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• Quarterly Distillations (Free Virtual Series)

  • Start
    2 Feb 2021
  •  
    (CST)
  • End
    2 Nov 2021
  •  
    (CDT)
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    (Virtual Event Series)

  

  Join CFBN & the team from Bader Rutter’s Intel Distillery for a recap of the latest happenings in food, beverage and agriculture.  These short webinars outline what you need to know to stay current with the latest in food policy, food business & marketing, and production trends.

  The Intel Distillery keeps you informed on the influential and ever-changing conversations across the food production system. Thank you to everyone who joined us in 2020 as CFBN tapped this great resource for our Monday @11 series!  We are excited to continue this great web series to keep the Network informed in its' new quarterly format!  This is a FREE series offering - all are welcome, register now to join us for the full series!

  We are pleased to welcome Meghan Hurley, Head of Marketing, Brand, and Growth at Farmer's Fridge as a featured guest on our first episode of 2021 on Tuesday, February 2nd!

  

  
  

  Upcoming Episodes: 

  • Tuesday, February 2nd (11 am CT)
  • Tuesday, May 4th (11 am CT)
  • Tuesday, August 3rd (11 am CT)
  • Tuesday, November 2nd (11 am CT)

  
  

  Joining us for this conversation from Bader Rutter's Intel Distillery team:

  • Nick Praznowski, Team Leader - Editorial/Content – with a long background in food marketing, Nick helped start The Intel Distillery in 2011 and serves as the functional lead for strategy and content.
  • Dennis Ryan, Executive Creative Director –  celebrating a successful career advertising and marketing CPG food products, Dennis serves as creative director, copy editor and chief promoter to translate The Intel Distillery’s analysis into actionable insights for subscribers and clients.
  • Betsy Rado, Team Leader – with an extensive experience in food and ag marketing, Betsy has served as an adviser and content creator to bring clients business driving insights from The Intel Distillery since 2012.
  • Kyle Church, Content Specialist has been an integral part of The Intel Distillery team since 2014 and heads up the quantitative analysis and technical functions.  Kyle researches and writes a good share of The Intel Distillery content.

  The team behind Bader Rutter’s The Intel Distillery has partnered with CFBN to host this quarterly chat series breaking down the headlines from the headlines impacting the food and beverage industry. Using The Intel Distillery’s Friday by Noon newsletter as a guide.

  Since 2012, The Intel Distillery has tracked the top stories from the most influential voices in the business. From farm fields to consumer plates, the Chicago-based team has diligently categorized and catalogued everything important in food, beverage and agriculture to outline a clear picture of what's happening and who's driving the conversations on our industry.

  (Subscribe here for Friday by Noon weekly.)

  Tuesday @11 is a quarterly webinar offering produced in partnership with CFBN member company, Bader Rutter!

  

  Missed an episode? 

  Visit our Virtual Library to catch up with all previous episodes!

  
  

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• Founders Series: Marketing & Consumers

  • When
    11 Feb 2021
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CST)
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL EVENT)

  Register

  A majority of founders and leadership in growing companies in the food and beverage space have reported that they expect to see growth in 2020.  Even after the volatility and challenges of 2020 - the food and beverage industry as a whole is looking forward to 2021 to see what products will impact and hit with consumers and the marketplace.  Join us to explore and examine that “growth” as part of our Founders Series for 2021 - the conversation that founders and leadership from growing companies across the midwest want to be a part of!

  The Founders Series has been re-imaged for 2021, in partnership with Foodbevy and CA Fortune, we are looking to industry experts, a wide range of successful and growing founders, and our own partners to provide hands-on learning opportunities around each of our primary topic areas.  Each quarterly event will feature a brief opening panel discussion to examine where we are as an industry for the quarter and how the main topic area relates to each of us.  And then we will break-out into roundtable or workshop sections led by our partners and panelists for in-depth conversation and problem solving.  Join us to explore how your peers and industry can help you tackle growth in 2021.

  *As always, Founders and CFBN Members attend these events for FREE.  Reach out by dropping us an email if you are looking to be connected!

  Upcoming Event Dates:

  • Thursday, February 11th (11 am CT - 12:30 pm CT): Marketing & Consumers
  • Quarter 2 (TBA):  Sales & Distribution
  • Quarter 3 (TBA):  Production & Operations
  • Quarter 4 (TBA):  Finance

  
  

  Join us for the first event of the series, Tuesday 2/11:  Marketing & Consumers

  The newest phase of the pandemic - as we see a vaccine on the horizon for many of us but face continued lock-downs and shop closures around the globe - is changing customer behavior almost daily!  Join us for our first event in the 2021 Founders Series, to look and learn how shopping behaviors are changing, how growth looks so different for many brands and companies in 2021, and what founders are doing to reach and connect with their customers in new ways.

