Top beverage executives from across the country met up in Dallas for the 2013 Cheers Beverage Conference Feb. 12-13. The comprehensive program, targeted sessions and intimate venue made for a fun and educational networking event. Here’s a quick look at some of the action.
LEFT: Bar stars including King Cocktail Dale DeGroff, left, and the Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, center, suit up for the CBC’s Mad Men-themed reception.
RIGHT: Cheers to a well-made cocktail!
Attendees of the Cheers Editorial Advisory Board meeting. First row from left: Sarah Longwell, managing director, American Beverage Institute; Larry McGinn, partner, iMi Agency; Melissa Dowling, Editor, Cheers; Doug Draper, director of adult beverage & concept development, HMS Host; Glenn Schmitt, president, MarkeTeam; Cindy Busi, worldwide beverage director, Hard Rock Cafe International; David Brown, vice president of operations support/beverage, Houlihan’s Restaurants Inc.; Naomi Celaire-Hettema, beverage manager, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Second row from left: Kip Snider, director of beverage, Yard House Restaurants; Ken Lennox, director of beverage, Ruby Tuesday; Wesley Cort, director, restaurant and beverage, Norwegian Cruise Line; Ron Wichowski, director of operations, Marriott Hartford Downtown; George Barton, principal, George Barton Innovations; Mike Hanley, beverage director, Tavistock Restaurants; Daniel Hoffman, beverage director, equipment & beverage specifications, Marriott International.
LEFT: The Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, author of the just-published Vodka Distilled, leads CBC attendees in a vodka tasting/vodka cocktails session.
RIGHT: Steele Platt, the founder of Yard House Restaurants, delivers an engrossing and inspiring CBC keynote detailing his ups and downs in the industry.
Cheers executive vice president/group publisher Charlie Forman, left, and Cheers editor Melissa Dowling, right, with Cindy Busi, worldwide beverage director, Hard Rock Cafe International, winner of the 2013 Beverage Excellence Award for Best Chain Overall Beverage Program.
CBC attendees share ideas and strategies at the round robin sessions.
LEFT: Dallas Bar Star Jason Kosmas mixes up some magic.
RIGHT: Mixologist Adam Seger gets his craft cocktail on.
