Executive Director, she is a champion for North Carolina’s 410+ independent craft breweries, navigating legislative issues and fostering the state’s continued growth as a national craft beer leader. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Lisa enjoys gardening, walking her dogs, traveling with her family, and of course sampling the State of Southern Beer.

Michael Krimmer is the Director of Culinary Innovation and Menu Strategy at Bojangles. He is a comfort food enthusiast who was raised in the North, but must have been a Southerner in a past life. He has worked every job in foodservice from dishwasher to fine dining chef, but has made a career out of the obscure by applying culinary methods and flavors to large fast food chains, like Wendy’s and Bojangles. He has a passion for making food the best it can be and delivering it to as many people as possible.

Building Beer Destinations: Lessons from Charlotte and Beyond

Moderator: Nils Weldy (Rhode Island Brewers Guild)

Panelists: Adam Glover (Legion Brewing), Allison Soderberg (Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority), Jacob Virgil (NoDa Brewing Company)

Cities like Denver, San Diego, and Portland set the standard as early beer meccas, but today, new waves of strong beer destinations are emerging. A decade ago, CBP didn’t exist and Charlotte wasn’t on most of our radars as a top-notch beer city. This session will spotlight Charlotte’s rise as a top 10 beer city, exploring the key factors that contributed to its growth, from community collaboration to branding and infrastructure.

Panelists will discuss what makes a city thrive as a beer destination, offering actionable insights for breweries, guilds, and city leaders on how to cultivate a vibrant beer culture that attracts visitors, supports local businesses, and strengthens community ties.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the collaborative, branding, and infrastructure strategies behind thriving beer destinations.
Learn actionable steps to attract visitors, support local businesses, and build community.
Apply lessons from Charlotte’s success to enhance both your brewery and your region’s beer culture.

Adam Glover, Brewer at Legion Brewing (Charlotte, NC), has over a decade in the craft beer industry. His experience spans Head Brewer roles at Seaboard Brewing and Natty Greene’s Brewpub, Co-Owner/Brewer at Salud Cerveceria, and brewing positions at Fonta Flora, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, and Natty Greene’s Production Brewery. A consultant for breweries in planning and operation, he also holds a BFA in Graphic Design with a background in furniture retail and branding, including designing the Apprentice logo and Five Guys’ menu board. His favorite beer style is saisons, and he enjoys pairing Sauvignon Blanc with oysters.

As Director of Brand Marketing for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Allison Soderberg promotes the region as a destination for visitors and locals, a host city for meetings and a site for sporting events. She leads brand marketing and communications across the CRVA, encompassing the Charlotte Convention Center, Bojangles Entertainment Complex, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Spectrum Center, Charlotte Regional Film Commission and Visit Charlotte, in conjunction with the destination marketing brand, ‘Charlotte.’

Prior to the CRVA, Allison held roles with the Washington Nationals, Charlotte Hornets and Live Nation. A graduate of Miami University, Allison and her husband have two daughters.

Before officially joining the craft beer industry in 2021 as the Director of Strategic Development for NoDa Brewing Co., Jacob Virgil had a nearly decade long career leading teams in marketing, operations, and sales for a international media company based out of Charlotte. Since joining NoDa Brewing Co. in ’21, Jacob has had the privelege and responsibility to build on the shoulders of giants to continue growing his family business. He is joined in this mission by Chad Henderson (Head Brewer, Co-Owner), Matt Virgil (Director of Operations, Co-Owner), and a best in class team who care deeply about NoDa and the craft beer industry. Outside of the brewery you’re likely to find Jacob spending time outdoors with his wife, daughter, and dog.

Nils Weldy launched Nils Weldy & Associates (NWA) in 2010 to design and execute experiential events. NWA created the Queen City Brewers Festival, celebrating Charlotte’s craft beverage producers and benefiting community organizations. In 2021, NWA developed “Court Shoes Only”, a beer supporting ACEing Autism programs with participation from 75 Carolinas breweries. Nils served as Executive Director of the Charlotte Independent Brewers Alliance (CIBA) from 2017, which prepared him for his current role as Executive Director of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild. Previously, he worked in sales and marketing for the NHL’s Boston Bruins, NBA’s Boston Celtics, and Charlotte Hornets.

