Boot Camp Registration & Networking

Welcome & Introduction

Emerging Brand Strategies: Best Practices

• James Richardson

  Founder, Premium Growth Solutions

  

  James Richardson

  Founder, Premium Growth Solutions

  James is a strategy consultant for emerging food and beverage brands with a professional background in strategy consulting, market research and social science. He has advised well over 75 food and beverage brands on all aspects of growth strategy (i.e. marketing, innovation, channel placement and pricing), from large legacy brands such as Triscuit to small, early stage NOSH brands. www.premiumgrowthsolutions.com

• James Richardson, Founder, Premium Growth Solutions

Introducing Next-Gen CPG

• Caroline Love

  Former VP, Hampton Creek

  

  Caroline Love

  Former VP, Hampton Creek

  Caroline Love is a consultant building the next generation of good food companies. Most recently, Caroline was an early employee at Hampton Creek, leading both the operations division and sales team during her nearly 5 years at the food-tech pioneer. Now, she guides new food brands on turning a great idea into a global brand, with a focus on disrupting animal agriculture and reducing the carbon footprint of our global food system. In addition to her insights navigating the challenges and successes of a fast-growth startup, Caroline's areas of expertise include: Supply Chain, Marketing, Communications, Media Training, Retail and Foodservice relationships with the largest food companies in the world. A recent transplant to sunny Los Angeles from San Francisco, Caroline is tracking down the best vegan dishes in town, biking the Venice boardwalk, and exploring LA's farmers markets. Prior to making food her life, Caroline trained as an investigative journalist and spent the beginning of her career anchoring the news and reporting in Columbia, SC. Caroline is a graduate of The University of South Carolina and studied Entrepreneurial Finance at Stanford University.

• Caroline Love, Former VP, Hampton Creek

E-Commerce Toolkit

• Betsy McGinn

  Founder, McGinn eCommConsulting

  

  Betsy McGinn

  Founder, McGinn eCommConsulting

  McGinn eCommConsulting provides expertise in eCommerce strategy for CPG companies ranging from launch stage to $3 billion in sales. With over 11 years of experience with Amazon.com and other strategic eCommerce partners, Betsy works with clients on launch and business optimization strategy, product and pack develop, problem resolution and ongoing management of their eCommerce business. With eight years of eCommerce leadership at Seventh Generation, Betsy provides a unique perspective through the brand lens to guide clients in this complex channel. Additional multi- channel experience in both the US and Canada enhances the development of eCommerce strategy that balances the interests of all sales channels in order to manage channel conflict.

• Betsy McGinn, Founder, McGinn eCommConsulting

Networking Break

Winning with Investors

• Luke Vernon

  Managing Partner, Ridgeline Ventures

  

  Luke Vernon

  Managing Partner, Ridgeline Ventures

  Luke Vernon is a Managing Partner of Ridgeline Ventures, a Boulder-based investment firm that invests in healthy living companies. Prior to Ridgeline, Luke was involved in a number of ventures, including as the COO of Eco-Products, the nation’s leading brand of sustainable foodservice packaging, which he helped grow from less than $1 million in revenue to over $80 million before it was acquired. Luke is also the founder of Luke’s Circle, a site that helps emerging companies find talented professionals. Luke began his career in management consulting for Deloitte and holds degrees from Cornell University, the University of Colorado, and was an entrepreneurship fellow at Stanford University. Luke resides in Boulder with his wife and three children.

• Luke Vernon, Managing Partner, Ridgeline Ventures

Store Visit Prep

• Josh Resnik

  Chief Executive Officer, Twin Cities Co-op Partners

  

