Join us for the 4th event in our Founders Series - a CFBN series presented in partnership with CA Branding, Fifty Gazelles, and PreBrands. This 5-part series of events focuses on creating conversations and connections for founders’ from the growing and scaling companies of the Chicagoland start-up food scene. The Founders Series combines food, cutting edge conversation, and a bit of networking for a happy hour well spent.
This 4th event in the series will explore the important investments of Leadership & Team - the people who will impact, shape, and guide your brand or business. We will be joined by leadership from emerging brands from various stages of development to learn more about how the role of "Founder" changes as your brand grows.
Our speakers & moderator for this conversation:
Steve Gaither (moderator), SVP Creative & Branding, CA Branding
Steve Gaither is the SVP of CA Branding (formerly JB Chicago), a division of CA Fortune. CA Branding is a creative and marketing agency focused on consumer brands whose clients range from larger companies like Smithfield Foods and Tetrapak and emerging brands including Real Good Foods and Protes. As a mentor at the Good Food Business Accelerator, ICNC and The Hatchery, his relationships with the entrepreneurs led him to co-found the Windy City Troublemakers, an early-stage food brands group in Chicago. Steve was formerly a partner in Spiral Sun Ventures and Windy City Food Brands, where he and his fellow CPG experts provide the operational know-how and go-to market strategies that help brands accelerate their growth. Steve graduated from Ball State University (1994) with a degree in Architecture and Planning. He resides in Munster, Indiana with his wife and three children.
Jordan Buckner, Founder & CEO, TeaSquares
Jordan Buckner is the CEO and co-founder of TeaSquares, a line of superfood energy snacks sold in corporate break rooms, Whole Food Markets, and Amazon.com. His personal mission is to create products that enhance people’s lives while giving back and mentoring others to do the same. Forbes awarded Jordan a 30 Under 30 recipient in the food and beverage category in 2018, and graduated from the Good Food Accelerator. TeaSquares helps people fuel their passions through healthy, functional snacks, while its social mission is to fuel economic development in underserved neighborhoods. TeaSquares gives you the energy to help you reach your aspirations and potential – throughout each day, and in life. Our delicious superfood snacks are developed with nutritionists to help you overcome the valleys of fatigue, giving you immediate and sustained energy to FOCUS on what you need to conquer.
Rashid Ali, Co-Founder & COO, Chomps
Pete and Rashid started Chomps in 2012 when they were both single, working, young professionals: Rashid a business consultant, and Pete pursuing a career in commercial real estate. The pair met over steaks and beers at a friends barbecue and Chomps was born. With so much conflicting information surrounding food, Pete realized that people want to make healthy choices but don't know what is good for them. Noticing this issue, they decided to eliminate the guessing game and create simple snacks that were made with the highest quality, sustainably sourced proteins and no hidden, harmful ingredients.
As a small, family-owned business with two founders that had general business experience but none CPG-specific, the company makes every decision with the customers best interests in mind. Now, Pete and Rashid are both fathers of two and realize how hard it is to find snacks that are truly healthy for their family, leading to an entirely new motivation for the business. Timing is perfect for Chomps small, lean and mean team of 13 to make big waves in the snacking industry.
Sarah Renahan, Co-Founder & CEO, The Worthy Company
Sarah Renahan is CEO and Co-Founder of The Worthy Company, a plant-based food company whose first product line of Blendie Bowls is providing delicious, plant-based snacks perfect for on-the- go. Prior to launching The Worthy Company, Sarah spent 15 years in brand management and merchandising for NYC & Italy-based luxury brands such as Gucci, Ferragamo and Frette. Sarah graduated magna cum laude from University at Albany SUNY with a BA in Romance Languages, Literature and Linguistics and earned her Master of Business/Luxury Brand Management from SDA Bocconi, in Milan, Italy. She currently resides in Chicago with her husband and two sons.
Patrick Tannous, President & Co-Founder, Tiesta Tea
Patrick Tannous is the co-founder and President of Tiesta Tea Company. Tiesta Tea is a tea company inspired by a passion for great tasting beverages that taste good and do good. Tiesta Tea makes loose leaf tea products and bottled teas made with loose leaf tea. Tiesta Tea was started in 2010 as Patrick and Dan Klein seniors in college while attending the University of Illinois. Since starting the business, Tiesta Tea has become the fastest-growing company in the specialty tea industry with over 8000+ points of distribution (according to Nielsen). In 2018, Dan and Patrick were featured by Inc. Magazine as a 30 Under 30 Rising Stars. In the ten years of Tiesta Tea, they have worked with or currently work with companies like Costco, Safeway, Target, Meijer, Amazon, Office Depot, Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods and many other Fortune 500 companies. Tiesta Tea secured four rounds of equity financing totaling $5.2mm. Patrick is a people-focused business person, and believes in doing business with high respect, morals, and values. Patrick has a strong passion for entrepreneurship and loves helping other people chase their dreams. He believes anyone can do anything if they truly care and put the effort into it. In addition to selling tea, Patrick believes in giving back to the community. Tiesta Tea currently has three philanthropic events that we contribute to (Spread the Warmth, Extra Special Teas, the Living Well Project) every year to help serve our communities.