Finding Success in the Transformation Economy

Corey Lord (Lord CPAS)

Experiences are all the buzz in the brewing industry right now, and they should be. But what if providing experiences is only the current phase along the path of providing even more value to guests? Well, this is the case. In order to stay ahead of the game, breweries need to know what is next on the economic offering curve and be ready to adapt to shifting consumer demands.
The next frontier for breweries to explore and make a stand is the transformation economy. More and more customers are demanding experiences that not only are enjoyable but also address their personal growth needs and fulfillment in their interactions with businesses, and breweries are no exception.

Breweries are uniquely positioned to provide a transformative experience through education, special events, sustainability practices, being a third space for communities, and much more.

We’ll explore ways breweries can leverage the transformation economy to impact their business and positively track their success and challenges. We’ll also cover different tactics and strategies and how they can influence their financial outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the different types of economic offerings (goods and services, experiences, and transformations) and how they apply to guests and team alike.
Recognize key opportunities and strategies in the brewing industry to move into the transformation economy.
Gain ways to measure success in the transformation economy.

Corey Lord, CPA, is the CEO of Lord CPAs. Lord CPAs is an accounting, finance, and advisory firm and agency for the craft hospitality industry. We transform craft hospitality businesses into platforms for wealth generation and fulfillment for owners, team, and community alike by being the financial leader that these businesses need.

Crowdsourced: A Collaborative Hour of Problem Solving

CBP Connects attendees continually list the ability to connect and learn from others as a highlight from our workshops. We are excited to host a session dedicated to learning from your peers. In this session, we will field questions from you and then develop the best solutions together. Plan to walk away with strategies to problems many of us are facing and best practices to improve brewery operations. Together, we can grow stronger.

Learning Objectives:

Build new relationships that you can reach out to with future questions
Collaborate with your peers to solve problems faced by other Craft Beer Professionals
Discover new strategies and solutions to help you see greater success at your brewery

The Role of Flavor in 2026

Panelists: Andrew Burman (Other Half Brewing), Katie McNulty (Revolution Brewing), Nic Bortolin (Amoretti)

Moderator: Jason Pratt (Cicerone)

Consumer expectations are shifting faster than ever. Preferences around flavor, style, experience, and even the role a brewery plays in a community evolve with every new trend on tap. In this conversation, a mix of sensory experts, market analysts, and brewery leaders will break down the flavors and drinking occasions winning today, what is starting to fade, and what signals point to the next wave of demand. From nostalgia to premiumization, from beyond-beer beverages to zero proof options, we will explore the choices guests are making and why. Attendees will leave with a clearer view of where the market is heading and practical ideas to keep their taplist and taproom aligned with consumer behavior.

Learning Objectives:

Develop actionable strategies to align taplists, product development, and taproom programming with evolving flavor expectations to increase relevance, repeat visits, and spend.
Identify the flavor profiles and drinking occasions gaining momentum in 2026 and understand the consumer motivations driving those choices.
Recognize early signals of shifting demand, including what styles, ingredients, and experiences may be plateauing or declining.
Evaluate how trends like nostalgia, premiumization, beyond beer beverages, and zero proof options are influencing purchasing behavior across different guest segments.

Andrew Burman, co-founded Other Half Brewing Company in Brooklyn, New York, in 2014. Serving as the Chief Operating Officer, Burman oversees the brewery’s daily operations. His journey into the culinary and brewing world began after earning a degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, where he also played lacrosse. Pursuing his passion for food, he went to L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, MD. To deepen his understanding of food systems, Burman obtained a Master’s degree in Food Culture and Food Systems from New York University. Since Other Half’s establishment, the brewery has expanded beyond Brooklyn, opening locations in New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, the Finger Lakes, and Buffalo. Burman’s commitment to quality and innovation has been instrumental in Other Half’s growth and its reputation for pushing the boundaries of beer and brewing culture.