  Speakers & Break-Out Hosts (For 2/11 Event):

  Emily Groden, Founder & CEO, Evergreen

  As a working mom, Emily Groden needed a quick and easy breakfast for her toddler, but was not willing to sacrifice quality, nutrition, or taste for convenience.  Launched in early March 2020, Evergreen frozen waffles are made with 100 percent whole wheat flour and flavored only by real fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices – without refined sugar, dairy, or preservatives. Today, Evergreen is carried in more than 45 Whole Foods across the Midwest, Foxtrot Market and Sunset Foods in Chicago, and independent grocers throughout the region.
   
  Prior to founding Evergreen, Emily served as General Counsel for The Alinea Group, owner of the only 3-Michelin Star restaurant in Chicago, and Tock, an industry-shifting reservation platform. Before her pivot into the hospitality industry, Emily practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis as a corporate associate focused on mergers and acquisitions.  A lifelong athlete with a passion for food, Emily was a Division I swimmer and is an Ironman finisher and Boston Marathon qualifier.  Emily graduated cum laude from Yale College and Harvard Law School. She currently lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter, Evergreen’s number one fan.
  

  Ashley Nickelsen, Founder & Chief Snack Officer, B.T.R Bar

  Ashley Marie, a serial snacker since birth, is the Founder & Chief Snack Officer of B.T.R. Bar. Ashley started the company in honor of her parents, determined to pass on their legacy and empower others to snack BTR to feel your best aka BOLD, TENACIOUS & RESILIENT. Five years ago, both of Ashley's parents were diagnosed with rare forms of cancer. As their caretaker, working full-time, Ashley was constantly on-the-go, inhaling so-called "better-for-you" bars and bites high in sugar with ingredients she couldn't pronounce. With a background in nutrition & food studies, Ashley craved a snack with a "BTR" ingredient profile that also served a functional purpose. And that's how B.T.R. Bar was born.

  Chris Oates, Founder & CEO, WAJU: Fruit Sourced Water

  MASTER AGENDA (CT):

  • 11:00 AM:  General Welcome (Alan Reed, CFBN)

  • 11:05 AM - 11:35 AM:  Opening Presentation/Conversation

  • 11:40 AM - 12:30 PM:  Workshopping/Networking Breakouts

  • 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM:  1:1 Individual Networking Open (45 mins)

  
  

  Our Series is Co-Moderated & Features:

  Jordan Buckner, Founder - Foodbevy & Founder - TeaSquares

  Jordan Buckner is on a mission to help food and beverage companies build successful businesses, and launched Foodbevy.com to create a pipeline for companies to grow from startup to scale by reducing the resource and network gaps.  Jordan also co-founded TeaSquares, a line of superfood energy bars designed to help people stay focused and alert so they could achieve their passions. 

  Steve Gaither, Chief Marketing Officer,CA Fortune

  Steve Gaither is the Chief Marketing Officer at C.A. Fortune, and leads the C.A. Branding pillar. Founded as JB Chicago, C.A. Branding is an integrated marketing agency whose clients range from Fortune 500, middle-market, to emerging brands.  As a mentor at the Good Food Business Accelerator, ICNC, the Food Foundry, Chicagoland Food and Bev, and The Hatchery, his relationships with entrepreneurs led him to co-found the Windy City Troublemakers, an early-stage food meetup in Chicago. Steve was formerly a partner in Spiral Sun Ventures and Windy City Food Brands, where he and his fellow CPG experts provided the capital and go-to market strategies that help brands accelerate their growth. Steve graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Architecture and Planning. He resides in Munster, Indiana with his wife and three children.

  
  

  The Founders Series is virtual event series produced in partnership with CFBN members and partners,

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  Missed an Event?

  Don't worry, you can access all previous events from the Founders Series in our Virtual Content Library, FREE to all CFBN members!

