Vince Polino is the Alfa Laval Sales Manager for Food & Beverage Separation Technology for the United States. He’s been helping US Beverage customers to improve product quality, optimize production and reduce costs and environmental impacts with less water, energy and carbon footprint to help craft exceptional products such as Hard Cider, NAs, RTDs and Beer since 2016. In his free time, Vince enjoys projects around the house, a tasty beverage, and volunteering at the local Little League.

Jessie Polin owns Ponderosa Beer and Books located in Bellingham, WA. Prior to entering the beer industry, Jessie had a long career as a classical musician and first became interested in beer while having post-concert pints with her musician colleagues. After working in the beer and restaurant industry in Seattle, Jessie relocated to Bellingham to open her own spot. Ponderosa focuses on well-crafted classic styles, with an emphasis on lagers, saisons, and mixed fermentation beer, as well as unique cider and wine. Ponderosa carries a curated selection of beverage and fermentation focused books. Behind the bar, Jessie loves introducing drinkers to new styles, and inviting new consumers into the world of beer. Jessie is a Certified Cicerone, and runs Ponderosa with the assistance of her boxer mix, Sophie.

Maura Hardman, the Marketing & PR Manager at Seattle Cider Co, brings a genuine passion for marketing and public relations to her role. With a knack for crafting compelling narratives, Maura has contributed to the success of Seattle Cider Co through innovative and thoughtful marketing strategies. Maura’s journey in marketing spans various industries, where she has cultivated a deep understanding of consumer behavior and market dynamics. Her commitment to excellence is reflected not only in her professional achievements but also in her genuine enthusiasm for the craft. Maura is actively involved in community initiatives and believes in the power of businesses to make a positive impact. Her commitment to community engagement is reflected not only in her work at Seattle Cider Co but also in her contributions to various charitable causes. Maura also serves as Committee Chair for the American Cider Association’s Antiracism, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Rob Petros and his brother Paul are the owners of John’s Marketplace in Portland, Oregon.

Matthew Sharpe is a Buyer/Manager at Barbur World Foods in Portland Oregon, curating the selection of Wine, Beer/Cider, Coffee, and Cigars in house with a focus on craft & artisanal production. A recovering culinarian of 17 years and an ex-historian, he spends much of his time sharing the stories of what he and his team selected with the store’s clientele while endeavoring to taste everything at least once. In addition, he is involved in the spirits industry, starting in 2009 with the American Distilling Institute as a volunteer, and eventually becoming a lead steward for their spirits judging, a conference staffer, & a proctor for hands-on distilling classes around the country. In 2013, he was tapped to establish the judging program for the American Craft Spirits Association, a national not-for-profit industry trade organization focused on advocacy and meeting the needs of small scale spirits producers. He is also a co-founder and the Director of Operations for the New Orleans Spirits Competition, an international spirits judging presented by Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, LA every summer.

The elusive Matthew Sanford is the head winemaker at Rose Hill Farm in the Hudson Valley and formally Alai Cider in Colchagua, Chile. At Rose Hill he’s focused on making high quality, low intervention wine and cider that often blur the lines between the two. Utilizing estate grown, foraged and locally sourced fruit from likeminded farmers. Apples, pears, grapes, plums, cherries, currants, blueberries and quince, just a few of the things you’ll find him fermenting in the cellar, naturally.

David Racino has dedicated himself to serving the craft beverage industry since co-founding American Canning in 2012. From day one, David has embodied an entrepreneurial spirit, establishing his own lawn care service and selling candy in primary school. He studied business administration in college, starting his career in financial services before founding and becoming CEO of American Canning. For Racino and his business partner, the idea to found American Canning stemmed from a desire to help consumers gain greater access to the finest beverages in the world, when and where they want them. Starting as a mobile canning service provider in the state of Texas, Racino and his co-founder have since grown American Canning into one of the nation’s leading canning solutions providers.

Ben Calvi is the COO of Vermont Cider Company & Green Mountain Beverage. Born and raised in Vermont, he holds degrees from Middlebury College, the University of Vermont, and the University of California Davis. For ten years after college, he made wines and studied biodynamics and food culture in California, Germany, and Italy. He returned to Vermont in 2011 to raise a family and has been making ciders and other tasty beverages since. Ben serves on the board of directors for the American Cider Association, the Vermont Cider Association, and the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association. He lives on a tiny apple orchard in Cornwall with his wife Sophia and two kids Arthur and Delfina.

Dave Carr is founder, co-owner, cidermaker, and orchardist at family owned and operated Raging Cider & Mead Co (est’d 2015). Located in San Diego County, Raging makes natural ciders, perrys, wines, and coferments from fruit sourced 100% within San Diego County with an eye to support local farmers, help stop the loss of orchards & their traditions in the local mountains, and re-introduce people to the beauty of traditional ciders all while maintaining a small carbon footprint. In addition, they own one small orchard and manage two other orchards that date back to the early 1900’s where they utilize regenerative farming practices. Dave himself fell in love with cider as a teenager while visiting family in England but did not begin making cider until 2010 due to his wife, Kerry, developing gluten intolerance.

Justin Ray is the Senior Beer Category Merchant for Whole Foods. He supports 17 US states and two Canadian provinces with core assortment, planograms and promotional planning. Justin lives in the Lower Hudson Valley NY, 90 min north of NYC and is an avid trail runner, backpacker.