Jason Pratt is a Master Cicerone®, and the President/Owner of the Cicerone® Certification Program. He is a recognized business leader and innovator whose career in beer spans more than 17 years, with roles in both the technical and commercial sides of the industry. After passing the Master Cicerone® exam in 2015, he transitioned from leading beer education efforts for Molson Coors to the marketing team, where he was Director of Beverage Innovation for North America. In that role, he developed several successful brands that launched both domestically and internationally.

Katie McNulty is the Director of Marketing at Revolution Brewing, where she leads marketing strategy across the brewery’s craft beer and THC-infused beverage portfolios. Katie began her career in advertising, spending eight years at global agencies developing campaigns for leading brands such as Anheuser-Busch, High Noon, UnitedHealthcare and Kellogg’s. The majority of her career was spent working across the Anheuser-Busch craft and import portfolio, as well as iconic lager brand families — Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Budweiser, and Stella Artois. Her passion for craft beer and deep love for the city of Chicago brought her to Revolution Brewing in April 2023.

Nic Bortolin has enjoyed a 15-year career as a Head Brewer throughout Southern California, two decades of homebrewing experience, and is a graduate of the American Brewers Guild Brewing Science and Engineering program. His dedication to quality and innovation has earned him a total of 8 GABF and World Beer Cup awards, recognition as California Craft Brewery of the Year, and numerous local and international awards. Nic’s decade-long history as an Amoretti customer highlights his strong trust in the brand. He now guides brewers on how to optimize the use of Amoretti’s extensive industry-leading catalogue of premium brewing ingredients. He plays a crucial role in the research and development of new products and is a free resource for brewers looking to develop new award-winning recipes.

Tap Talks: 3 18-minute sessions on critical topics

Moving Forward by Looking Back

Marty Nachel (American Craft Beer Hall of Fall, Nachel Beer Education)

For years craft beer thrived by being the new shiny thing. Constant innovation, new styles, new experiences. But long before “craft,” brewers were already building loyal communities around their beer. This session looks at traditional brewing and pub culture from centuries past and what it can still teach today’s breweries. From education and storytelling to creating a sense of belonging in the taproom, we will explore how looking backward can help breweries strengthen customer relationships, build deeper loyalty, and create better guest experiences now.

better trainings workshops. better teams.

Mickey Bryant (Black and Brew chicago)

As the craft beer industry evolves, great beer alone isn’t enough. This session introduces a mindset shift from traditional training to interactive, performance-based workshops that drive real behavior change. Think less lecture, more hands-on experiences that save time, strengthen team culture, double as team-building, and help staff show up with confidence in every customer interaction.

We’ll also explore DEI through a practical lens: Deliberate, Empathy, and Impact. Move beyond manuals and into real-world application with simple, intentional actions that create more inclusive, memorable experiences. When teams shift how they show up, breweries move from serving beer to creating experiences customers come back for.

How to Not Do Tasting Wrong

Randy Mosher (Author, Your tasting brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer, and Other Pleasures)

We’ve all been taught to taste beer in a particular way and have improved over time with practice. Generally, that’s served us pretty well. But to reach the next level, it’s helpful to know a little more about how our sensory systems and mind operate. Whatever you’ve known in the past, recent research has revealed many mysteries and identified flaws and limitations in common practice. Having spent six years digging into the latest science, I’ve uncovered a few fascinating insights that should both make tasting more effective and explain why most of us struggle with certain aspects of it.

Bitter Honesty: How Malört Turned Hate Into a Disruptive Brand Strategy

Anna Sokratov and Zach Jarosz (CH Distillery, home of Jeppson’s Malört)

Malört is a cultural phenomenon built on wormwood, Chicago grit, and the kind of brutal honesty you can taste. In this session, Malört’s marketing and leadership team will unpack how a once-niche shot grew into a nationally recognized brand without changing the recipe or compromising its identity. We’ll share the origin story behind one of America’s most infamously polarizing beverages and dig into why embracing the hate can be a powerful tool rather than a liability.

Attendees will learn how Malört continues to find growth in a market where consumers are drinking less overall – yet not drinking less Malört – by leaning into curiosity, self-deprecating humor, and genuine storytelling. We’ll discuss how packaging innovations, unique collaborations, national distribution expansion, and a cult-like social following have led to success.

