Payment processing shouldn’t be a mystery. This session offers a straightforward look at merchant services for taprooms of all sizes. Whether you’re launching your first location or reevaluating your current setup, you’ll learn what to consider when choosing a payment partner that fits your business goals.
We’ll cover the basics of how merchant services work, compliant pricing programs, and the importance of clear, transparent fees. You’ll also explore omni-channel solutions that connect your taproom, web store, and events, and understand what quality service and support should look like when you need it most.
You’ll leave with practical tools to make informed decisions that save money, reduce stress, and keep your taproom running smoothly.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
Tim Hohl founded Coin Toss Brewing in Oregon City, Oregon in March 2015 and ran it for almost nine years before selling in February 2024. The decision to sell started informally in May 2022 — a mix of burnout, financial pressure, and changing market conditions. After hiring a broker later that year, interest was slow. Tim also reached out directly to other brewery owners in the Northwest and had conversations with wholesale partners and a few loyal customers who wanted to keep the brand going. None of those discussions went anywhere. In late 2023, a serious buyer showed up. After weeks of negotiating, they shook hands before Thanksgiving and closed the deal three months later.
What We'll Talk About:
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The process of taking a new product from concept to reality is one of the most difficult in the beer industry. With questions of type, scale, promotion, production, delivery, and sales in constant tension with each other, it can create a paralysis that can cripple the potential of even the most promising innovation. Moreover, in an industry built upon a foundation of new product creation and novel flavors, failing to master the art of true Release Management can be a fatal flaw for otherwise successful organizations. In this seminar, attendees will learn how to manage a product release like the Project that it is. Processes for obtaining approvals and buy-in from disparate departments, creating a timeline, coordinating actions in multiple silos for maximum effect, and following through for success will all be explained and demonstrated in detail.
With more than a decade of sales, retail management, and business analytic experience in the craft beverage industry, Aaron MJ Gore loves the opportunities that he has every day to make a difference for small business owners across the country. He is the Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Beer30, one of the drinks industry's leading software providers, is a co-founder of the Court Shoes Only charitable collaboration beer, and serves as the Vice-President of the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame. He is an Advanced Cicerone, Certified Pommelier, Certified Cheese Scholar, WSET Level 2 Spirits Certified, and is (AF)(NA) Beer Certified. Additionally, he is an active industry advocate, public speaker, beer and cider educator, and the father of two daughters who are the true passion of his life.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
Join Matt Giffen, Founder and CEO of Bench Brewing, as he shares how sustainability has been part of their story since day one. Since opening in 2018, Bench has focused on “craft beverages with a conscience,” putting real action behind that idea. They’ve created a zero wastewater footprint with a closed-loop system that reuses every drop to water their hops and support nearby farms, repurposed spent grains, added solar panels and EV chargers, and earned both carbon neutral and BCorp certifications. Matt will talk about what it takes to build a brewery that puts the planet first, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how those same ideas can work in any business.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
Breweries are being bombarded with promises about what AI can do—automate your marketing, write your contracts, even predict your next big seller. But in a highly regulated and deeply human business like craft beer, not all automation is worth the risk.
In this session, alcohol law attorney John Szymankiewicz and fractional marketing strategist Madeline McMahon will walk attendees through real-world examples of how AI tools like ChatGPT, NotebookLM, and Prompt Cowboy can enhance—but not replace—your existing systems.
From AI-generated marketing strategies that miss the mark on brand voice, to contract templates that ignore state-specific compliance requirements, attendees will learn where AI helps and where human judgment still matters. We’ll explore prompt engineering, compare AI- vs. human-reviewed content, and highlight simple ways small teams can experiment with these tools while avoiding common pitfalls.
This session is designed for brewery owners, taproom managers, and in-house marketing leads who are curious about AI but don’t want to be burned by generic outputs. Whether you're using AI today or just trying to decide if it’s worth your time, this session will equip you with smarter questions to ask—and clearer boundaries to draw.
Let’s cut through the hype and show you how to work with AI, not for it.
Madeline McMahon, Fractional Marketing Strategist and founder of Madeline Fleehart Consulting, drives small business growth with practical, results-focused marketing strategies. The "#beerpaysthebills" hashtag captures a lively spirit rooted in the craft beer scene, even as today’s projects extend across various industries. By leveraging tools like ChatGPT, Madeline simplifies content creation, streamlines workflows, helps business owners set clear marketing performance indicators, and evaluates return on investment to ensure every effort counts.
