CBP Connects San Diego
December 10-12, 2024
CBP Connects presented by Arryved POS
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Welcome Reception at AleSmith Brewing Company thanks to Malteurop
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Gather + Coffee + Trade Show
Welcome/Get to Know Your Fellow Craft Beer Professionals
Andrew Coplon (Founder, Craft Beer Professionals/Secret Hopper)
Pulkit K Agrawal (Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient)
In the presentation “Thrive in 2025: How Strong Leadership Can Make or Break Your Brewery”, Pulkit K. Agrawal (PKA), Founder & CEO of Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient, will dive in on the critical role that the executive team at a brewery has at successively navigating this difficult industry downturn. It is during these times that strong and effective leadership becomes paramount to pivot and thrive.
As breweries make their business plans to optimize operations in 2025, Pulkit will dive in on topics of Operational Growth, Empowering Teams and Giving Tools to Managers to Help them Succeed, and Managing Failures. Pulkit will then explain how attendees can equip managers with a framework for Data Management and Profit Analysis to develop KPIs for their brewery, while looking at profitability metrics.
Pulkit will dive into the power of executive coaching and how all top performing executives should work with a coach. He will wrap up by providing real-world examples of how The 5th Ingredient has been using these techniques into their own business planning and the development of their leadership team and employees. From team building to motivation strategies, Pulkit will offer practical strategies for cultivating a team-oriented and results-driven workforce, especially during the evolving difficult brewery landscape that we know will be coming in 2025.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain an understanding of how to develop KPIs for their brewery.
- Acquire resources for developing frameworks for data management and profit analysis.
- Achieve a better understanding of team activities and executive coaching.
Pulkit K. Agrawal (PKA) is the Founder and CEO of Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient®, a leading brewery operations management software aimed at enhancing beer quality and consistency. After graduating from Harvard College, PKA began working as a Process Engineer for Ballast Point Brewing, where he focused on packaging lines and nitrogen beer. In January 2018, PKA launched Beer30®, a brewery data management system that offers grain-to-glass process and quality data tracking, while expanding beyond the standard inventory tracking of other systems. Beer30 focuses on real-time brewing data input, raw material inventory, cost of goods analysis, quality and sensory tracking, sales and distribution, and accounting integration. Beer30 is currently in over 450 breweries globally, helping to #BrewMoreBeer and #BrewBetterBeer across the world. In December 2022, PKA was selected into the Forbes 30 Under 30, Class of 2023, in the Food and Drink category. In his free time, PKA enjoys traveling, scuba diving, and doing entrepreneurship coaching.
Moderator: Erik Fowler (San Diego Brewers Guild)
Panelists: Darcy Shiber-Knowles (Dr. Bronner’s), Esjay Jones (KittiePIG, INC/We Are PIGS), Jason Wilson (Gallus Golf), Mike Arquines (Mostra Coffee)
“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.
Darcy Shiber-Knowles is Vice President of Operational Sustainability and Innovation at Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America. She joined Dr. Bronner’s in 2013 and oversees Dr. Bronner’s technical service and product development functions, including Sustainability, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and Research & Development. She also proudly served on the Board of Slow Food Urban San Diego, which launched the SD Brewcycling Collaborative and The Estate Beer Project, two initiatives advancing sustainability and innovation in the San Diego craft beer community. Darcy received her BA in Environmental Science from Barnard College and her MBA from the Yale School of Management.
Erik Fowler is a Certified Cicerone with over a decade of experience in the craft beer industry. His career spans roles in craft beer sales and production, including positions at Stone Brewing Company and ChuckAlek Independent Brewers. Erik spent nine years as Head of Education and Craft Hospitality at White Labs, where he championed brewing education programs and White Labs Brewing Co. Erik also has served as an instructor for San Diego State University and UC San Diego in their beer and brewing programs. He serves as Executive Director for the San Diego Brewers Guild, bringing his expertise to the San Diego and national beer communities and fostering relevance and excitement in the industry.
Esjay Jones is a founder, producer, songwriter, engineer and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in and around the music industry.
She has worked with renowned artists like Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Nile Rodgers (Chic), Dave Navarro (Jane’s addiction), Brian “Head” Welch (Korn) , Sean Kingston, Chester Bennington (Grey Daze) and many more, producing, writing, and engineering songs across various genres, from rock and pop to metal and trap.
As the founder of KittiePIG, a non-alcoholic beer brand that caters to the heavy music connoisseur and health-conscious individuals, Esjay combines her passion for metal and healthy lifestyle. She co-created KittiePIG with Morgan Lander of KITTIE, a fellow metal vocalist and musician, to fill a gap in the market and offer a unique and desirable product.
Esjay is also the creator of We Are PIGS, a collaborative alt-metal project that features some of the biggest names in rock and metal.
