Lawler Out Loud: Mixing up the Mainstream

Hilary is the Founder and CEO of Sweet Reason, a hemp and cannabis beverage company that exists to calm the minds of humankind. She founded the company out of an obsession with the future of hemp and cannabis beverages and how they would impact our society, culture and social lives. She is passionate about the role that CBD can have in helping people lead calmer, happier lives. Learn more about Sweet Reason on their website and follow them on Instagram.

Laura Hoffman spent 20 years cultivating a thriving wine and spirits career while becoming the first woman to manage a fine wine sales team working for both distributors and global suppliers and running NAOP teams. As she built and expanded her C-suite expertise, she realized that enlightened personal wellbeing, strategic coping mechanisms, and increased holistic awareness would offer core strengths necessary to thrive despite the pressures of the corporate environment. Laura is now a Reiki Master (Usui lineage), a certified Clairvoyant Practitioner, Medium and Intuitive Energy Healer, and is currently training to achieve her Kundalini Teacher certification. She currently runs a private practice to guide and support clients as they navigate the business maze through discovering, strengthening, and maintaining their core physical and spiritual energies. To learn more visit www.lauraheals.com or follow Laura on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Lori Kranczer is the Founder of Everyday Planned Giving LLC, a consulting firm that advises on customized planned giving programs that substantially and consistently support organizations. With more than 20 years of her career spent advising nonprofits, she believes firmly that planned giving, or “legacy giving,” which are ways donors make impactful gifts through endowments, bequests in wills or other structured gift vehicles, should be a vital part of the fundraising practice of every nonprofit organization, no matter the size, budget or mission. Connect with Lori on LinkedIn to learn more.

Darrell W. Butler created the Award winning Fat Darrell® Sandwich that was named as best in the nation and featured on Good Morning America, Travel, Food Network and more! Darrell is also a diverse media personality and digital content provider with a background in entertainment, live events production and fitness. Follow Darrell on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Follow his foodie group @Phenomnomnomenal or check out his website at FatDarrell.com.

Jeffrey Koch is the National Accounts Manager for Shaw-Ross International. Over the last three decades his career has touched many aspects of our industry including restaurant operations, ambassadorship, field & multi-cultural marketing, and mixology and sales with some of the most iconic brands and concepts out there. For the past six years, he has embraced the challenge of National Accounts and utilizes every aspect of his last three decades in hospitality to build brands and continue to create value for his partners.  Jeffrey can be found on LinkedIn and on many social platforms as TheLiquorGeek.

Andrew Fitzgerald happens to be one of the people responsible for launching the hard seltzer category that has taken the U.S. by storm in recent years. Working with White Claw and then Truly, he has built a career of brand building and marketing expertise spanning more than 20 years in the U.S. as well as his homeland, Ireland. Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter.

Trudy Thomas is the Director of Operations at Kennedy Concepts. She is most widely known for her roles in building the beverage program at some of Marriott International's finest properties. She just joined Kennedy Concepts as the Director of Operations. She carries a wealth of knowledge, a skill set that never seems to end and her experiences are just as fascinating and impressive as her resume. Follow Trudy on LinkedIn and Instagram as she takes on her newest adventure building an emerging brand of concepts.

Ben Salisbury is the founder and president of Salisbury Creative Group, a sales strategy consulting firm helping wineries and craft distilleries leverage technology in their sales process. Ben's experience in the adult beverage industry has taken him on a variety of journeys from privately held companies to globally traded enterprises. In his role now, he seeks to help smaller companies build their reach, and make a positive impact in the industry. Follow Ben on LinkedIn to learn more.

Jamie Hunt is Founder of Fast Penny Spirits, a distillery creating American-made amari. A mostly Seattle native, Jamie is known for launching innovative digital products and experiences for global companies as well as seeking out delicious food and cocktails at home and on the road. In creating Fast Penny Spirits, she digs deep into her Sicilian heritage and love of amaro for a new American take on the spirit.

A life-long learner and traveler, trips to Europe helped spark her dive into the world of Amari. With a family history rich in making wine and liqueurs at home, Jamie set about concocting the recipe for Fast Penny’s flagship amaro, Amaricano — testing hundreds of brews and combinations. When she’s not mixing up flavors in the distillery, Jamie can be found spending time with her family: husband Jason, children Anya and Gavin, and Italian truffle-dog Fiori.

Follow Jamie and Fast Penny Spirits on Instagram.

First introduced to the notion of intentional cultural development at Pixar Animation Studios, she studied alongside the storytellers that would ultimately change the course of her career. From film to tech (and a few interesting layovers in between), the one common denominator remains: enabling people through belonging to create beautiful, innovative products. Follow Katelin on LinkedIn.