  Josh Resnik

  Chief Executive Officer, Twin Cities Co-op Partners

  Josh Resnik has spent two decades in the food industry, and the last five years as CEO of Twin Cities Co-op Partners (TCCP) – one of the leading food co-ops in the country. In his role at TCCP, Josh oversees four natural/organic food businesses based in Minneapolis – two grocery stores (Wedge and Linden Hills Co-ops), a food distributor that serves a seven-state area (Co-op Partners Warehouse), and a food production business that sells prepared foods wholesale, as a Caterer, and at the Wedge Table – a mini market and café. In his role, Josh works closely with many up and coming local vendors in helping them prepare for retail, grow their in-store presence, and start up with a distributor. TCCP’s mission is “Build community by developing a strong local food system.” Outside of work, Josh serves as a judge in the Food and Agriculture Division for Minnesota Cup – the largest statewide startup competition in the US. He also is on the board of Mill City Farmers Market, and was previously a board member of Midtown Global Market and Twin Cities Taste of the Nation. Prior to running TCCP and the Wedge, Josh was CEO of Wild Idea Buffalo, a grassfed meat company based in Rapid City City, South Dakota Also, he spent 13 years in marketing and general management at General Mills – working on American icon brands like Cheerios, Yoplait, and Betty Crocker. There, he helped lead two $50+ million startups of new products at General Mills. Josh is also a passionate foodie, who loves exploring new cities and finding the best BBQ, tacos, or hole-in- the-wall markets.

• Josh Resnik, Chief Executive Officer, Twin Cities Co-op Partners

Building the Team During Rapid Growth

• Josh Wand

  Founder and CEO, ForceBrands

  

  Josh Wand

  Founder and CEO, ForceBrands

  Josh Wand is the Founder and CEO of ForceBrands, which offers executive search services, board of director assembly and industry-specific job boards for the consumer product industry. Wand founded ForceBrands in 2007 with the understanding that people are a company's greatest asset. What began as BevForce quickly expanded into other forces: FoodForce and BeautyForce. All of these forces make up the greater good: ForceBrands. Now in its tenth year, ForceBrands works with emerging and enterprise brands to build their teams and help people at all stages of their careers. Wand attributes the company's success to the unique qualities and dedication of the people involved. Prior to creating ForceBrands, Wand held positions at Southern Wine & Spirits, AV Imports, and Sidebar Spirits in roles that included business development, management of a national sales and distribution network, and staffing the organization and instituting educational training programs for hotels and restaurant groups.

• Meena R. Mansharamani

  CEO, Maya Kaimal Fine Indian Foods

  

  Meena R. Mansharamani

  CEO, Maya Kaimal Fine Indian Foods

  Meena Mansharamani is an innovative, strategic and passionate leader who has a track record of delivering impressive results in both corporate and start-up environments. As CEO of Maya Kaimal Fine Indian Foods, Meena leads a passionate and resourceful team committed to fulfilling Maya Kaimai’s mission of creating and offering exceptional Indian foods that are flavorful, approachable and modern. As President of Intend Growth, LLC., which she founded in January 2014, Meena partners with leaders of health and wellness brands committed to delivering higher levels of marketplace impact. Prior to these roles, Meena was Managing Director of Materne North America where she delivered breakout growth, raising the GoGo squeeZ brand from $7MM to $120MM in three years. Before joining Materne, Meena was SVP Innovation and Insights at Pepsi-Cola and VP Strategy at PepsiCo. She was also Vice President of the Consumer Products and Retail Practice at A.T. Kearney. Meena serves as a Board member of two PE-backed companies: Bare (VMG) and Elevation Brands/Ian's (Renewal Funds). Meena also serves on the Boards of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, committed to raising funds for childhood cancer research, and Animal Haven, committed to animal rescue. She is also a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute. Meena holds an MBA from Wharton and a MA/BA from Harvard.

• Cassie Nielsen

  Vice President of Talent, VMG Partners

  

  Cassie Nielsen

  Vice President of Talent, VMG Partners

  Cassie Nielsen is the Vice President of Talent at VMG Partners where she works intimately with founders and leaders of branded consumer product companies on their Talent and People strategies. VMG has worked closely and successfully with brands such as babyganics, Drunk Elephant, Humm Kombucha, Justin's, KIND, Nature's Bakery, Perfect Bar, Pirate's Booty, Pretzel Crisps, Quest, Spindrift, Stone, SunBum, and Vega to name a few. Prior to her tenure at VMG Partners, she did executive search at SPMB and various Operations and Talent roles at Goldman Sachs.

• Josh Wand, Founder and CEO, ForceBrands
• Meena R. Mansharamani, CEO, Maya Kaimal Fine Indian Foods
• Cassie Nielsen, Vice President of Talent, VMG Partners

Round Table Networking