Food Connected

Renie Anderson

Renie Anderson was named by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President, NFL Partnerships in March of 2019. As the Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President, NFL Partnerships, Renie oversees the League’s partnership divisions, including sponsorship, new business, consumer products, and media sales. A few key partners include, Pepsi, Microsoft, P&G, Verizon, Bose, Nike, New Era, EA, etc. The Partner Management group identifies open categorie...

Courtney Carter

A highly respected leader within the sports, media, and entertainment landscape, Courtney Carter has built a prodigious reputation by realizing the value within the breadth and depth of her experience across industries.  With over 20 years of proven success in the NBA/WNBA, MLS, ESPN, CAA, and her own Carter Media Group (CMG), she has helped drive over $250M in revenue and packaged, sold or produced multiple campaigns, shows and films.   Twice named a top entertainment executive by Business...

Rob Thompson

Rob has a 30+ year career in grassroots, professional and college athletics, media, and family entertainment along with several startups and a few start overs.  He returned to his alma mater in 2016 after a startup exit to lead a $20MM Athletic Fundraising Campaign for facilities and upgrade to FCS.  He's authored “Land A Dream Job If Dad Doesn't Own The Team" an Amazon Best Selling Sports Business New Book release in 2018, and published Second Edition " Sports Dream Job Playbook".  Rob i...

Kristen Kuliga

Kristen has worked in the sports and entertainment industry for over 20 years. She has been called the leading female sports agent in the US, having represented more than a hundred NFL players. Kristen was the first woman to negotiate a starting NFL quarterback’s contract, Doug Flutie’s $33 million contract with the Chargers. She also has extensive experience leading marketing and endorsement efforts for many NFL, NBA and MLB players. Her ability to leverage these relationships into real bus...

Russ Spielman

A founder and principal of GSE Worldwide (known as TLA Worldwide (TLA) until January 2019).  TLA was formed through the merger of The Agency Sports Management (TASM) which he co-founded in 2004, The Legacy Group and Peter Greenberg and Associates in 2011. Spielman leads the talent marketing and broadcasting divisions for GSE working with elite personalities including Bo Jackson, Steve Young, Jaylen Waddle, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner & Nick Mangold.  In addition, Spielman works...

Lowell Taub

After a 24-year career representing some of the biggest stars in sports, Taub returned to his entrepreneurial roots and launched Stoked in 2020. Taub represents a roster of Olympic, Action Sports and Iconic athletes including the best skateboarder (Nyjah Huston), snowboarder (Chloe Kim) and surfer (John John Florence) in the world. Taub focuses on creating “off-the-field” revenue opportunities for his clients including endorsement, appearance, social media, licensing, and equity/ownership pa...

Alan Phillips

Alan Philips, REEF’s Chief Creative Officer, is a creative executive, entrepreneur, writer, & speaker specializing in guiding & inspiring individuals and organizations on the path to discovering their purpose & unlocking their creative potential. Alan has over two decades of experience in hospitality, food & beverage, real estate, and entrepreneurship, working with some of the world’s most recognized organizations, people, and brands. Alan’s career began with a culinary stage with chef Wolfg...

Steve Herz

Steve Herz is President of The Montag Group, a sports and entertainment talent and marketing consultancy. He is also a career advisor to CEOs, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and young professionals. Prior to joining TMG, Steve was the President and Founding Partner of IF Management, an industry leader whose broadcasting division became one of the largest in the space, representing over 200 television and radio personalities. The agency represents some of the biggest names in sports and news media, ...

Will Steinberg

Will Steinberg is the Co-President and Co-Founder of Zinc Agency. Zinc is an agency focused on curating creative, one-of-a-kind experiences both virtually and in-person that leverage the power of talent in sports, music, fashion, the culinary world, theater, and any of life’s other passions. Prior to starting Zinc Agency, Will was a Co-founder of Goviva which was acquired by Creative Artists Agency and later became CAA / EBG Premium Experience. When not quarantining in the Catskills, Will re...

Nick Mangold

Nick Mangold is a former American football center. He played college football at Ohio State, and was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Mangold was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection with the Jets and a three-time All-Pro selection, and was considered to be among the best at his position. Off the field he supports a number of local and national charitable organizations including “Answer The Call” which supports the families of fallen New York Police, Fire & T...