Networking events with The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network are an opportunity to access an inclusive network dedicated to bringing together all of the industry players of the greater Chicagoland area to develop meaningful and mutually beneficial business connections. The event provides a great opportunity to enjoy drinks and appetizers and an opportunity to mingle - forging new connections and circling back with contacts from other events, all while experiencing the power of the CFBN network!
Happy Hour beverages and light refreshments will be provided.
The Founder's Series is presented in partnership with:
CA Branding is a Food & Beverage Industry Provider member of the network.
Pre Brands is a Cornerstone Food & Beverage Industry member of the network.
Fifty Gazelles is a Food & Beverage Industry Provider member of the network.
Join us on Tuesday, October 22nd for a conversation amongst industry insiders sharing their '30,000 foot view' of the food & beverage industry from a perch nearly as high!
In partnership with IMEC (the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center) we are excited to explore the major impacts that will be coming at the food and beverage industry in 2020 - locally, regionally, and beyond. Join us for a high-level conversation into the trends, regulatory changes, political and legal impacts that may affect manufacturers in Illinois in 2020.
Come for the conversation - but make sure you stay for the view! Our host for the evening, Segal McCambridge, is welcoming us into their brand new bar and reception area with outstanding views from Willis Tower! Don't miss this opportunity to talk about Chicago and see it all lit up at night!
Rob Newbold, Client Engagement Manager - IMEC
Rob has more than twenty years of project management experience in government, construction, quality implementation, and organizational change initiatives. As Deputy Secretary of IDOT, Rob was responsible for implementing an agency-wide Balanced Scorecard Strategic Plan for over 7,000 employees covering five transportation modes, ten divisions, and hundreds of partnerships - the first of its kind in any Illinois state agency. As a leadership consultant for five years, he led non-profit statewide associations through organizational change and team-building programs that resulted in increased membership and fundraising efforts, along with improved efficiency through better communication internally. Rob led two renewable energy companies that developed solar and wind projects in Illinois and Arizona with responsibilities for sales, cash flow, engineering / design, permitting / construction and project closeout. Most recently, Rob was Quality Manager for a Class I medical device manufacturer. In eleven months, he created the policies, work instructions, training programs, and SPC’s necessary to retain a major retail pharmaceutical customer account after three previous failed audits. Rob has a BA from UIS in Legal Studies and is a certified Paralegal.
Donovan Griffith, Director of Government Affairs, Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA)
Donovan Griffith joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association as the Director of Government Affairs in early 2018. In this position, Donovan manages the IMA's legislative agenda at the State Capitol, oversees the Manufacturers' Environmental Group and runs a legislative outreach program connecting Illinois legislators to local manufacturing companies in their districts. Donovan has more than a decade of experience working in and around state government for both the private and public sector. Previous to joining the IMA, Donovan served as the Deputy Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, held the position of Senior House Liaison under Governor Rauner and has advocated for state and national membership-driven organizations. Donovan is from Galesburg, Illinois, and went to Knox College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
R Delacy Peters, Jr., Chair Food & Beverage Practice - Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney
R Delacy Peters, Jr. is Chair of the Food & Beverage Practice at Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney. Mr. Peters is a business litigator and corporate compliance attorney who provides strategic counseling on Food Safety and Quality; Labeling; Product Research & Development; Government Affairs and Corporate and Business initiatives that raise legal questions. He assists clients in conducting business within FDA, USDA and State food regulatory frameworks and provides litigation defense of food manufacturers and other businesses within the food industry.
His clients include prominent Fortune 100 Companies as well as innovative startups. He has represented global food and beverage companies, as well as food processors, manufacturers, suppliers, growers and producers, retailers, restaurants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers and distributors. He is also a Chef and graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. For several years, he has been selected as one of the Illinois Super Lawyers® and has been designated as an Illinois Leading Lawyer®. Mr. Peters was named as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and The National Black Lawyers selected Mr. Peters as one of its Top 100 Lawyers in Illinois.
Laurie Hainley, RD, Account Supervisor - Food & Nutrition Affairs; FoodMinds
Laurie is an account supervisor and registered dietitian at FoodMinds, a division of Padilla. Laurie’s expertise is in domestic and international food and nutrition affairs. Through her work, Laurie has helped clients navigate global public health policy issues that affect their business, including nutrition labeling, dietary guidelines, responsible marketing to kids, and nutrient profiling. She has helped clients define and socialize their position on such key issues through the development of corporate messaging, internal educational tools, and conference presentations, among other means. In her current position, Laurie serves as a nutrition expert and strategic counselor for a variety of clients, including Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Disney.
