CLASS SCHEDULE SUMMARY
TIME (PM)
3:30 – 3:45
TRACK
All
SESSION
Welcome
SPEAKER
3:45 – 4:30
All
Keynote: Innovation topic
John Rivers
4 Rivers Smokehouse
4:30 – 4:45
Break
Brand-Building
Realizing Your Vision
Scalability
From Start-up/Stand to Retail
Value Creation
Start With the End in Mind
Jael & Dan Rattigan, French Broad Chocolates
Scott Blackwell, High Wire Distilling
Melissa Jernigan, Piece of Cake
Kristen Hard, Cacao Atlanta
Brooks Reitz, Jack Rudy
Kevin & Megan Ouzts, Spotted Trotter
Linton Hopkins, Resurgens Hospitality Group
Todd Rushing, Concentrics Restaurants
Brad Shell, Unknown Brewing Co.
Break
Brand-Building
Social Media: Playbook & Pitfalls
Scalability
The Balance Between Craft & Profits
Value Creation
Upon Exit: The Suitor’s Perspective
4:45 – 5:30
5:30 – 5:45
5:45 – 6:30
6:30pm
7:00pm
Ed Klein, 22 Squared
Branded Lisi, Object9
Aimee Cronin, drync
Charlie Thompson & Jim Chasteen, American
Spirit Whiskey
Brett Smith, Counter Culture Coffee
Stephen Corradini, Whole Foods Market
Matthew Mitchell, Venture & Emerging Brands
(The Coca-Cola Company)
Stockton Croft, Eagle Merchant Partners
David Cox, Source Capital
Closing Reception
Alabama Celebrates a Year of Barbecue – All participants and their guest (+1) invited to attend the screening
of Q – Alabama’s Barbecue Legends, followed by barbecue bites. Sponsored by Alabama Tourism and
featuring pitmasters TJ Allen, Mike Booker, Caitlin Glosson, Chris Lilly, Nick Pihakis and Woodrow Washington
with libations by Jimmy Sharp, John Emerald Distilling Co. and craft beer by Jason Wilson, Back Forty Beer Co.
CLASS DETAILS
KEYNOTE – INNOVATION
Time:
3:45-4:30 PM
Speaker:
John Rivers, 4R Restaurant Group
The program will kick off with a talk by a former Fortune 500 pharmaceutical executive gone “Minister of Barbecue”. John
Rivers, Founder of 4R Restaurant Group in Orlando, will wax philosophic on his journey from a career in business
development and Mergers & Acquisitions on through the rise of his Southern culinary conglomerate anchored in his Four
Rivers Smokehouse business. Learn about the innovative approach Rivers took in applying his business background to “deregionalize barbecue” and develop a unique methodology he refers to as “best in show in protein preparation.”
BRAND-BUILDING – REALIZING YOUR VISION
Time:
4:45-5:30 PM
Host:
Chris Olivier, Craft Catalyst
Panelists:
Jael & Dan Rattigan, French Broad Chocolates
Scott Blackwell, High Wire Distilling
Melissa Jernigan, Piece of Cake
The brand-building track begins with a discussion that gets into how these entrepreneurs approached the challenge of
encapsulating their mission & vision for their companies in their brands. Naturally, this begs the question: What does
‘brand’ mean? Whether we’re talking about DNA, packaging, product, process, or otherwise, these visionaries will give
you a peek behind the curtain and share stories of how these reputable brands came to be.
SCALABILITY – FROM START-UP TO RETAIL
Time:
4:45-5:30 PM
Host:
TBD
Panelists:
Kristen Hard, Cacao Atlanta
Brooks Reitz, Jack Rudy
Kevin & Megan Ouzts, Spotted Trotter
Growing consumer demand for specialty food items presents an opportunity for a vast spectrum of product categories that
otherwise would have remained finite relative to the mainstream. Now we’re seeing gourmet go global, bolstered by ecommerce revenues and shoppers seeking specialty brick & mortar outlets in the U.S. and abroad. In this way, artisans
have become successful entrepreneurs whose businesses are pulling them to heights they would have never imagined.
We’ll hear from a very select group of premium purveyors who will share details of the hurdles they have encountered
along their growth curve.
VALUE CREATION – START WITH THE END IN MIND
Time:
4:35-5:30 PM
Host:
Steef Schelke, Craft Catalyst
Panelists:
Linton Hopkins, Resurgens Hospitality Group
Todd Rushing, Concentrics Restaurants
Brad Shell, Unknown Brewing Co.
Whether it’s a new restaurant, a new product or service, a new business that encompasses all of the above, the strategic
decisions an entrepreneur makes in the early days of a venture can – and should – have significant implications in terms of
the long-term vision for the enterprise. How is this company going to be different and why will it have staying power
relative to the other players in their industry? Each of these dynamic panelists has faced a litany of key decision-points in
carving out their respective positions in the ever-crowded marketplace. Invaluable insights for us all.
BRAND-BUILDING – SOCIAL MEDIA: PLAYBOOK & PITFALLS
Time:
5:45-6:30 PM
Host:
TBD
Panelists:
Ed Klein, 22 Squared
Branded Lisi, Object9
Aimee Cronin, drync
Perhaps one of the most common concerns among entrepreneurs is about how to cut through all that noise out there. On
the one hand, the advent of Facebook, Twitter, etc., has made it that much noisier and consequently that much more
difficult to do so; on the other hand these platforms have leveled the playing field for new ventures operating on small
budgets to let their voices be heard. Of course, the ability to communicate directly with consumers in real-time can be
both a blessing and a curse depending upon how these tools are used (or mishandled). We have assembled a rare breed of
experts who understand extensively the business of food & beverage and best practices in digital marketing.
SCALABILITY – THE BALANCE BETWEEN CRAFT & PROFITS
Time:
5:45-6:30 PM
Host:
Steef Schelke, Craft Catalyst
Panelists:
Charlie Thompson & Jim Chasteen, American Spirit Whiskey
Brett Smith, Counter Culture Coffee
Stephen Corradini, Whole Foods Market
While some start with the intention of keeping their venture small and local, here we have a roundtable addressing the
foreboding task of scaling up from the ground floor and going big while remaining true to one’s roots. In an age of handcrafted food and beverage products, there exists a range of inherent challenges in meeting the demands of a booming
business and the stress that growth has on a supplier’s manufacturing and distribution, particularly as they expand their
availability with increasingly competitive retail partners.
VALUE CREATION – UPON EXIT: THE SUITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
Time:
5:45-6:30 PM
Host:
Chris Olivier, Craft Catalyst
Panelists:
Matthew Mitchell, Venture & Emerging Brands (The Coca-Cola Company)
Stockton Croft, Eagle Merchant Partners
David Cox, Source Capital
The evolution of the American palate has impacted both the dynamics of consumer demand and the landscape of
opportunity for suppliers and retailers alike. The exploding population of entrepreneurs borne out of this movement is not
simply driven by their passion for a particular idea, but for the financial upside should the idea prove magical. Waiting in
the wings with a watchful eye are prospective investors and potential suitors, each with their own criteria for evaluating
emerging food and beverage targets. Hear how these powerbrokers sift through the never-ending cycle of dealflow to
identify those targets worthy of pursuit.