Naomi Leslie and Tracie Franklin

With everyone spending more time at home these days, we know many of you have been perfecting your cocktail (or just plain boozing) skills. So today we have an extra special spirituous episode featuring two ladies of whiskey - Naomi Leslie, East Coast Brand Ambassador for Balvenie, and Tracie Franklin, Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich. Naomi Leslie After years of honing her skills in the bartending and craft cocktail industry in New York, Naomi Leslie joined The Balvenie as the east coast ...

Morgan Margolis

From growing up within a dedicated show business household to becoming the CEO of an ever-expanding organization with over 20 + years of Hospitality and Entertainment experience, Morgan Margolis has been on a long journey that continues to move forward and upward.  At the beginning of 2000, Margolis signed with Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE) as Operations Manager at the newly opened Knitting Factory Club in Los Angeles. At the time, KFE’s enterprises included only the Hollywood venue,...

Akhtar Nawab

With the recent economic and health crisis and outbreak of coronavirus, on this episode with Chef Akhtar Nawab we discuss the fate of our industry, what actions need to be taken immediately, and how brands/companies can help support their favorite restaurants, bars, and chefs. Akhtar Nawab is chef and owner of Alta Calidad in New York, advisor at Prather’s on the Alley in D.C. and Otra Vez in New Orleans. With nearly 25 years of experience in the kitchen, the Kentucky-born chef of Indian ...

Clay Conley and Zach Bell

Chef Clay Conley has worked his way around the kitchen since he started washing dishes as a teenager. Raised on 30 acres in rural Maine, in a 19th century home heated only by wood fire, Conley’s childhood was defined by chopping wood, tending to farm animals and a garden, and planting a 1000-tree orchard, which instilled his love of fresh, seasonal ingredients and the full-flavored, wood fired dishes that have become his signature as a chef. Conley moved to Boston after college to work for ...

Joe Flamm

Winner of Bravo's Top Chef Season 15, Joe will open his debut restaurant in the Chicago’s Fulton Market, summer 2020. The menu will focus on Adriatic drinking food from Croatia and Italy.  Most recently, Joe worked as Executive Chef at Chicago's Michelin-starred Spiaggia and Cafe Spiaggia for 5.5 years. There, he cooked and learned alongside the one-and-only Chef Tony Mantuano, aka the Godfather of Italian fine-dining in America, who’s forever family.  Prior to Spiaggia, Joe worked in othe...

Jonathon Sawyer

An old world German chef was the best thing to happen to Jonathon Sawyer. Back in the early 2000’s Sawyer found himself in engineering school staring at an auto-cad program on a computer screen every day and cooking in a local Dayton Ohio restaurant every night. The Chef, staunch in his stubborn ways one day came to Sawyer and said in his thick German accent “you, you are good at cooking.” Surprised & enamored with praise coming from his surly German boss he realized engineering school wasn’...

Margo Sechler

Like her father, Bell & Evans Owner Scott Sechler, Margo grew up on her family’s farm, helping raise chickens and learning the family business from a young age. Passionate about helping others, Margo received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Penn State University. She has worked in emergency services as an ambulance EMT and emergency room nurse, and she currently volunteers as a Firefighter/EMT with the local fire company. “I worked hard to earn my nursing license, and I think it’s ...

Richard Blais

Blais currently owns and operates Trail Blais, a forward-thinking culinary company that has consulted on, designed, and operated multiple popular eateries. He is a partner at San Diego’s acclaimed restaurant Juniper & Ivy and multiple locations of The Crack Shack, his rapidly expanding fried chicken and egg concept. Most recently, Trail Blais opened Yellowbelly, an island-inspired seafood restaurant, in St. Louis. Blais is the James Beard Award-nominated author of Try This at Home: Recipes ...

Tony Rodriguez

Tony Rodriguez is the Director of Marketing for the Four Seasons Palm Beach. A true brand veteran, Tony’s career with Four Seasons spans nearly twenty-four years and has placed him at many notable properties.  Tony is a humble leader and consistently recognized for his sharp business acumen and keen ability to inspire and develop top performing teams. Tony's Four Seasons journey started as a college recruit through the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality.  His first operational ro...