Jason Wilson is a Partner at The SwitchCase Group and co-founder of Gallus Golf, where he serves as CEO. Since its inception in 2012, Gallus has revolutionized the golf industry by becoming the leading provider of custom-branded mobile app software for golf courses, proudly partnering with nearly 900 courses across the globe.
Residing in sunny San Diego, Jason enjoys life with his wife and two daughters. When he’s not leading innovation in the golf tech space, you’ll find him on the golf course, savoring some craft beer, coaching his daughters’ softball teams, or cheering on the Padres.
Originally from the Bay Area in Northern California, Chef Mike Arquines moved to San Diego in 2001 to attend Nursing School. With only a few more classes left until graduation to become a registered nurse, Mike realized his true passion was cooking and followed his heart into dropping out of nursing school and enrolling in the Art Institute in San Diego, graduating with a degree in Culinary Arts/Management. Mike honed his skills working in some of the finest kitchens around the country, including Charlie Trotters in Chicago and Le Bernardin in New York City. In 2009, he founded The LAB: Dining Sessions, which aims to deliver an uncompromised dining experience, and in 2013, co-founded Mostra Coffee, an award-winning specialty coffee micro-roaster in San Diego. In 2020, Mostra Coffee won the prestigious “Micro Roaster Of The Year” award by Roast Magazine and in 2024 became one of the Top 100 small businesses in America by the U.S. Chamber Of Commerce.
Trade Show + Lunch thanks to Vessel Packaging Co.
What Video Games Can Teach Us About Marketing
Chris Overlay (Owner/Founder, Get Hoptimized)
Inside the simulated world of a video game, we encounter situations where players interact and use strategies to gain experience and accomplish objectives. Such is the case in marketing; this real-world environment is full of iterative games that we strive to win. So grab your controller, and let’s learn how to improve our marketing game. Ready to play?
Diverting Waste & Fermenting Change in the Craft Beverage Industry
Romi Rossel (Co-Founder & VP, San Diego Brewcycling Collaborative)
Craft brewers and their suppliers play a vital role in sustainability and environmental stewardship, and it’s crucial that we all recognize the need for more comprehensive measures to combat the plastic waste generated within our industry. Craft beer is more than just crafting beverages; it’s woven into our culture, giving back to and engaging with our communities. Given its significance, we believe it’s equally important to take responsibility for reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to the betterment of our planet.
In this session, we’ll share our experiences, success stories, and the BREWprint for our recycling programs, empowering attendees to take action in their own communities. We’ll also introduce tools to help business owners align with the triple bottom line, making a substantial impact in diverting plastic waste from landfills and fermenting positive change in the craft beverage industry.
Make Your Brewery Stronger: How Clear Roles Help Your Team Win
Jessica Hart (Owner and Founder, Hart Consulting)
Success in the brewery industry requires more than just great beer; it demands a team that understands how what they do contributes to the overall growth of the business. In this Tap Talk, Jessica Hart will introduce her unique approach to turning every employee into a business owner with a clear understanding of their role. By bringing your business strategy to the team and centering it around five essential pillars that fuel your brewery’s success, you’ll see how connecting jobs to these pillars ensures that every team member knows exactly what they need to do to drive the business forward.
It’s not as complex as it sounds, and the ROI is nearly instant. We’ll quickly shift your employees from a transactional “clock in, clock out” mentality to one where coaching and accountability are seamless. Walk away with a practical framework and an engaging activity that you can implement immediately to strengthen your brewery’s foundation.
Trade Show + Beers
Aaron Gore (Arryved), Dustin Hauck (Hauck Architecture), Kristen Ballinger (AleSmith Brewing Company), Tyson Blake (San Diego Brewing Company)
Beer is the reason for your taproom’s existence, but it is far from its only value, both to customers and to your business. From the design of the space, to private events, to food programs and more, there is endless potential between your four walls that is simply waiting to be made real. In this panel, moderator Aaron MJ Gore of Arryved sits down with some of the country’s most successful taproom managers, brewery architects, and owners to explore how to use your taproom to make your business as successful and effective as possible.
Learning Objectives:
-
Attendees will learn about the impact of taproom design on its ability to be used for a variety of revenue-generating purposes
-
Attendees will learn about the different ways to leverage their taproom for revenue generation that don’t necessarily involve only their beer
-
Attendees will learn how to run a successful events program, food program, and non-beer beverage program
Aaron MJ Gore is the Director of Partnerships and Community for Arryved, helping to connect craft breweries with the tools and resources that they need to succeed. With a decade of sales, retail management, and business analytic experience in the craft beverage industry, he loves the opportunities that he has every day to make a difference for small business owners across the country. He is also a co-founder of the Court Shoes Only and Evergreen Brewing Initiative non-profits, and a board member for the upcoming American Craft Beer Hall of Fame. He is an Advanced Cicerone, Certified Pommelier, Certified Cheese Scholar, WSET Level 2 Spirits Certified, and is (AF)(NA) Beer Certified. Additionally, he is an active industry advocate, public speaker, beer educator, and the father of two daughters who are the true passion of his life.
