Beth Dixon

Beth has been in the restaurant industry since 2001. Her bar career began behind the stick at Can Can in Richmond’s historic Carytown. She has worked behind the bar of many other beloved Richmond restaurants, including Pasture, Comfort, Perch, The Magpie, Heritage and L’Opossum.

Beyond her hands-on bartending experience, Beth has become a respected figure in the Richmond cocktail scene. As the founder of Salt and Acid, she offers consulting, bar staff training, private bartending and mixology education. Through this platform, she helps elevate cocktail culture while nurturing the next generation of bartenders. Her passion for balancing flavors—specifically through the use of salt and acid—has earned her a reputation for being an “acid freak,” a title she wears with pride.

In her roles as former President/VP/Treasurer of the Richmond chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG), Northeast Regional Representative on the USBG National Council of Chapters, and as a trainer for Safe Bars RVA, Beth continues to advocate for the industry she loves, fostering community and pushing the boundaries of cocktail creativity.

Caitlin Bartlemay

Master Distiller Caitlin Bartlemay started her career at Clear Creek Distillery in 2010 after finishing her degree in Food Science. She is passionate and devoted to educating the world on why the story and quality of the spirits in their glass is worth celebrating.

Chris Schmid

When he’s not fishing, traveling, passionately rooting for Philadelphia sports teams or chasing after his daughter, Chris is leading all new business development at Prestige-Ledroit and is responsible for lead generation, prospect management and new supplier engagement. Chris actively partners with current and potential producer partners to capitalize on market and category opportunities. Chris’ efforts are focused on strategically positioning Prestige-Ledroit for continued growth and profitability in the ever changing climate of the wine and spirits industry. He is an enthusiastic and inclusive leader with a passion for the food and beverage industry with a background spanning every segment of the beverage trade. Considered a thought leader in the craft spirits space, Chris has and continues to sit as a judge on a number of spirit and bar awards World Whiskey Awards, TOTC Spirited Awards, ACSA Spirits Awards, as well as leading all innovation and brand partnerships for the IDN.

Clay Smith

Since 2003, Clay has served across many facets of the liquor industry – from Head Distiller of Corsair Distillery to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association Board of Directors. Clay has been an educator in botanical spirits at Moonshine University since 2013, officially joining the team as its Distillery Operations Manager in 2018. Serving as the primary hands-on instructor for both industry facing and consumer facing classes, Clay also performs on-site consultations, product development, sensory evaluations, contract distilling and staff educational services for distilleries nationwide.

Denaya Jones

D.C. native Denaya Jones has been in hospitality for over 14 years. Over the span of her career, an administrative position with a catering and event design company evolved into a true passion for hospitality, with a focus on cocktails and spirits.

That passion led to Deestilled: a boutique-style company, specializing in providing bespoke bar & spirits experiences.

In addition to operating Deestilled, Denaya has shaken things up in bars throughout the Washington D.C. area. She is also General Manager for craft spirits retailer, Seelbach’s, one-half of a spirit-focused podcast, Soul Palate, Board Member of D.C.-based non-profit, Chocolate City’s Best, a certified educator in spirits for WSET Global and member of Fred Minnick’s American Spirits Counsel of Tasters.

Eric Kozlik

Eric Kozlik is a spirits judge and beverage industry consultant based in the Mid-Atlantic. He is the host of The Modern Bar Cart Podcast, where he interviews leading distillers, bartenders, and authors, and the Principal Consultant at Direct Fire Consulting, where he helps spirits and hospitality brands spark consumer imaginations. He is also a passionate gardener, cook and outdoorsman.

Erlinda Doherty

Erlinda A. Doherty, is an alcohol industry consultant providing education, advisory and public affairs services to all three alcohol beverage tiers. A sommelier, wine/spirits educator, public policy professional, beverage competition judge and Global Ambassador for Mezcal, she engages with emerging and established alcohol beverage enterprises on diverse projects to make them more profitable and resilient in this dynamic industry. A frequent speaker on issues pertaining to emerging technology, alcohol health policy and diversity and gender equality, Erlinda received her Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University and a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University.

Henry Hill Jr.

Henry is an award winning bartender/mixologist who most recently won the inaugural Virginia Cocktail Games sponsored by the Virginia Spirits Board in September 2024. Over his 25+ year career he has been featured in local, state and national media including various TVappearances, Southern Living magazine, Virginia Living and The Local Palate! After working nearly every bar concept over 12 years, his “job” became a career when he was appointed lead bartender/mixologist at The Greenbrier Resort curating cocktail menus for 10 different concepts resort-wide and leading mixology classes and bourbon tastings! He currently calls Hotel Roanoke his home behind the pine – where he continues sharing his passion for life, cocktails and spirits with all who will listen!

Holly Abner

With two decades of experience in the Alcohol Beverage Industry, Holly brings a deep understanding of market trends, brand strategy and sensory evaluation to the world of spirits. As a Brand Manager at Winebow, she oversees a dynamic selection of spirits brands across the Mid-Atlantic, driving growth through strategic planning, market analysis and relationship-building with suppliers, distributors and customers.