Most of all, this session is about empowering brands to be authentically themselves. When you start owning your voice, you cut through the noise. Attendees will walk away entertained, educated and armed with tangible examples for building brand loyalty, one shot at a time.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will learn how brand authenticity, even when it’s polarizing, can be a strategic advantage that drives cultural relevance, loyalty, and growth.

CH Distillery is the home of Jeppson’s Malört, the famously bitter Chicago spirit turned national phenomenon. Director of Marketing Anna Sokratov has been instrumental in transforming Malört’s polarizing reputation into a strategic advantage, using sharp, irreverent storytelling to turn skeptics into loyalists. Director of Operations Zach Jarosz, a lifelong Chicagoan and Malört superfan-turned-maker, brings deep experience in food manufacturing and supply chain, plus an unshakable love for the Bears, to the operation. Together, the team champions authenticity and the belief that great brands stand boldly, unapologetically apart from the pack.

Signal vs Noise: Making Better Decisions When Everything Competes for Attention

Jake Keyes (Skydance Brewing)

Brewery owners are constantly surrounded by reports, opinions, benchmarks, and instincts, all competing for attention. This session explores how leaders separate signal from noise when making real business decisions. Grounded in real world experience, the conversation will highlight practical strategies owners can use to prioritize initiatives, pressure test ideas, and decide where to focus limited time and resources. Rather than tracking more metrics, attendees will leave with clearer ways to interpret information, ask better questions, and make more confident decisions in a resource constrained environment.

Learning Objectives:

Better separate useful signal from the noise that comes from reports, benchmarks, opinions, and instincts
Pressure test ideas and initiatives to decide what’s actually worth their limited time and resources
Ask better questions and feel more confident about where to focus, even when the data is messy or incomplete

Jake Keyes graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in journalism and spent ten years working in tribal gaming before founding Skydance Brewing in 2018. The brewery began in a co-op space and opened its own location in October 2021. In 2023, Keyes was elected Chairman of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma for a three-year term. His recent honors include being named one of Native Business Magazine’s Top 50 Native Entrepreneurs, recognized among the OKC Metro’s Most Influential by 405 Business Magazine, and Skydance being selected as one of Hop Culture Magazine’s Top 12 New Breweries in America in 2021.

The Wild, Wild West: Preparing for the Next Frontier

Panelists: Doug Veliky (BeerCrunchers/Bright Bev), Matt Steinke (Go Brewing), Tracey Ireland (Rhinegeist)

Moderator: Tim Hohl (Coin Toss Brewing)

The beer industry is entering uncharted territory. New constraints, emerging technologies, and changing consumer expectations mean breweries can no longer rely on the playbook of the past. This panel will dig into how to plan ahead, innovate with purpose, and recognize the next drivers of success. You’ll hear honest perspectives on doing more with less, building awareness without big budgets, and resourcing for growth. The conversation will also explore innovation beyond beer, why it can be healthy to get smaller, and how to strengthen your community while balancing business expectations in an unpredictable market.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the key shifts reshaping the beer industry and why old growth playbooks no longer apply
Learn how to plan, prioritize, and innovate when resources are limited and uncertainty is high
Understand practical ways breweries can build awareness and momentum without large marketing budgets
Explore when getting smaller, more focused, or more local can be a strategic move that strengthens both the business and the community

Doug Veliky is a CPA who led Internal Audit at Reyes Holdings from 2009-2016. His love of craft beer led him to create his social media presence under the handle @beeraficionado, as well as his industry Substack Beer Crunchers. Content helped open the opportunity to join Revolution Brewing as their CFO in 2016, then eventually evolve into their CMO in 2021. This past year, Doug joined BrightBev as a Partner, where he and his partner Jeff work with early stage start-up beverage founders on their route to market strategies and execution. Doug continues to actively create content and in late 2025, Beer Crunchers won Best Blog / Newsletter from the NA Guild of Beer Writers.

