Search Icon

Blog

Press Releases Blog Beer Route Videos Photos Archive
Blog Sep 09, 2024

Full Making Moves Schedule: Innovation and Inspiration

The full schedule for BREW & Alliance for Women in Beer: Making Moves is now available below! Join us in San Diego this Oct. 1-2 to enjoy:

100s of beer and beverage colleagues to network with
15 sessions and workshops designed to inspire, educate and empower beverage professionals
1 game-changing event you won’t want to miss

Keep reading to see what’s in store at this year’s Making Moves!

REGISTER NOW

Tuesday, Oct. 1

2:00 – 2:15 p.m. — Welcome
The future starts here. Get ready to party like it’s 2099.

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. — Nobody Cares About Your Career
Former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan pulls no punches in a candid talk about what it takes to build your success.

Badan grew a chaotic company housed over a dentist’s office outside of Boston into a juggernaut with more than 5 billion monthly video views and 225 million followers valued at $550 million. And did it all as a self-described “token CEO,” the rare female employee in the highest rank of a bro-roar sports and new media culture.

She’s also a massive student of work: how to do it, how to be effective at it, how to get noticed, how to crush it, how to figure out what you love and do it as a job. She’s figured it out for herself; now she’ll help you figure out the key skill to building the career of your dreams: making your own luck at work.

3:15 – 3:25 p.m. — Table Discussion
Pull up a barstool and get chatting with friends around you.

3:25 – 3:50 p.m. — Building Up a Billion-Dollar Company Outside the Box
BuzzBallz Founder and CEO Merrilee Kick chats with Beer Business Daily’s Jenn Litz-Kirk.

The story of a former high school teacher crafting an RTD malt cocktail tailored to her needs…which turns into the buzziest (no pun intended) new product in years, leading to a partnership with global alcohol giant Sazerac. How did she do it? And what can today’s alcohol professionals learn from her innovative journey?

3:50 – 4:20 p.m. — A Masterclass in Leveling Up
Retail leaders Brittany Crosby (Walgreens) and Kimberly James (BP) chat with Molson Coors Director of Chain Sales JB Ryan.

Take your career to the next level with powerful tips and advice from experienced retailer and sales executives. These panelists bring years of experience to the daily battle for consumer eyeballs and dollars, and now they’ll be sharing these lessons with you. Their knowledge will help you level up and get ready to win!

4:20 – 4:30 p.m. — Table Discussion
You just learned some interesting things. Now chat about them with your awesome tablemates. 

4:30 – 4:50 p.m. — Unlock Your Career Superpower
You don’t need to be bitten by a spider to drive big results in business. 

Named one of the top 50 Chief Marketing Officers in the country by Forbes, Molson Coors’ Sofia Colucci has overseen innovative and successful campaigns for some of today’s biggest brands. But she didn’t wake up at the top of the marketing mountain — she built her career by figuring out her personal “superpower” and working every day to get better at it.

Now she’ll be joining us to share how to activate the must-have skills within you. Grab your cape and get ready to find the superpower, taking your career to new heights!

4:50 – 5:30 p.m. — Focus on You: Networking Exercise
Get some Zeal in your Heel with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer & Kimberly Rath, MBA.

Get primed and ready for self-growth with the help of two phenomenal leaders dedicated to unlocking the natural talents of women. This focused networking exercise is designed to help attendees get to know each other better by finding commonality — setting the stage for an impactful time in San Diego!

5:30 – 7:30 p.m. — Welcome Reception
There’s a lot of cool people here. Get to know them over drinks, food and fun

Wednesday, Oct. 2

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. — Breakfast
Rise and shine! Superheroes need a hearty meal before they suit up.

8:00 – 8:15 a.m. — Welcome
Get ready for a knockout lineup of speakers and activities. 

8:15 – 8:40 a.m. — Tacos, Campbell’s and Kind Bars: Behind DBC’s Laura Merritt’s Rise
Valuable lessons from the President of Diageo Beer Company

Before she was named DBC chief Rodney Williams’ successor, Laura Merritt helped lead some CPG giants and unicorns — Campbell’s, Kind, Tacombi — through big growth and big acquisitions. You won’t want to miss her rules for success and ascension in the wild world of big business.

8:40 – 10:00 a.m. — Now, Near, Next
Build skills that pay the bills with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer & Kimberly Rath, MBA

Through storytelling and inspiring content delivery, participants will gain a high-level overview of distinguishing and identifying their skills, knowledge and natural talent. With an understanding of what each person uniquely brings to the table, they will explore how to identify their NEXT and where to being their journey.

Following the keynote, authors Cynthia and Kimberly will lead a panel discussion amongst industry leaders, featuring

  • Laurel Patrick Slick, VP of Corporate Affairs, Reyes Beverage Group
  • Portia Dowell-Simmons, Executive Assistant to President/Sales Support, Glazer’s Beer & Beverage
  • Connie Kim, Head of Talent Management & Belonging, Heineken USA

Join in the interactive session to learn how these women in the industry identify and put into action their own now, near, next.

10:00 – 10:10 a.m. — Table Discussion
Unpack the last exercise with your fellow Movers.

10:10 – 10:35 a.m. — Coming Up California
Breakthru to the other side of sales success with Executive VP Tandy Harvey and Director of Beer Sinead Carey

California has the sun, the waves…and nearly 40 million people. In a state this big, you need to bring your A-game to win. NBWA President and CEO Craig Purser will lead this fireside chat with industry vets from Breakthru Beverage California, one of The Golden State’s leading alcohol distributors. They’ll share lessons from competing in the country’s biggest market that can be applied anywhere drinks are sold.

10:35 – 11:05 a.m. — Operations: It’s a Woman’s World
The chain that looks best on women? The supply chain. 

Women are increasingly playing a major role in the difficult, rewarding world of beverage business operations. Hear from three industry leaders who exemplify what it takes to excel in the crucial crucible of operations and supply chain.

  • Bridget Smith, Director of Operations, Origlio Beverage Philadelphia
  • Natalie Burbidge, SVP, Integrated Business Planning & Execution, Constellation Brands
  • Stacey Karczewski, VP, People Operations – Supply Chain, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc.

11:05 – 11:25 a.m. — Leveling Up the Beer Category: Cheers to the People Behind the Beer
How do you share the great story of beer? Colleen Lucas, Vice President of Community Impact for Anheuser-Busch, has some tips.

Cheers to the people behind the beer! By highlighting the Americans who bring our beers to life from seed to sip, we elevate the beer category and its impact on the economy and communities across the country. This session will detail the launch and expansion of the That’s Who We Are campaign since 2023.

11:25 – 11:55 a.m. — Moving Fast in a Fast-Paced Industry
Closing the day with a terrific trio of industry trailblazers.

A candid conversation between three industry leaders and friends — JuneShine President Whitney Stevenson; Boston Beer Sr. Director of Marketing, Erica Taylor; and Athletic Brewing Director of Marketing, Rosalie Kennedy — on leveraging their strengths, resources and marketing prowess to stay ahead of industry trends.

11:55 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Closing Remarks
That’s all, folks…

12:00 p.m. — To-Go Lunch
…but not before you grab some grub for the road

Share on your social media pages!