Adam Richman

TV personality, culinary traveler, cook and author, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. With the diverse culinary mecca of New York City at his fingertips, Adam’s love affair with and intense interest in food and food culture developed at an early age. Though originally he was most widely known as the host of Travel Channel’s “Man V. Food,” Adam’s résumé has since expanded to include host and co-executive producer of five titles across Travel Channel (“Man V. Food Nation,” “Adam Richm...

David Sabin

...and we're back! Welcome to Season 2 of Food Connected! Kicking off our new season is David Sabin, Festival Organizer of Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival and President of Brickhouse PR & Special Events (and a recent new Dad!). With a background in design and public relations for local, national and international brands, David created Brickhouse Public Relations & Special Events to provide a unique experience and unlimited opportunities for clients. As a passionate foodie, David is the organ...

Kris Moon

Kris Moon is the Chief Operating Officer for the James Beard Foundation, a national culinary non-profit focused on Good Food For Good™.  During his tenure, Moon has been responsible for spearheading the strategic planning and launch of the JBF Impact Programs which focus on engaging the culinary community in food policy advocacy. Before moving up the ranks to COO, Moon has held several positions at JBF including: VP; Senior Director, Strategy and Development; Director of Charitable Giving ...

Carl Mittleman

Carl Mittleman is president of Aramark’s Sports and Entertainment division. In this role he provides leadership for more than 120 premier stadiums, arenas, convention centers and cultural attraction venues across North America where Aramark provides award-winning food and beverage, retail service and facility service programs. As president, Mittleman engages with leaders across Aramark in the key areas of healthcare, education, leisure, and corporate dining services.    Mittleman has over 2...

Randy Fisher

Randall C. Fisher is the President and Founder of Culinary Related Entertainment and Marketing, LLC. As far back as he can remember, Randy was focused on hospitality and guest experience.  “I remember as a kid having friends over and creating buffet lunches complete with separate hot and cold stations.  Most of my friends had no clue what I was doing, but it made me feel good to be doing something special for them.  I also remember making an incredible mess, but they never saw that part.”  A...

Dave Hardie

Dave Hardie is a member of The Revelry Group, a Certified B Corporation that creates shared value for companies in the food, beverage and hospitality sectors. As Vice President, Sales and a Managing Partner of Revelry Foods, LLC., Dave leads the creation and expansion of their innovative product solutions initiative by launching the liquid dairy, shelf stable, start-up business. The launch of “Yay! Milk” (www.yaybeverages.com) includes Strategy Development, Business Development, Product Deve...

Herb Karlitz

Herb Karlitz is the President & Founder of Karlitz & Company. From when he was 5-years old and played the drums and did the twist with ‘50s entertainer Chubby Checker, Herb knew he was destined for a life in entertainment. Little did he know that his passion would later take him to law school (he’s also an entertainment lawyer), after graduating from New York University.   Over the course of the next 14 years, he rose through the ranks of worldwide public relations firm Burson-Marsteller to ...

Andrew Chason

Andrew Chason is Head of CAA’s Culinary Department, which represents many of the world’s most influential chefs and tastemakers, including Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez, Martha Stewart, Carla Hall, Roy Choi, Christina Tosi, Grant Achatz, Katie Lee, Ted Allen, and Curtis Stone.  Additionally, CAA Culinary leverages it’s deep relationships and influence to create and produce buzz-worthy food-forward experiences on behalf of corporate brands, as well as advising brands on how to tap into the pow...

Brett Friedman

Brett Friedman, is the co-founder & Managing Partner of Agency 21 Consulting (a21), a Miami and New York based Experiential Marketing firm that specializes in Event Management, Production, Corporate Sponsorship, Strategic Marketing and Brand Consulting. a21’s primary focus is to assist clients, partners, companies and non-profit organizations create and manage dynamic special events, while achieving maximum return on investment for corporate sponsors.  Founded in 2006, a21 has developed into...

Brady Lowe

Today's episode features Brady Lowe, founder of Taste Network and Cochon 555. Taste Network began in 2002, Cochon555 in 2008 and Brady created anchor celebrations at The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Toronto Food & Wine Festival and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The portfolio includes the ground-up creation and cultivation of the festivals: Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival, PeachFest and Mags For Ag; in addition to hosting Kosta Browne’s 20th Anniversary Party that raised over $100,000 for local...