As an attorney at Beer Law Center, John Szymankiewicz ’s practice centers on the craft beverage industry. Handling everything from business formation to TTB/ABC, to trademark, and buying/selling an alcohol business, John works with clients to help them achieve their personal and business goals. John authored the book Beer Law: What Brewers Need to Know and is a Certified BJCP Judge, holds Level II Certifications in Wine and Beer from WSET, and is the country’s only alcohol attorney who is also a Certified Cicerone. John is based in Raleigh and practices in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
This presentation will provide an overview of how to prepare for visits from Immigration and ICE officers, in light of increased ICE investigations, workplace raids, and community visits associated with immigration applications.
Kathleen A. Spero has a long-standing interest in immigration and foreign relations. She graduated from San Diego State University magna cum laude with a dual major in Political Science and International Security and Conflict Resolution in 1999. She received her Master of Pacific and International Affairs, cum laude, from the University of California, San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (formerly the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies) in 2001. After earning her Master’s degree, Kathleen joined the International Rescue Committee, an international refugee assistance and resettlement agency, as a Program Specialist in the company’s headquarters. While at IRC, Kathleen discovered her interest in immigration law, decided to attend law school, and received her J.D. Degree, cum laude, from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California, in May 2008. For the Spring 2023 semester, Kathleen served as an instructor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, teaching a course on Immigration Law.
Since her graduation from law school, Kathleen has dedicated her career to immigration law. She has held positions with Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy; the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program; and Malitzlaw. In addition to her work with Jacobs & Schlesinger, Kathleen has volunteered with Casa Cornelia, the Immigration Justice Project, UURise immigration legal services, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Kathleen has worked for Jacobs & Schlesinger since 2016, where she focuses on providing legal assistance and counseling to families, businesses, and individuals seeking to navigate the complex immigration laws of the United States. She primarily handles employment-based cases, investor visas, family-based petitions, and naturalization cases.
Kathleen is admitted to the State Bar of California and is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of California and the Department of Homeland Security nationwide.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
The craft beer community thrives on passion and collaboration, yet many breweries lack the resources to address workplace harassment effectively. This interactive series, hosted by WeVow with support from industry partners, brings together legal experts and seasoned leaders to provide practical tools you can use immediately.
Join us to:
Core topics include:
The panelists for this conversation are both senior executives from HR technology companies with strong backgrounds in creating safe workplaces:
Let's move forward together: https://wevow.com
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
Most brewery leaders step into leadership because they’re good at what they do. They care. They work hard. And they want the people around them to succeed. But at some point, that’s not enough. Passion doesn’t automatically translate to progress, and well-meaning effort doesn’t always grow a healthy team.
This session offers a practical look at what it means to lead people on purpose. We’ll explore a proven framework for developing your team members on purpose - including the necessary steps and stages, as well as what kind of support they need from you at each step.
It’s not about adding more to your plate. It’s about getting clearer on what leadership actually requires if your goal is to build people, not just fill roles. If you’ve ever felt stuck between being the go-to person and wanting others to step up, this session will give you language, clarity, and a way forward.
Chris Ediger is the founder of Craft Leadership, where he works with breweries to strengthen the people side of the business. Craft works alongside owners, managers, GMs, and shift leads to help them lead with more clarity, coach with more purpose, and build teams that actually work. The approach comes from years spent inside breweries of all shapes and sizes - on the floor with production crews, behind the bar with taproom staff, and in the room with leadership teams making hard calls. With simple tools and honest conversation, Craft helps leaders handle the everyday tension of running a brewery: managing people, keeping standards high, and still walking out the door with something left to give.
Learn more about the Craft Leader Certification: https://craftleadership.co/certification
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Listen to this presentation to learn more about technologies breweries are implementing to cut costs, increase efficiencies and cut waste.
It also covers a bit on what to look for when planning an improvement projects, what a basic business case looks like and some "pro tips" for how to run these projects (without revealing too much: start small, and build on proven success).
Sharing from years of experience in the industry, and also a process consultant - Magnus covers areas such as business systems, production optimization technologies, energy management, sustainability initiatives and waste reduction.
