The Alexi Cashen Podcast

Liz Willette Danneels is the Sales Manager and Sale Boulder at the Natural Wine Company, Colorado’s leading distributor of fine wine made naturally.

Prior to moving to Boulder a few years ago, Liz was a partner in Grand Cru Selections based in New York, an incredible importer of old world wines.

Eva Zorad is the New Jersey Sales Representative and National Sales Liaison of BonHomie Wine Imports, a company who is passionate about people and their stories. They work with wine makers with smaller estates of about 8-hectares who have generations of experience and knowledge in traditional wine making partnered with the newest innovations, and who offer impeccable wine.

Eva was also the co-founder of September Wines & Spirits and worked there for eight years. Eva moved to West Orange, New Jersey, where she connected with BonHomie and is now in charge of their New Jersey portfolio.

Marisa Brown is the Los Angeles Sales Representative at Nomadic Distribution LLC, an import and distribution company that brings in bottles of alcoholic beverages from the coast of Morocco to the backcountry of San Diego, to the hills of France, and the heel of the boot.

Marisa is also a Certified Sommelier who is driven by bringing enjoyment to hospitality. Through several years of experience in the many aspects of hospitality, she has developed the skills of interpersonal communication, strong leadership, multitasking, organization, personnel relations, and crisis management.

Gretchen Pen is a Sales and Marketing Representative from Vintage ‘59 Imports, a company who looks for wines with depth of fruit, length and elegance, rather than for obtrusive oak, over-extraction, or excessive alcohol. They focus on the rich relationships that spring from the community of growers, instead of just the commercial imperative and look for people who share sensibilities, and that makes them as important as the wine they produce. Their rule is simple: work with people who make you proud and whose wine you drink at home.

Gretchen attended the University of San Diego on swimming scholarships and has earned degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies. She got into sales at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco where she was introduced to the V59 book. She interned under winemark Ed Kurtzman at the August West Winery and started at Vintage ‘59 in 2013.

Josie Zeiger is the New York City Sales Representative for MFW Wine Co., a wine distribution company representing producers that strive to make real, terroir-driven wines. MFW Wine Co. operates out of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. 

When you say someone’s a ‘natural,’ you’d be talking about Kate Cornelius-Schecter and her lifetime love for wine. She’s the Chicago Sales Representative for the Selection Massale, importers of natural wines from small wineries. 

After quitting her acting career to pursue her passion for wine, she started her wine sales career at Red & White in Chicago. That passion became more intense after she had the privilege of learning about winemaking from producers. She’s thrilled to be representing natural wine producers, selling their unique wines, and sharing their incredible stories.

Meghan Caiazzo is the Executive Vice President of Sales at Palomar Beverage Company. She is a fervent entrepreneur that owns and runs four distribution companies in Texas, Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona.

Meghan is also a Certified Sommelier and Sales Maven with a simple philosophy, ‘find the best customers, and sell them the best wines

Aaron Sherman is the co-founder and CEO of SevenFifty, the beverage alcohol industry’s innovative marketplace and communications platform that helps importers, producers, distributors, and retail buyers connect and do business in the modern world.

Aaron also runs SevenFifty Daily, an online magazine about the business and culture of the beverage alcohol industry.

Harmon Skurnik is the President of Skurnik Wines, an importer and distributor of fine wines and spirits headquartered in the heart of New York City.

Harmon has been the President of Skurnik Wines since he joined his brother, Michael, at the company in 1989 to run the now 33-year-old successful fine wine and spirits importation and distribution company.