Naeemah Leonard

Senior Brand Manager, Cultural Strategy & Events at Rémy Martin, Naeemah Leonard is responsible for cultivating strategic collaborations with media, influencers, celebrities, and other partners across relevant cultural pillars: music, film, fashion, culinary, and sports. Additionally, Naeemah spearheads the “Producer Series”, a national music platform which highlights the art of making music. Debuting in its 5th season, the program is designed to discover and celebrate emerging music produce...

Charles Duque

Charles Duque is currently Managing Director, Americas for CNIEL based in New York, NY.  He also oversees the French Cheese Board, a retail and event space for promoting French cheeses in New York City. For over two years, Charles’ main objective is to serve as the point of contact for the French cheese companies in the American continent and inform them of actions to promote their products as well as working with implementing agencies executing information provision and promotion measures ...

Sara Kotcher

Sara Kotcher currently serves as the manager of Culinary Programming & Business Development for KAABOO LLC. She handles the talent buying for the PALATE Stage, featuring nationally acclaimed chefs. She has grown KAABOO’s culinary vendor and talent program from a small portion to a major amenity of this show. KAABOO currently has three music festivals annually, in San Diego, Grand Cayman Islands, and Dallas. KAABOO is a new kind of entertainment and arts experience designed around comfort and...

Adam Hanft

This week Lonny speaks with Adam Hanft, CEO of Hanft Projects, a globally-known expert in marketing strategy, branding and messaging; he is also a prolific cultural critic and journalist. This combination of skills and experiences represents the confluence of disciplines that define the future of marketing. Adam sits on the board of two public companies, Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG) and 1800Flowers (NASDAQ: FLWS); he also has a non-Board role at SMG as Chief Brand and Creative Adviser .  ...

Lana Trevisan

During this week's episode, Lonny speaks with Lana Trevisan, Vice President of Restaurants, Bars and Nightlife for Two Roads Hospitality. She currently oversees 20 hotels and resorts, and has successfully opened several notable Two Roads properties, including Chicago Athletic Association, Thompson Playa Del Carmen and The Beekman.  Prior to her tenure at Two Roads Hospitality, Trevisan was Corporate Food and Beverage Director of Gansevoort Hotel Group, where she managed all aspects of Food a...

DeLu Jackson

In this episode, Lonny speaks with DeLu Jackson, Vice President of Precision Marketing at Conagra Brands. DeLu leads the company’s marketing transformation and demand acceleration through increased data intelligence, agility, always-on content and dynamic measurement. He is responsible for various facets of integrated marketing for the organization, including design, advertising, media, e-commerce, agile content and consumer data. DeLu has over 20 years of marketing experience with well-kno...

Matthew Lalin

This week's episode features Matthew Lalin, founder of starpower, an entertainment marketing agency that connects brands with entertainment, sport, music, fashion, beauty talent, influencers and content. Matt launched starpower from the ground up with his long time colleague and friend Jared Weiss. By leveraging his extensive network of relationships, Matt created a trustworthy, dynamic and unique entertainment marketing agency that “flipped” the model on its head. After graduating from the...

Welcome from Lonny Sweet!

Peter Flesvig

In this episode, Lonny speaks with Peter Flesvig, VP, Customer Engagement at Intersport.  Peter specializes in building value added partnerships between brands and retailers. He also leads Intersport’s culinary activation platform, inclusive of a multi-year partnership with the James Beard Foundation. Prior to Intersport, Peter’s career included a diverse set of consulting, strategy and sales roles in the CPG industry. Notably, that experience included 15+ years in sales with PepsiCo where h...

Jeff Fernandez

In this episode Lonny speaks with Jeff Fernandez, VP Corporate Partnerships and New Business Ventures with the New York Jets. In his 15th year with the Jets, Jeff is responsible for leading the partnership sales team that creates strategic corporate alliances, driving revenue for the organization and developing new business ventures and innovative projects that enhance Jets fan engagement.  Fernandez previously served as director of marketing partnerships for the Buffalo Bills from 1999-200...