Prior to joining FoodMinds, Laurie worked as the social media consultant for the company Honest Tea, where she developed nutritious recipes, blogs, and photographic content for the brand’s various media platforms. On the side, she offered her scientific communications expertise as a media consultant for a dietetics private practice for 4 years. Laurie is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and she has held leadership positions with both the Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (VAND) and the DC Metro Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (DCMAND). Laurie earned her bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, and completed her dietetic internship with Virginia Tech.
Elieke Kearns, PhD/RD, Principal Nutrition Scientist - KeVita & The HIVE; PepsiCo
Elieke Kearns, PhD, RD loves sharing her passion for nutrition and science with those around her – she’s on a mission to make food less confusing through her nutrition research expertise, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) background, trade association experiences, innate curiosity and appreciation for all things food. She believes that we all deserve to be confident in what we eat and that new technology/data should be embraced & properly communicated to allow for the innovation of new products and brands that are grounded in science. Currently, Elieke is a Principal Nutrition Scientist at PepsiCo where she provides nutrition support for KeVita and all e-commerce brands. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Elieke worked at RXBAR as the Manager of Scientific Affairs, and at the National Dairy Council as a Director of Nutrition Research. Recently, Elieke launched a side project called @Nosh_it_FoodFacts, an Instagram platform where she’s able to answer the complicated questions that her friends, family, and strangers often ask about nutrition, labeling, and production in an easy to digest (pun intended) format that is grounded in science.
Elieke received her doctoral degree from the University of California, Davis where she completed her Ph.D. in Nutritional Biology with an emphasis in both Immunology as well as Biotechnology. She has a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from UC Davis and is a Registered Dietitian (RD). Elieke is an active member of various professional societies including; Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Chicago Section of Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Operations Officer for the Nutrition Translation Research Interest Group of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), as well as the Chicago Food and Nutrition Network (CFNN). When not at work Elieke enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with friends, family, and dog, whose name is Brussel Sprout.
(Moderator) Alan Reed, Executive Director - CFBN
Happy Hour beverages and light refreshments will be provided following the presentations in a brand new event space at Segal McCambridge with gorgeous views of the skyline from their offices in the Willis Tower - please plan to stay for a drink and networking!
We appreciate the support of our event sponsor, Segal McCambridge.
We appreciate the support of our event partner, IMEC.
The stakes are high: prized corporate flagship brands are under attack, and a king’s ransom can be made if you’re a successful upstart. Join us to explore the modern “Disruptors” with Paul W. Earle, Jr.. Paul received unprecedented, intimate, inside-the-ropes access to 12 notable companies and brands over a 12 month period - gaining an insider’s view of what worked and what’s next - and he is joining us to give YOU a ‘front row seat’ to his learnings.
Join us for an in-depth look at modern disruption and what it can mean as you build and grow your own brand and company. Paul will join us to discuss his new book, “A Front Row Seat at the Revolution: 12 Profiles in Disruption”. Paul is a brand and innovation professional, entrepreneur, and intrapreneur. He believes there is a full-on revolution unfolding in the consumer products world, and it is only just beginning. With consumer preferences changing and other conditions emerging making it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to enter once-forbidden territory, practically every category is facing, or soon will face, cataclysmic transformation brought on by the emergence of a brand-new brand.
All attendees will also receive a signed copy of Paul’s book, courtesy of our event sponsor, Curion.
Our speaker for this conversation:
Paul W. Earle, Jr., Principal - Earle & Company
At present, Paul is a principal of Earle & Company, an innovation firm that develops both front and creative solutions and innovation training workshops for growth-minded companies of all kinds. He is also a contributor to Forbes, where he covers innovation in the consumer sector. Finally, he is an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, where he co-teaches the popular "Corporate Innovation & New Ventures" class, a lab immersion that pairs student teams with top corporate partners.
Prior to launching his latest enterprise, Paul was executive director of Farmhouse, the innovation and new venture center of the global creative agency Leo Burnett. Founded by Paul in partnership with Leo Burnett management in 2011, and operated successfully through 2016. Paul also co-authored the strategy that led to Publicis90, a global open innovation platform - the first of its kind in the big agency world. On his own, Paul was also part of the founding team that created and launched Angel's Envy. Paul holds a BA from Hamilton College and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and two sons.
We appreciate the support of our event sponsor, Curion.
Join us for the 5th and final 2019 event in our Founders Series - a CFBN series presented in partnership with CA Branding, Fifty Gazelles, and PreBrands. This 5-part series of events focuses on creating conversations and connections for founders’ from the growing and scaling companies of the Chicagoland start-up food scene. The Founders Series combines food, cutting edge conversation, and a bit of networking for a happy hour well spent.
This 5th and final 2019 event in the series dives into the "Start-Up Scene" here in Chicago - how is Chicago different from NY, LA, Boulder? How is Chicago developing? And what does 2020 hold in terms of innovation and disruption? This is a must-see conversation taking a "pulse" on Chicago's start-ups, emerging brands, and growth/scaling food and beverage companies!
We are also excited to be hosting this final event at The Hatchery - a hub for start-ups on Chicago's west side!
Check back soon, speakers and additional partners to be announced!
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