Nicola is the creator, founder and owner of Pomp and Whimsy Gin as well as one of the founding members of the Women's Cocktail Collective. As a trained sociologist brand strategist-turned spirits producer, Dr. Nicola Nice, has made a career advising Fortune 500 companies on international branding and consumer insights. Over the past 15 years, in a career spanning academic research, management consultancy and global strategy with her New York-based market research firm, THINK Conservatory, Nicola watched as major spirits producers systematically ignored or misrepresented their female audiences.

With sought-after expertise in the national spirits sector through work with clients including DIAGEO, Gruppo Campari and Bacardi USA brands, and on a mission to bring the female consumer perspective to the forefront, in 2015 Nicola turned insight into action. A two-year journey through extensive home infusions and research with her target audience led Nicola to perfect the formula for a uniquely distinct botanical gin liqueur.

Now with her trophy cabinet bursting at the seams with gold medals from major international spirits competitions, Dr. Nice is making good on her promise to revolutionize the spirits industry for women, with the marvelous Pomp & Whimsy. Connect with Nicola on LinkedIn and follow her brand page on Instagram.

Dan is the founder of Liquor License Advisor. He’s advised the nation’s most prominent restaurant, hotel and retail brands for over 15 years. His work in the world of liquor licensing isn’t limited to brokering. Dan also consults many of the largest food and beverage customers in the country on topics such as market research, real estate zoning and licensing legislation changes. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn or via his website. Side note: we had some connectivity issues... please forgive them.

Chef Keith Sarasin is the creator of Industry United, a Facebook group focused on helping the food and beverage industry. He is also a Chef and Restaurateur. 

Keith's love for food was developed at a young age when he would cook for his mother using old cook books that were given to him by his grandmother. He began his culinary career at the age of 15 working at a locally owned sub shop washing dishes and making subs. As the years went on he worked with a variety of restaurants working his way up from Sous Chef to Executive Chef. 

Keith worked as a private chef before founding The Farmers Dinner in 2012. The Farmers Dinner hosts upscale dinners on local New England Farms. Since 2012, The Farmers Dinner has hosted over 83 farm to table events across New England and fed more than 17,000 customers raising over $125,000 for local farms.

Keith is the author of two books, The Perfect Turkey and The Farmers Dinner Cookbook. In 2019 Keith opened his first restaurant , a locally sourced, farm to table style cuisine. Keith has been the keynote speaker for a variety of organizations including The American Culinary Federation.

Connect with Keith on Facebook as well as his website.

Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn or visit her website. If you're looking for work, join the candidate database here. 

Allison Evanow Founder and CEO of Square One Organic Spirits, the U.S.’s first all organic spirits company that she started in 2004. Since the launch of Square One Organic Vodka in 2006, Allison has lead the company’s growth as a successful, independent spirits company with a portfolio of five organic spirits and distribution across the U.S. and several countries. She was also one of the first women to start her own spirits brand in the U.S. and is recognized for mentoring other women spirits entrepreneurs as they have launched their own product lines. 

Currently, Allison is leading Square One into a broader category of organic and botanic products, with the introduction of a line of 5 organic non-alcoholic cocktail mixers and 4 ready-to-drink canned cocktails. As has been typical of Square One and Allison’s trajectory, they are a company of firsts and this portfolio of products is the only USDA Organic portfolio of spirits, non-alc mixers and RTD cocktails in the U.S. market.

Follow Square One on Instagram and Facebook.

Julie is the owner of Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions, with over 20,000 hours of experience on the business side of the specialty beer industry and more than 15 years of experience working in the service industry. She is an authority on beer sales, marketing, team management, distributor partnership management, supply chain logistics, and customer service. Her consulting company offers online educational programs and customized coaching services designed specifically to teach business skills to craft beverage professionals. She has been featured on multiple beverage industry podcasts, spoken at multiple corporate and independent organizations about the importance of business skills in the beer industry, and is a published author. Julie is Cicerone Certified, co-lead of the Pink Boots Society Denver chapter, a member of the Brewers Association, the Colorado Brewers Guild, and Women of the Vine & Spirits, and resides in Colorado with her husband and two children. Connect with Julie via her website, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Jayne is the Founder of JP Consulting and The Pen2Paper Project. She is a brand coach, marketing strategist, speaker, yoga instructor and committed humanitarian. JP Consulting is the outcome of over twenty years in the entertainment and hospitality industry directly responsible for launching, shaping and growing Fortune 500 brands and people, with a focused direction to be a thought leader and change agent. The Pen2Paper Project was formulated as a physical and analog reaction to a career in hospitality and wellness, encouraging people to connect with each other and themselves through the art of creative and curated journaling (follow on Facebook and Instagram)

Yvette is the National Account Manager for Nestle Waters North America. She is a beautiful human in every way and her story is reflective of her inspiring journey. You can follow Yvette on Twitter and Instagram or reach her via email, Yvette.Mathis@waters.nestle.com.