Magnus Valmot is the CEO of PLAATO Technoloigies. He is an engineer, has a leadership background from the Norwegian armed forces and has worked for more than a decade to build technology solutions for more efficient operations.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
Tired of long lead times, big minimums, and confusing label costs? In this 30-minute session, Andrew Johnston will break down the most common bottlenecks breweries and brands face with label printing—and show exactly how Craft Brew Prints is changing the game. From 48-hour turnaround and no MOQs to a streamlined online ordering portal and premium materials, you’ll see how Craft Brew Prints helps businesses launch faster, cut waste, and save money. Andrew will also share real customer stories, practical solutions, and a clear path to making your next label order stress-free. Whether you’re looking for a backup supplier or a better long-term partner, this session will show you how labels can finally be simple.
Andrew Johnston is a sales leader who helps breweries, food brands, and packaging companies take the pain out of label printing. He’s passionate about tackling the biggest challenges businesses face with labels—long lead times, high minimums, and hidden costs—by making the process faster, simpler, and more reliable.
Known for his hands-on service, quick turnaround, and flexible approach, Andrew has built lasting relationships with both local and national brands. His focus is always on helping businesses launch products on time, reduce waste, and keep packaging costs under control.
Based near Cincinnati, Andrew is closely connected to the craft beer community and values the creativity and hard work that goes into every product he supports. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching his daughter’s soccer team, spending time with his family, and getting outdoors whenever possible.
Reach out to Andrew to learn more at ajohnston@craftbrewprints.com
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
Breweries are finding inventive ways to grow—even in a tough market. From new beverage lines to taproom makeovers, this fast-paced session highlights real-world strategies breweries are using to boost revenue and stay relevant. You’ll also learn how creative financing can help bring these ideas to life without crushing your cash flow. Stick around for a Q&A to swap ideas and ask questions.
Rick Wehner launched Brewery Finance in 2005 and has since supported over 1,500 breweries—from startups to established operations—with targeted equipment financing and working capital. Based in Colorado, Rick specializes in understanding how breweries operate and how to help them grow using quick and non-traditional finance options.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
In today’s competitive craft beer market, saving money can boost your bottom line faster than chasing every new trend. This session will share five quick, practical strategies you can use right now to cut costs without cutting corners. You’ll learn how to tap into your network to find trusted vendor recommendations, leverage your state guild’s discounts and preferred partners, and re-negotiate with your current suppliers for better deals. We’ll explore how to contract strategically—locking in pricing where it makes sense without overextending yourself—and how to boost buying power through industry co-operatives, whether by joining one or creating your own. Attendees will walk away with cost-saving tactics they can implement immediately, even with a packed schedule.
James Stutsman knows this industry and the headwinds brewers are facing. His experience includes nearly 15 years in the industry with stints as Director of Marketing and Sales for Kansas City Bier Company and Marketing Manager for Deschutes. Then he co-founded and served as head brewer for City Barrel Brewing Company where he helped build distribution, open two restaurants and win a GABF medal for Hazy/Juicy IPA in the process. Now he works for the Independent Brewers Alliance and helps brewers navigate the time-sucking maze of sourcing and negotiating with vendors.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
Oxygen is both a friend and a foe in the beer-making process. Used wisely, it sets the stage for strong fermentation. Used incorrectly—or introduced at the wrong time—it can compromise the flavor, shelf life, and quality of your beer.
This session examines the real-world impact of using pure oxygen versus compressed air in the fermentation process, offering insights brewers can apply to improve product consistency and efficiency.
This conversation features:
Darren Yates is passionate about developing quality concepts and solutions for the hospitality industry.
Stay up to date with CBP: http://update.craftbeerprofessionals.org/
The busy summer season often masks small inefficiencies that quietly drain time, money, and energy from your brewery. In this practical, no-fluff session, we’ll guide you through an essential “autumn reset” to identify and fix hidden inefficiencies before the holiday rush hits.
Whether you’re managing your brewery with a whiteboard, spreadsheets, or brewery management software, this talk is for you. We’ll share actionable tips that anyone can use to improve access to key information so that your team can make smarter, faster decisions.
Plus, we’ll introduce Brew Ninja’s 5-minute Brewery Health Check Survey to help you reflect on your current operations and pinpoint where small changes could deliver big results. No matter your current tools, these insights will help you reduce last-minute chaos, avoid costly mistakes, and boost your margins.