Matt Steinke is the Head of Sales at Go Brewing, where he leads commercial strategy and distribution expansion for one of the emerging brands in the non-alcoholic beer space. With a career spanning leadership roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev and Rhinegeist Brewery, Steinke brings deep expertise in scaling brands, building wholesaler networks, and executing go-to-market strategies. He also has a strong background in national accounts, developing partnerships with key retailers and driving alignment across large-scale customers. Known for his high-energy leadership style and strategic mindset, he plays a key role in expanding Go Brewing’s presence in the rapidly evolving NA beverage category.

Tim Hohl spent more than two decades telling other people’s stories on the radio before deciding to build something of his own: a brewery, and the stories that came with it. As the founder of Coin Toss Brewing in Oregon City, Tim built a neighborhood taproom from the ground up before returning to his storytelling roots. His latest project, The Narrative Studio, helps breweries and small businesses capture and use their stories, work that extends to collecting oral histories for the Oregon Hops and Beer Archive at Oregon State University. Tim lives in West Linn with his wife Val, and when he’s not chasing a good story, you’ll find him on his bike, in his garden, or at a baseball game with a balanced IPA in hand.

Tracey Ireland is the Vice President of Marketing at Rhinegeist Brewery, Ohio’s largest craft brewery and one of the Top 20 independent craft breweries in the U.S. She joined Rhinegeist in 2015 as the company’s first marketing leader, working directly with the founder to build and scale the brand across new categories, brands, and channels.

Today, Tracey leads brand, creative, content, digital, and eCommerce, partnering with sales, production, and executive leadership to drive portfolio strategy, new brand development, and go-to-market execution. She is known for strong judgment and collaborative leadership, with a deep belief that strong brands are built by strong teams.

Open to Innovation: What We Can Learn from Outside the Beer Industry

Panelists: Aaron Campos (Dark Matter Coffee), Andy Blackburn (Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field Events), Brendan Kelly (The Lawrence Arms)

Moderator: Dan Abel (Pilot Project)

“Creativity is the focused combination of unlikely things. Your mind locks onto a certain element and then searches widely for something unexpected that fits with it. What can scuba diving teach you about agriculture? What can trees teach you about public speaking? There is always some connective tissue between disciplines. If you wish to be more creative, look for the connections between two previously unconnected things.”

That quote, by James Clear from ‘Atomic Habits,’ nails it. If we continuously look to each other as our only source of inspiration, we risk becoming an echo chamber of sameness.

In this conversation, we will hear from guests who do not work in the beer industry. We will learn their stories, hear their challenges, discover similarities, gain outside-the-box ideas, and ask unique questions to inspire you to greater success.

Learning Objectives:

Hear real-world stories and challenges from professionals outside the beer industry, providing practical examples of how overcoming obstacles and applying fresh perspectives can lead to success
Recognize and apply innovative concepts from unrelated fields to the beverage industry.
Break free from conventional thinking patterns by examining how unconventional practices and ideas from other sectors can inspire novel approaches in their work.

Aaron Campos has worked in the coffee for 18 years with Dark Matter Coffee. Through this time he has worked as a barista and also in sourcing, roasting, and production of coffee on an intimate level. Today he is Director of Operations for the company assisting in shaping the future of Dark Matter Coffee.

Andy Blackburn joined the Chicago Cubs in June 2010 and was promoted to Vice President of Wrigley Field Events in November 2024. He oversees all commercial activity for non baseball events at Wrigley Field, including live music, public ticketed events, and private events, and brings more than 20 years of media and sports sales experience.

Before joining the Cubs, he was Director of Customer Sales Programs and Sports Sponsorship at Time Warner Cable Media from 2005 to 2010. Earlier roles include affiliate sales at ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, advertising sales with AT&T Media Services, and team sales with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Pistons. He earned a marketing degree from Miami University and lives in Chicago with his wife, Jill, and their two daughters, Charlie and Drew.

Brendan Kelly has been a driving force in Chicago punk rock since his teens. Best known as bassist and co-vocalist of The Lawrence Arms, he built his career on DIY ethos, sharp storytelling, and a healthy dose of irreverent humor. A Northwestern graduate, Kelly also created the viral Nihilist Arby’s persona, blending absurdism with cultural commentary. Whether on stage or online, he brings wit, heart, and an unapologetically independent perspective to every room he steps into.