Daniel is the Founder & CEO of FILTHY FOOD®. From acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company to being inspired by an idea in 2007. Daniel embarked on a two-year olive pilgrimage, exploring hundreds of varieties of cultivatable olives before creating FILTHY FOOD®, a line of garnishes made specifically for cocktails.  Over the last decade Filthy® has become widely recognized as the industry standard used by the best bars, restaurants and hotels in the world.

Daniel is an honorary board member of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award US, a charity that champions young Americans, ages 14-24 and was recently awarded the Key to Miami-Dade County from Mayor Giménez for his contribution to the Miami business community.  Daniel currently lives in Miami, FL with his wife Kim and three children. Follow him on Facebook and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Jesse is the Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Ocho and can be found leading seminars, tastings, and masterclasses on tequila and other agave spirits across the world. He is also the author of two cocktail books, Tequila Beyond Sunrise and From Dram to Manhattan, and regularly contributes articles to trade publications. You can follow Jesse on Instagram and reach him at jesse@ochotequila.com and learn more about Tequila Ocho by visiting their website.

In 2011, Paul opened the FEW Distillery and since then has produced award wining spirits that are original, distinctive and playful. His love for the nuances & flavor of whiskey and his flexibility to innovate with gin have made them FEW’s backbone products, but he continues to play around and innovate daily with limited expressions and new collaborations. In the future, Paul aspires to take FEW to an even bigger production facility where he and his team can continue to produce their liquid for enthusiasts around the world, while still remaining true to their craft roots. Recently, Paul was named the 2018 World Distiller of the Year in Gin Magazine’s annual ”Icons of Gin” feature. Follow FEW on Instagram, Facebook or visit the website at FEW Spirits.

Kathy is the owner of Kathy Casey Food Studios® – Liquid Kitchen®, a global agency specializing in food and beverage innovation and concept development. Her team can often be found in the field training staff and supporting new openings. A successful restaurant owner and operator, Kathy’s concepts include, Dish D’Lish®, a “Food to Go Go” favorite for healthy options on the go, along with the companion line of retail and foodservice products – and Rel’Lish Burger Lounge™, a full service restaurant specializing in inspired burgers, salads, snacks and cocktails on tap . Kathy is a founding partner in 1915 KCHouse Concepts, a women owned airport F&B operations company. Lucky Louie Fish Shack™ opened at Sea-Tac Airport in 2019. Connect with Kathy via her websites or by emailing info@kathycasey.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Mike is the Director of Operations for American Social Bar & Kitchen, a hot emerging chain from Florida. Mike has quite literally grown up in the food and beverage industry and has turned that family history into a fantastic career. He's a great leader in the drinks business, an awesome human and an overall pretty cool guy. He's passionate about his company, his work and his team and always looking to learn more to develop himself. Connect with Mike via email at Mike@american.social or follow him on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Susan is the Founder and CEO of Freeman Means Business, a company that focuses on solving communication challenges in the workplace. Through online and in-person workshops, speaking engagements and her own podcast - Wonder Women in Business - Susan teaches various communication styles, while providing the tools her clients need to nurture and grow relationships with others to create equity in the workplace. Susan dedicates her life to making a difference in the world for others. Follow Susan on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Kelley is the manager of Food & Beverage Strategic Development for AMC Theatres, specializing in large-scale alcohol and concession/restaurant operations. She resides in the Kansas City metro area with her husband, two children, two cats and two dogs. When not wrangling children, playing volleyball or singing at local events, Kelley is a regular host of AMC Thursday Ticket (a weekly web show focused on all things movies), amateur baker and aspiring novelist. Connect with Kelley on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

On joining Christie on Lawler Out Loud, “Christie brings strong women together in a unique way that is supportive and positive for everyone. The ideas and connections she garners are nothing short of extraordinary!”

Sara is one the most highly-respected women in the national accounts arena. Her candor and honesty have always been her guiding principles and with every role she's taken, she has made a lasting impact. As both a Sommelier and Cicerone really knows her stuff! And now she takes all of her genius to the sales side as the VP of Sales for Wake Up Wine. Follow Sara on Instagram and Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Kristen Davis is sitting on the front lines of the current crisis. Through her organization CORE (coregives.org), she is working tirelessly to provide support to the families that are the most vulnerable - those who make their living in the food and beverage industry. A former industry member, turned mom, turned CORE recipient due to her daughter's health complications, she has a better knowledge than most of what CORE does for families and what it means to watch your income disappear overnight. If you can spare it, please support CORE's mission.