After working for another firm for 11 years designing custom homes and boutique hotels, Dustin Hauck decided to start his own firm in 2010 with a dedication to listening to and serving clients in creative and innovative ways. Stemming from a long time membership in the QUAFF homebrew club, Dustin delved into the world of brewery design in 2012. Since then, Hauck Architecture has participated in over 275 craft beverage projects across the country. With a passion for the industry, Dustin thrives on providing professional design and support services with unparalleled experience. In his spare time, Dustin enjoys exploring new breweries and venturing into the outdoors whether it be exploring the backcountry by offroading, fly fishing, and surfing, or just hanging out with good friends.
Kristen Ballinger is the Marketing Manager at AleSmith Brewing Company, where she has been with the team since May 2019. She began her journey in the Tasting Room and transitioned to the Marketing department at the end of 2020. Before joining AleSmith, Kristen managed Taproom and Marketing Operations at Listermann Brewing Company in Cincinnati. Her extensive background also includes years of experience in the restaurant and bar industry, focusing on promotions and event management.
Reception at Pure Project North Park thanks to TapWyse
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Trade Show + Coffee
Sam Holloway (Crafting A Strategy)
The beer industry is fixated on sales and volume growth as best practices and primary goals. Firms are urged to always play offense. But that can be a recipe for disaster, especially when the pie is getting smaller. What is good strategy in a declining industry? We identify four business models that allow firms of any size to thrive in declining industries. We offer case studies from small and independent breweries in Oregon and California, plus global giant Guinness. The key target becomes margin growth, through pursuing economies of scope and embracing less rivalrous markets and channels.
Learning Objectives:
-
Learn the difference between accounting standards and strategic thinking in declining industries with a discussion of percent margins vs. dollar margins.
-
Strategic Forbearance – In declining industries, sometimes the best move is the one you don’t make.
-
The best wholesale channel strategies in declining industriesIt focus on product range and not on product features – being easy to buy from and reliable matters more than innovation.
Sam Holloway is the Bay Area Distinguished Professor of Management & Entrepreneurship at the University of Portland. His research has been published in Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, Harvard Business Review’s digital site, Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings, Academy of Marketing Science Review, and Journal of Business Venturing Insights, among others. A small brewery owner and consultant himself, Holloway has spent the last twenty years interviewing brewery owners, wholesalers, and consumers to learn how small breweries can succeed despite most economic forces opposing them. Holloway’s panel will include brewery owners from USA and Europe.
As the craft beer industry matures, developing a professional financial skillset and spreading financial literacy among your team will become a key differentiator for success. This session will equip attendees with the tools and steps to analyze profitability by department, communicate financial results effectively, and delegate financial tasks. Whether you prefer handling finances independently, with professional assistance, or through outsourcing, this session will provide thought-provoking ways to up-level your team’s financial skillset.
Learning Objectives
-
Analyzing Profitability by Department to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
- Communicating Financial Results to teach financial literacy and identify actions that move the needle
-
Participants will understand the pros and cons of managing financial tasks on their own, with the help of a professional, or by outsourcing, enabling them to choose the best approach for their brewery.
Drew Kearns is a beverage business specialist and, more importantly, a consumer. He is passionate about helping beverage companies grow economically sustainable businesses. He started That’s Delicious Financials with a focus on bringing accounting expertise to emerging beverage brands through technology and low-cost bookkeeping. His experience in designing accounting processes for high-growth technology companies and as a brewery Controller gives him the strong foundation to lead breweries in their next decade of growth. Outside of work, he keeps himself busy trying new beverages and traveling to somewhere new.
Jeremy Carney is revolutionizing how craft breweries interact with data. With 20 years of experience in analytics, he develops cutting-edge solutions that provide breweries with critical performance insights at their fingertips. His work enables clients to gain a comprehensive overview of their business and quickly uncover actionable insights. Jeremy’s passion lies in transforming data from a challenge into a strategic advantage, empowering breweries to make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Trade Show + Lunch presented by BMI
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
Closing Reception at North Park Beer Company (North Park) thanks to White Labs
Trade Show featuring:
Arryved | Aseptic Fruit Purees | ATP Group | BarSight
Beer30 by The 5th Ingredient | Beverage Equipment Traders | Brewing Science Institute |
CSS DirecTV | G4 Kegs | Get Hoptimized | Hop Guild | Hoptown Handles
InTouch Labels | Malteurop | MarketMyBrewery | TapWyse
Two Track Malting | Vessel Packaging | Veterinarians Without Borders | White Labs
Coffee + Photography by Beer Media Co.
Lunch + Music thanks to:
BMI + Devin Kennedy
Event Signage thanks to Strike
Receive exclusive CBP content
Sign up to receive the top 3 Craft Beer Professionals threads in your inbox every Monday. Get exclusive CBP announcements and special access to additional educational resources.