Dan Abel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pilot Project Brewing, a beverage incubator based in Chicago and Milwaukee. Described as a “recording studio for the beverage industry,” he has helped launch 23 brands, scaled Pilot to eight-figure revenue, and led its recognition as the #8 fastest-growing food and beverage company by Inc. 5000. Under his leadership, Pilot has expanded to 3 locations—with 2 more on the horizon—and partnered with comedian John Mulaney to create a non-alcoholic brand. Previously, Abel spent five years at Google/YouTube before serving as CMO at Reverb.com, where he helped drive its nine-figure acquisition by Etsy. He lives in Highland Park, Illinois, with his wife, two kids, dog, and an ever-growing guitar collection.

The People and the Process: Real World Tools to Lead, Protect, & Support Your Team

Jessica Hart (Craft HR Pros)

Managing people is hard. Managing people in a brewery — where alcohol is part of the product, teams interact directly with the public, and roles change throughout the day — adds another layer of complexity. In this environment, informal practices and “we’ve always done it this way” decisions can quietly create risk.

This 60-minute interactive session uses real, anonymized brewery stories to show how everyday people decisions can resurface later as audits, investigations, or costly mistakes. Attendees will hear how a misunderstanding — not misconduct — triggered a Department of Labor audit, and why a single undocumented workaround from years earlier resulted in a significant fine. They’ll also explore a story where untracked shift beers and after-hours cleanup led to an investigation, and how unclear boundaries and dishonesty — not alcohol itself — became the real issue.

The session then shifts from stories to action. Leaders will walk through a practical self-check of common people and pay risk areas, including tip credit use, tip and service charge documentation, salaried classification thresholds, and pay stub clarity. Participants will work in table groups to assess a realistic brewery scenario, identify red flags, and discuss how they would respond.

This session is designed to be practical, engaging, and immediately useful — helping brewery leaders leave with clearer instincts, better questions, and simple steps they can take back to their operation.

Learning Objectives:

Understand how everyday shortcuts and missing documentation can create serious risk, and learn what to document, when, and why to protect your business and team.
Learn why informal practices and inconsistent rules create the biggest risk during investigations, and how clearly defining, tracking, and setting boundaries protects both leaders and staff.
Gain a practical checklist to identify common wage, tip, and classification risks and know which questions to ask to reduce exposure and stay compliant.

Jessica Hart, MBA is the founder of JCraft HR Pros where she helps craft beverage and hospitality businesses build people systems that actually work in the real world. Her experience spans large, well-known brands like Heineken and Lagunitas, growing regional producers like CaliCraft, and small, single-brewer operations navigating growth for the first time. Jessica specializes in the in-between space where good intentions, fast growth, and limited process often collide. She supports leaders with HR audits, role clarity, compensation strategy, and practical compliance — always with an eye toward protecting both the business and the people behind it.

Known for her relatable stories and straight-talk approach, Jessica brings a mix of humor, honesty, and real-world lessons to every room. She believes clear processes make it easier to lead, easier to scale, and easier to keep good people — especially in an industry built on community.

Turning Taproom Regulars Into Super Fans

Panelists: Cody Lannom (Cedar City Brewing Company), Kevin ‘Swirv’ Irvin (Atlantucky), Sarah Purvis (Nurvis Purvis)

Moderator: Ross Stensrud (TapWyse)

What if you never had another new customer? How would you make your current audience even more valuable?

In this session, we’ll focus on actionable strategies to help you increase guest spending, build loyalty, and keep people coming back more often. From creative promotions to enhancing the guest experience, you’ll walk away with tools to drive higher revenue per visitor. Discover the power of focusing on your current audience and turning them into passionate super fans. It’s about making every guest count.

Learning Objectives:

Learn practical ways to increase guest check averages and drive repeat visits through loyalty programs, memorable events, front of house training, and continuous improvement in the guest experience
Explore creative strategies from brewery owners on how to strengthen loyalty and turn casual visitors into passionate super fans
Understand how to identify meaningful guest experience signals and use them to improve consistency, recognize strong performance, and make smarter decisions across the business
Walk away with a clear playbook of customer experience strategies you can put into action right away to boost spending and repeat visits from your current audience

Cody Lannom is one of three Operating Partners at Cedar City Brewing, a fast-casual hospitality and beverage production brand based in Lebanon, Tennessee, serving more than 65,000 guests annually and generating over $2.5M in gross revenue. He leads guest acquisition, brand development, and community-focused programming, with responsibilities spanning brand management, digital marketing, loyalty initiatives, live events, merchandising, packaging, and wholesale distribution.