Kendra is the CEO of Mota Marketing, a marketing agency focused on the Cannabis and CBD industry. She is the host of Cannabis Marketing Live, All puff, No Fluff - a Facebook Live show as well as an empowered woman doing her part to help the world. In our ever-changing society, Kendra is one of the pioneers in Cannabis and continues to use her background in higher education to help both consumers and brand owners to be educated on all of the products available. Kendra is also acutely focused on the medical and lifestyle benefits that her clients offer and builds her programming with a keen eye for the research and data as well as the demographic. Follow Kendra on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Brother is a celebrity chef with an incredible spirit and a willingness to always be giving to others. He may be best known for his appearances on Top Chef Seasons 15 and 16, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay and Last Chance Kitchen. He owns and runs two restaurants in Colorado Springs, Four by Brother Luck and Lucky Dumpling and spends his free time volunteering to help others. His story is completely inspiring! Follow Chef on Instagram.

Colleen serves as the Director of Client Solutions for Datassential, and she is a genius. Her work creates wonderful impacts on the food and beverage industry helping us all to better understand industry and flavor trends. I'm so proud to call her a friend. She is one of those women who just engage you immediately with her warm smile and authenticity.  Connect with her on LinkedIn!

Tony is one of the reasons why Bartending, Mixology and Craft Cocktail Culture exist as career paths for our industry. Thanks to his work as a founding pioneer of what we know today as American Cocktail Culture, we all get to enjoy a better cocktail experience as consumers. Tony, AKA The Modern Mixologist is not only one of the most well known mixologists in the world, he is one of the kindest and most generous too. From his philanthropic efforts with the Helen David Relief Fund to his work with the USBG to running his own bars, Libertine Social in Las Vegas and Highlands, Hearth71 and High Bar in Detroit to always educating our industry.... it's a wonder that Tony finds any time to cheer on his hometown Hockey team, the Golden Knights. You can follow Tony on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Jeremy is the Founder of Cocktails - The Fluid Experience, a catering and events company in Canada. Jeremy serves as a mixologist for a plethora of global brands as well as CJL CONSULTiNG's clients. He is the author behind two books, Cold Tea at Three and Invite: Cocktails, Canapés and Company and the host of The Gastro Guru launching on Amazon in 2020. Jeremy does it all, from drinks to dishes to catering through his company Invite. He can be followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as well.

Anjali is the Co-Founder of Partender, an app-based inventory tool that reduces the time on task from hours to just minutes. As a fellow female entrepreneur, I always love learning from my dear friend and hearing her thoughts on the world. In this episode, you will learn how this dynamic woman went from wanderlust to world domination. Learn more about Anjali and her company, Partender (check out this short video) and reach out to her on Twitter and Instagram. 

Jessica is the Director of Beverage Development for The Breakthru Beverage Group and a really wonderful human to know and have in your circle.  She has been an inspiration to so many others in the hospitality industry over the course of her career - and perhaps she's made an even bigger impact on those same people personally... speaking from personal experience. Jessica's contagious smile and laugh is just one of the many things you will love and learn about this incredible woman while enjoying this episode. Follow Jessica on Instagram, Facebook and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Allison is the Founder & President of Brenne French Whisky and she radiates joy. I had the fortune of being introduced to Allison by a colleague when I was looking for a female brand owner to serve as a keynote speaker for the first WITI Conference in 2018. Within seconds of starting our call, I was enamored with her sheer positivity, zest for life and down-to-earth personality. I knew she was a kindred spirit and since then I have been fortunate to call her a true friend. Her story is incredible and her brand is simply wonderful. She makes an impact, so listen in and learn all about Allison! Follow Allison on Instagram and Facebook and follow Brenne too!

Brian Duffy may be a celebrity chef, but he's one of those genuine people who is as real and natural in every day life as he is on television. A truly nice guy and always willing to help others, teach others and support those around him. Learn more about what makes Chef tick and how he has become a force in the culinary world. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook, check out his podcast Duffified Live, enjoy his food from ArdmoreQ and visit his website!

Nichelle is the Beverage Director for The Food Hall Co. and she is the perfect example of a client becoming a dear friend. She is loved and respected by all who are lucky enough to work with her and I am blessed to also be able to call her a best friend. She is creative, brilliant and so very talented. She is a rare human and everyone needs a Nichelle in their circle. Find Nichelle on LinkedIn!

Kim is the Director of Food & Beverage for Galaxy Theatres and she is one of the most positive people one could encounter. She goes from stranger to friend almost instantly when you meet her. Kim's story and background are inspiring and every conversation you have with her leaves you wanting to learn more. Find Kim on LinkedIn.

Beth is the Director of National Accounts On-Premise for American Beverage Marketers and she is one of those people you absolutely want in your tribe. For me, she is a former competitor turned bestie. Her sense of humor, honesty and candor draws you in and is always entertaining. Beth is awesome. Be like Beth. Find Beth on LinkedIn.