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• The Connection Series (Virtual Networking Events)

  • When
    16 Feb 2021
  •  
    8:00 AM - 9:30 AM (CST)
  • Location
    (Virtual Event Series)

  Register

  Leadership in 2021 will be more about thriving than surviving, and connecting is key.  Throughout 2021 CFBN and Kincannon & Reed are partnering to bring you opportunities to connect, learn, and grow through the Connection Series.  Join us for an opportunity to explore all that the food industry has to offer, network with leaders, and share best practices with your peers.

  Each event in the series will offer attendees an opportunity to hear from industry leaders on the primary topic.  Following that brief opening presentation, these events offer focused small-group and individual networking around the topic areas.  Join into any group to network with your peers, or connect 1:1 with your fellow attendees in private networking chats.  This is a clear virtual solution to the networking we've all been missing!

  Hear what fellow attendees said about our 1st event in the series:

  "I was hesitant to attend this networking event...Instead I was pleasantly surprised at the collaborative feel of the HopIn platform, the quality of the table sessions, and the provided networking options. The CFBN Networking event- 5 stars!"

  "I really miss the in-person networking and was a little skeptical on doing the virtual networking but WOW-- completely surprised and REALLY liked the format! The opportunity to do one on one conversations was great. The topics were relevant and it was nice to be able to "sit" at a table but then if the tables were full, I could still listen to the conversation. Thank you!"

  
  

  Upcoming EVENTS: 

  • Tuesday, February 16th:  Leadership 2021, Food Innovation & The Future
  • Tuesday, April 20th
  • Tuesday, May 18th
  • Tuesday, August 17th
  • Tuesday, October 19th
  • Tuesday, November 16th

  
  

  Joining us for this EVENT: (Coming Soon!)

  
  

  ABOUT OUR SERIES PARTNER, Kincannon & Reed:

  Founded in 1981, Kincannon & Reed is a retained executive search firm engaged by organizations around the world to recruit impact players in the food, agribusiness, and life sciences sectors. Clients benefit from their unique focus, expertise, and approach. This combination has produced an enviable record of success: the deliver leaders with judgment who get results.  Kincannon & Reed brings a unique perspective to this series of virtual networking events - helping to provide expertise, insight, connections from across the wider food and beverage industry in the midwest.

  (Click HERE to learn more about Kincannon & Reed)

  The Connection Series is a new virtual event offering produced in partnership with CFBN member company, Kincannon & Reed!

  
  

  Missed an event? 

  Visit our Virtual Library to catch up with all previous events!

  
  

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• Innovation Series: The Plant Based Space

  • When
    11 Mar 2021
  •  
    11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (CST)
  • Location
    (VIRTUAL EVENT)

  Register

  Join us for our next event in the 2021 Innovation Series.  The Innovation Series is the longest running series in CFBN's programming - originated in partnership with Fifty Gazelles as our opening offering via the "Innovation Breakfasts" originally hosted at Blue Dog in the West Loop.  Today, this virtual series tackles a series of innovation topics of interest to all of us in the food and beverage industry.  Our attendees join us every other month on the second Thursday to explore where food is headed, what companies are making a true impact in the market, and who is helping to change the way we all do business!

  Upcoming Events & Conversations:

  • Thursday, March 11th (11 am - 1 pm CT):  The Plant Based Space
  • Thursday, May 13th: The Sustainability Conference
  • Thursday, July 8th:  Taste & Trends
  • Thursday, September 9th:  Technology Innovations
  • Thursday, November 11th:  State of the Industry (Next Generation Leaders)

  
  

  Our next event, The Plant Based Space (MOre details coming soon)...

  
  

  Opening Conversation (More Details Coming Soon)...

  Following our featured speaker, we are excited to offer several options for featured break-out presentations (More Details Coming Soon)...

  
  

  Our Master Agenda for the day's event:

  • 11:00 AM:  General Welcome (Alan Reed, CFBN)

  • 11:05 AM - 12:00 PM:   Opening Conversation, Moderated by Jeremy Anderson, Fifty Gazelles

  • 12:05 PM - 12:45 PM:  Breakout Presentations (30-40 mins each - run concurrently)

  • 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM:   Expo/Networking Spaces Open

  • 1:00 PM - EVENT CLOSES

  
  

  Featured Speakers & Presenters (COMING SOON)...

  
  

  The Innovation Series is a 6-part virtual event series, we appreciate the support of our primary partner and CFBN member in developing this series:

  
  

  We also appreciate the support and collaboration of our sponsors for this event:

  Missed an Event?

  Don't worry!  All previous events in the Innovation Series are available for viewing in our Virtual Content Library - FREE to all CFBN Members!

    

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