He has built and operated a self-distributed wholesale program for packaged kegs and cans, produced ticketed events and large-scale festivals in partnership with the local municipality, and remains closely involved in brewing operations, compliance, and regulatory oversight. He also serves on the board of the Tennessee Brewers Guild.

Kevin “Swirv” Irvin is a nationally recognized advocate for equity in craft beer. A Pittsburgh native rooted in Atlanta by way of West Palm Beach, Florida, he serves as President of the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild—the first Black president of any state brewers guild in U.S. history. He is Co-Owner of Draught Season, a craft beer lifestyle brand, Operations Manager at Atlantucky Brewing, and Director of Strategy for the Crafted For Action Craft Beverage Conference. Kevin builds culture-driven campaigns that fuse beer with community, fashion, and music—expanding opportunity, visibility, and ownership across the industry nationwide.

Ross Stensrud accidentally graduated from UCSD while studying lacrosse and spending plenty of time at O’Brien’s. After a brief stint designing pool cleaners (yes, really) in an effort to justify the cost of his degree, he pivoted and began recruiting smart friends to help build app marketing tech for local businesses—starting with music, then golf, and now craft beer with TapWyse. He lives in Carlsbad with his wife Laurel and their two boys, Roscoe (11) and Mason (9). When he’s not working, you’ll likely find him biking down PCH or shuttling his kids to basketball, golf, music, and skateboarding.

Sarah Purvis is the co-owner of Nurvis Purvis Brewing Co. in Carlsbad, New Mexico. With a background in graphic design and marketing, she focuses on building a brand rooted in creativity and community. As a veteran and entrepreneur, she’s passionate about creating spaces that feel welcoming, unique, and memorable.

CBP Connects presented by Arryved POS

Monday, December 4, 2023

7:00-9:00 PMWelcome Reception at Holy City Brewing thanks to ABS Commercial

TUESDAY, December 5, 2023

8:00-9:00 AMGather + Coffee + Trade Show

9:00-10:00amWelcome/Get to Know Your Fellow Craft Beer Professionals

12:00-1:30pmTrade Show + Lunch

3:30-4:30 pmTrade Show + Beers

7:00-9:00pmReception at Commonhouse Aleworks thanks to Malteurop

WEDNESDAY, December 6, 2023

8:00-9:00 AMTrade Show + Coffee

9-10amLager-Metrics: How Incremental Gains Can Lead to Big Wins

12:00-1:30pmTrade Show + Lunch

7:00-9:00pmClosing Reception at New Realm Brewing thanks to WIpfli

Trade Show featuring:

ABS Commercial | Abstrax Hops | Auburn Supply Group

Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient | Beer Law HQ | Craft Buildings

Full Pour Media | Harvest Hosts | Hop Guild | Kegshoe

Kickfin | Lallemand | Malteurop | MarketMyBrewery

Melio | National Honey Board | Robot House

Steel City Tap | TapWyse | Viatran | Wipfli

Industry Partners

Initiatives

Get Involved

7:00-9:00 PM
Welcome Reception at Holy City Brewing thanks to ABS Commercial

8:00-9:00 AM
Gather + Coffee + Trade Show

9:00-10:00am
Welcome/Get to Know Your Fellow Craft Beer Professionals

12:00-1:30pm
Trade Show + Lunch

3:30-4:30 pm
Trade Show + Beers

7:00-9:00pm
Reception at Commonhouse Aleworks thanks to Malteurop

8:00-9:00 AM
Trade Show + Coffee

9-10am
Lager-Metrics: How Incremental Gains Can Lead to Big Wins

12:00-1:30pm
Trade Show + Lunch

7:00-9:00pm
Closing Reception at New Realm Brewing thanks to WIpfli