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Al Vallejo

Chief Creative Officer

Al is a self-proclaimed “graphics geek” with over 30 years of design and commercial print experience prior to joining SIP. Al has worked with companies of various size and industry worldwide to reach their target market through compelling visuals and storytelling by analyzing trends and consumer dynamics to develop innovative strategies that differentiate brands in the marketplace.

Alex Moore

Chief Operating Officer

Alex joined SIP as Director of Operations and was quickly promoted to COO in October 2022. Offering experience in both spirits and canned alcoholic beverage categories, Alex began his distilling career at Breckenridge Distillery where he played an integral role scaling the company after its initial acquisition. In 2018, Alex co-founded Sneaky Fox Spirits as well as an Illinois based co-packing pilot plant for ready to drink cocktail innovation. At SIP, he utilizes his distilling experience and passion for innovative business to optimize operations and production across all brands.

Toby Lester

Chief Technology Officer & E-Commerce Director

Toby is a visionary and results-oriented executive leader with extensive experience leading global, technology-enabled transformation initiatives. As VP of Global Ecommerce at Brown-Forman Corporation, Toby managed core functions for the global strategy and execution of Jack Daniel's ecommerce business. As a technology leader, Toby has provided strategic advisory services to C-Suite and management teams. He has leveraged his IT and industry experience to lead application development, ERP, SaaS, architecture design and cross-functional teams globally.

Marc North

Director of Finance

Holding a certified public accountant title with relevant managerial, corporate accounting and audit experience, Marc is a results-oriented professional with strong organizational and time management skills. Specializing in GAAP accounting, financial reporting/analysis and budgeting, Marc is a highly motivated and self-driven team leader with experience in the spirits industry (Anheuser-Busch) and leading teams with corporate/regional initiatives (McDonald's Corporation).

Marissa Orlove

Executive Assistant & Investor Relations

Marissa is a young professional with a background in Live & Performing Arts Management. She joined the SIP team in October of 2021, after planning and executing content, on various digital platforms for small businesses in Chicago. Marissa brings planning & organization, and effective communication skills to the team, while striving to meet the needs of C-Suite staff and investors across the SIP portfolio.

Ronan Gillespie

Executive Vice President of Sales, Europe

Having international business experience in over 40 countries worldwide, Ronan Gillespie founded Next Step International (2007), a leading business development consultancy that specializes in the Food & Beverage sector. Ronan joined SIP in 2019, bringing over 16 years of experience in the international drinks business with Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, where he played a major role in the success of Jameson Irish Whiskey. He is energetic and has a reputation for delivering results. Ronan's key skills are in finding appropriate solutions through taking initiative, planning, negotiating, project management, and personnel and resource management. He holds a B.A. in International Marketing & Languages from Dublin City University, and speaks French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Ryan Forsyth

Executive Vice President of Sales, United States

Ryan Forsyth has over 20 years of spirit industry sales & management experience. Starting his career in 1997 at Glazer's Distributors in San Antonio. Ryan then transitioned into a supplier role in 2002 with Bacardi USA. He left Bacardi as a Regional Manager overseeing their business portfolio for all channels in multiple states. In 2009, he partnered with Incubrands Spirits Group (now Mahalo Spirits Group) as VP of SW Division. There he helped develop Angel's Envy, Papa's Pilar Rums and Suerte Tequilas.

Eric Hundelt

Heaven's Door Spirits, Executive Vice President & Brand Director

Eric Hundelt is an industrious and results-oriented business executive with over 20 years of experience in spearheading promotional initiatives. Prior to joining Heaven's Door as Brand Director, Eric served as the VP of Marketing at Buzzbox Premium Cocktails, where he provided strategic direction and leadership to his department, and developed short and long-term business objectives, product positioning, and brand strategy. He also played a leadership role in developing promotions, eCommerce programming, social media, and influencer marketing, as well as influencing pricing, packaging, incentives, and trade events.

Tyler Simpson

Playboy Spirits, Executive Vice President & Brand Director

Tyler Simpson is an accomplished and passionate brand building marketer with over 18 years of domestic and international experience, most recently as Executive Director of Marketing at D.G. Yuengling and Son, Inc. He has a proven record of brand growth across CPG categories, skilled in provocative and creative thinking, brand and campaign management, pricing strategy, and various aspects of influencer marketing.

Steve Gaither

STOLEN Spirits, Executive Vice President & Brand Director

Steve is a success-driven marketing executive with expertise in brand development, channel strategy, creative direction, and brand visibility. Steve serves as the Executive Vice President & Brand Director for STOLEN Spirits, where he is responsible for driving the growth and success of the brand. Before joining SIP, Steve served as the EVP Growth and Strategy at 1o8, and Chief CMO at C.A. FORTUNE. Steve played a key role in the development of the C.A. Empower Project for BIPOC CPGs, elevating business retention and brand trust, coinciding with the addition of a high-grossing portfolio of clients that included Beyond Meat, Kind, Not Co, and B&G. Steve is skilled in brand visibility, omnichannel strategy, creative direction, consumer and B2B brands, content development, brand messaging, and digital/social media marketing.

Chandler Pepper

Administrative Assistant

Emily McGee

Business Develoment Manager

Whitney Read

Communications Manager

Amber Houston

Compliance Analyat & Logistics Coordinator

Sandra Calvert

Director of National Off Premise Chains

Wayne Knabel

Director of Operations

Matt Wheatley

Distillery Manager

Pete Fernandez

EVP Sales East

James Duich

Field Marketing Coordinator and Brand Ambassador

Ryan Mullen

Finance Manager

Michael Finnegan

Financial Controller

Nicole Pearlman

HD Brand Manager

Ken Pierce

Master Distiller, Heaven's Door Spirits

Barry Hue

Midwest Director

Sal Svedise

Northern California On-Premise District Manager

Gina Pisano

On Premise District Manager

Jason Goldstein

On Premise Regional Manager - NY/NJ

Clint Frizzell

On Premise State Manager - TX

Michael Emmanuel

Operations Director

Noelle Wheeler

Payroll and HR Manager

Stephen Wieck

Plant Manager

Ralph Vennetti

Procurement Manager

Jason Piwko

Regional Manager - MI/OH

Dale Cochrane

Regional Manager - MN/WI

Amy Aebersold

Regional Manager - NC/VA

Todd Parry

Regional Manager - Pacific Control States

Dan Massucco

Regional Manager CA-AZ

Julie Tucker

Regional Manager FL-GA

Paul Wilson

Regional Manager MD/DE/DC�

JT Carkuff

Regional Manager TN/KY/AK

Jordan Davis

Regional Manager TX-LA

Sam Ham

Sales West

Patrick Carroll

Supply Chain Manager

Matthew Sutton

Trade Marketing Analyst

Steve Ackerman

Vice President - Northeast

Travis Williams

Warehouse Manager

SIP BRANDS & MGMT TEAMS

Marc Bushala

Chief Executive Officer & President

Marc is a serial entrepreneur with a 30-year track record for creating and managing successful, dynamic businesses across the marketing services, real estate, food and beverage, media and entertainment sectors in the United States and Europe. Marc’s business savvy and creative spirit first drove him to launch two music television channels in Eastern Europe, with Sir Bob Geldof. With no rest for the wicked, he invested his earnings into what are now thriving real estate and hospitality portfolios, paving the way for his next feat – the spirits industry. Marc was formally President and CEO of Angel Share Brands, LLC, owner of Angel’s Envy Bourbon. Harnessing his broad expertise into an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the spirits sector, Marc founded SIP in 2015 for the creation, incubation, and growth acceleration of early-stage businesses.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

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