Holly’s expertise spans category development, product positioning and consumer engagement, evaluating spirits not only for quality and craftsmanship but also for their potential impact in a competitive marketplace. Recognized with multiple industry awards, she has a passion for discovering and championing exceptional spirits, making informed, data-driven decisions and contributing to the ever-evolving world of fine beverages.

Kari Rushing

Kari grew up in Front Royal, Virginia. She earned her culinary training from L’Academie de Cuisine, and after cooking under James Beard and Michelin awarded chefs, she settled back in her hometown with her husband and two small children to open Vault & Cellar in a 120-year-old bank. She is also a Stave & Thief Society certified bourbon steward, curating the restaurant’s collection of over 300 bourbons and earning it a spot on Bourbon Review’s Best Bourbon Bars in America in 2022.

Lisa Wicker

Lisa Roper Wicker has worked in beverage alcohol production for 24 years. Wicker started in farm wine making for ten years, followed by moving to Kentucky to learn to distill. She is best known for developing Widow Jane Distillery and its purchase by Heaven Hill brands. Currently, she is consulting and lives in Bardstown, Kentucky. 

Mariève Isabel

Mariève Isabel is a wine and spirits writer, educator and the director of the Jessica Harnois Wine Club. In 2019, she co-authored Drink Local: The 100 Best Wines & Spirits from Quebec with renowned sommelier Jessica Harnois, and two years later, the pair launched the Jessica Harnois Wine Club, which now offers a rich program of online courses, workshops, and both virtual and in-person tastings. As director, Mariève designs educational programs and curates content that reflects her deep knowledge of wine, spirits and terroir. She regularly contributes to magazines, blogs and newspapers, writing articles that celebrate producers, regions and traditions from around the world, and her work often takes her abroad, where she explores vineyards and distilleries to share their stories with her readers. Mariève holds a PhD in writing and a degree in environmental sciences (Faculty of Agriculture) from McGill University, along with a WSET certification in wine.

Maggie Campbell

Maggie Campbell is the CEO of American Cane. She previously served on the Leadership Team at Mount Gay and as President and Privateer Rum. She studied distillation technology at Siebel, holds a WSET diploma in both Wine and Spirits and studied at the Institute of Masters of Wine.

Maggie Kimberl

Maggie Kimberl is the Content Editor of American Whiskey Magazine and the Co-Chair of the World Whiskies Awards. She is a freelance spirits journalist focusing on whiskey culture in the United States, though she considers herself to be ‘geographically blessed’ to live in the epicenter of the bourbon world: Louisville, Kentucky. When she’s not covering the bourbon beat, you can find her browsing through vintage vinyl with her kids or tending to her homegrown tomatoes. 

Monica Wolf

Monica is the CEO of The Blending House, where she leads the portfolio of brands, on site operations and overall business strategy. With extensive experience as a consultant in the spirits industry, she specialized in strategic advisory services for whiskey brands and distilleries, including pro forma development, sales forecasting, barrel modeling, bulk whiskey sales, and distillery/aging inventory valuations.Previously, Monica worked at Wolf Consulting, where she conducted in-depth market research, wrote white papers on the whiskey industry, developed pro formas and business plans for craft distilleries, brokered bulk whiskey sales, and supported M&A activities in the craft distillery sector. Before returning to the spirits industry, she was a senior financial analyst at Deloitte Consulting and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Monica holds a B.S. in Business Management and an M.B.A. from Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Nick Crutchfield

Nick is a veteran spirits professional with over 25 years of experience in the industry, including 15 of those years deeply rooted in Virginia. Founder at Caskproof, LLC, a Master of Whisky, BAR graduate, WSET Spirits Instructor, and former Tales of the Cocktail seminar host and CAP, he brings a wealth of expertise in spirits education, production methods, and category history to every panel he serves on. His work spans advocacy, mentorship, and brand development, all driven by a commitment to excellence and a passion for the evolving identity of American spirits. In Virginia, he plays an active role in advancing the state’s distilling community through approachable education, regional storytelling, and the cultivation of new talent.

Having traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America, he has studied global drinking cultures firsthand, drawing deep inspiration from traditional methods, local ingredients, and regional flavor profiles. These travels have not only expanded his palate but also sharpened his ability to evaluate spirits with a culturally sensitive and globally informed lens. Whether tasting mezcal in Oaxaca, aquavit in Scandinavia, or small-batch whiskey in the Blue Ridge, he approaches every judging opportunity with the same curiosity and respect for craft. His goal is to ensure that Virginia spirits are not only held to high standards but celebrated for their unique character and place in the broader world of fine spirits.

Patrick Evans-Hylton

Patrick Evans-Hylton is an award-winning food journalist covering tasty trends in Virginia and beyond since 1995. He is a food historian and author of more than a dozen books, including “Virginia Distilled: Four Centuries of Drinking in the Old Dominion.” Read him at VirginiaEatsAndDrinks.com.

Paul Hletko

Paul is the founder and distiller of FEW Spirits, which is now part of the Heaven Hill family of brands. Paul is a founding member of the American Craft Spirits Association and has previously served as president of the association. as well as a board member and chair of the ethics committee.