If you’re ready to reclaim time and confidence ahead of the holiday rush, this talk is for you.” “Brew Ninja is the complete, affordable and easy to use brewery management software. With Brew Ninja your team gets time back to focus on what they do best.
Brewers are on top of production schedules and inventory, ensuring you never run dry or overproduce. Sales teams have real time access to accurate inventory, meaning they can close deals faster without endless back and forth. Owners see margins and profitability with just a few clicks, and your whole team communicates seamlessly.
Co-Founder and Sales Director, Matt Hon has worked with brewers across North America over the past 7 years to help them improve operational efficiency through better access to information, and simpler workflows.
Join us in person for CBP Connects New Orleans
December 8–10, 2025
It’s never been more important to connect: https://cbpconnects.com/
This session will walk you through the key legal steps to build a business that’s ready for investment and eventually for sale. We will dive into the legal side of raising capital. From friends and family to private investors or venture capital. We will demystify the capital raising process – covering commonly used private placement exemptions like Regulation D (Rules 506(b) and 506(c)), basic compliance responsibilities, and the kinds of disclosures and filings that may be required to stay on the right side of the law. Next, we’ll look ahead to your exit strategy. Whether you are planning to retire, sell to a competitor, or transition the business to current owner, we will discuss what makes the business sellable, what buyers expect, how deals are structured, how businesses are valued, and the professionals who can help you do it right. This session is ideal for business owners who want to grow with intention, raise money the right way, and make choices that keep their options open for a successful exit.
Megan Farley is a partner at Allen Stahl & Kilbourne, PLLC where she focuses her practice on business, nonprofit, alcoholic beverage law, intellectual property (trademark) law, and creditor rights.
She regularly advises business clients on a range of matters from formation, contracts, commercial lease review and negotiation, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, applying for and maintaining trademark registration, and other business operational matters. Megan also assists craft beverage business clients with federal, state, and local ABC permitting, compliance, contracting, intellectual property licensing, and through the nuances of buying and selling ABC-permitted businesses.
Megan has sat on the board of directors of the North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum and Invest Collegiate Imagine charter school. Her practical nonprofit experience helps her guide nonprofit clients through the unique challenges they face. In addition to advising nonprofit clients, Megan provides workshops for boards and facilitates strategic planning meetings to assist nonprofits in defining clear goals and strategies to further their missions.
Alison Kinnear is a seasoned corporate and securities attorney with nearly 30 years of experience advising clients on complex business matters. Her practice focuses on business transactions, corporate governance, private placements, and compliance with state and federal securities laws.
Alison’s work spans a wide range of legal areas, including corporate structuring and restructuring, governance, commercial contracts, and private placements under Regulation D, with deal sizes ranging from $500,000 to $50 million. She regularly handles partner buyouts, buy-sell agreements, and mergers and acquisitions involving transactions from $10,000 to $100 million. Her experience also includes business succession planning and overseeing legal due diligence for major transactions.
In addition to her transactional work, Alison serves as outside counsel to startups and growing companies, providing both strategic input and practical legal guidance that supports their long-term success.
Join us in person for CBP Connects New Orleans
December 8–10, 2025
It’s never been more important to connect: https://cbpconnects.com/
Making great beer doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to lead people—but in most breweries, that’s exactly what happens. Talented brewers, servers, and production crew get promoted into leadership without ever being shown how to actually lead. The result? Frustration, burnout, and team dynamics that drag down quality, morale, and margins.
In this session, you’ll learn three proven leadership tools that will help you coach, challenge, and develop your team—without losing the heart and vibe that make craft beer special. First, we’ll introduce the Support-Challenge Matrix, a simple framework for setting the right tone as a leader. You’ll learn how to be “high support, high challenge” and create a culture of empowerment instead of fear or entitlement.
Then, we’ll walk through the 100X Leader Assessment to help you evaluate not just how well you’re performing, but how well you’re helping others perform. Finally, we’ll break down the Developing Others Square—a step-by-step model to train and grow your team with intention (and avoid the dreaded “Pit of Despair”).
You’ll leave with practical tools you can use right away and an invitation to take the next step through the new Craft Leader Certification, a professional development path built specifically for leaders in the craft beer industry.
Ryan Mayfield is a leadership coach who helps brewery professionals build healthy leaders, strong teams, and thriving cultures. Through Craft Leadership, he equips clients with practical tools to lead with confidence, improve communication, and reduce daily frustrations. Craft has supported top breweries like Other Half, Rhinegeist, and Creature Comforts in navigating leadership and team challenges. Based in Tulsa, Ryan lives with his wife, teenage son, and opinionated beagle, Rooster.
Join us in person for CBP Connects New Orleans
December 8–10, 2025
It’s never been more important to connect: https://cbpconnects.com/
Say goodbye to boring spreadsheets and hello to a budgeting process that actually works. In this workshop, we’ll show you how to create a practical, profit-driven brewery budget using real numbers, easy tools, and a dash of fun. You’ll leave with a clear plan, the right templates, and the confidence to take control of your finances. Without falling asleep at the keyboard.
Kary Shumway is the founder of Craft Brewery Financial Training.com and the Beer Business Finance Association which offer online resources for beer industry professionals. He has worked in the beer industry for more than 20 years as a certified public accountant and a chief financial officer for a beer distributor and a brewery.
Craft Brewery Financial Training publishes a free weekly beer industry finance newsletter, offers online training courses on topics such as cash flow planning, financial forecasting, and brewery metrics.
For more information visit www.CraftBreweryFinancialTraining.com.
Join us in person for CBP Connects New Orleans
December 8–10, 2025
It’s never been more important to connect: https://cbpconnects.com/
2024 saw more brewery closings than openings. Uncertainty is growing around rising costs and tariffs. Production is down. Consumers are looking for more diverse offerings, including non-alcoholic. Industry associations are promising bright days ahead, while member breweries are not so sure.
Tired promotions and liquid social posts aren’t going to save craft. Throwing more resources and budget at the problem doesn’t make it go away. Festivals and retail demos are drying up. It’s time to start thinking more strategically about sales growth, starting with your marketing plan. Owners and industry experts alike are placing their bets on one simple blueprint:
The data is available to help brewery owners and managers take a more thoughtful, deliberate approach to business growth. We’ll discuss how to track marketing efforts using tools like Google Looker Studio and weekly dashboard reporting, as well as best practices for success in each channel. Presentation attendees have access to 10+ Guides with techniques to keep fans engaged and proven tools to fuel excitement around your unique story.
We started Market Your Craft to help small-to-mid-sized producers quickly adapt to the changing Marketing landscape with storytelling. Because we believe every craft brand has an exciting story to share. Led by Scott Kolbe, we’re a team of dreamers and doers, passionate about all things beverage with the creds to match. We’ve created a series of Workshops and Guides to help define your brand story and inform your Marketing efforts. To learn more or to schedule a session with one of our storytelling experts, visit marketyourcraft.com.
Join us in person for CBP Connects New Orleans
December 8–10, 2025
It’s never been more important to connect: https://cbpconnects.com/
We know that you know beer! But what if you’re adding additional product categories? This presentation aims to give you a solid understanding of the rules and regulations around the advertising and marketing of all your brands, alcoholic beer as well as non-alc, spirits and hemp-derived beverage products.
Key Objectives:
Shana Metzger, Senior Counsel at Barnes Beverage Group, provides strategic counsel on the full spectrum of commercial operations, from crafting distribution, sales, and expansion strategies to negotiating complex agreements.
Shana excels in drafting and managing distribution contracts, alternating proprietorships, and other key commercial arrangements, in both traditional and emerging beverage sectors. Beyond commercial work, she advises clients on labor and employment issues as well as intellectual property matters, ensuring comprehensive support for client businesses.
Join us in person for CBP Connects New Orleans
December 8–10, 2025
It’s never been more important to connect: https://cbpconnects.com/
CBP Connects New Orleans is almost here, happening December 8–10. Join us for a conversation with some of our event speakers and partners to hear what you can expect, why you should attend, and how it can help you reach your goals.
14 interactive sessions, 3 nightly receptions (Urban South, Parleaux, and Abita), a trade show, and countless opportunities to connect with industry decision makers.
This conversations features:
Join us in person for CBP Connects New Orleans
December 8–10, 2025
It’s never been more important to connect: https://cbpconnects.com/