Experience

Flywheel Strategic Partners

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder/CEO

  • Jul 2022 - Present

  We build world class go to market strategies for start ups and high growth brands. Flywheel combines over 25 years’ experience that helps brands achieve long term sustainable growth by utilizing proven methods and approaches to ensure brands are growing at an accelerated rate. Flywheel is a partnership with Ken Young, who is the successful founder of Basecamp consulting, along with several trusted advisors across multiple disciplines. Our core focus is in the beer, wine and spirits, natural food and beverage, and cannabis space. We offer: -Go to market Strategy – Plan to get your brand into the right accounts where your consumers shop - Organizational Design – Sales team structure, development, and performance management -Route to Market and Pricing – Establishing distributor and chain plans, with pricing models -Mentoring and Training – Fractional CRO help – a one stop shop for all your strategy and organizational needs Please check us out for additional details on our services, we look forward to helping you build your brand and business. https://goflywheel.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/goflywheel/ john@goflywheel.co Show less



Flow Cannabis Co.

• United States
• Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)

  • Feb 2021 - Feb 2022

  Set and implemented the company’s strategic vision across sales, marketing, and product innovation and worked with fellow C-Suite leadership to revitalize California’s top cannabis brand ($30M) post-Covid. Implemented company-wide process improvements, innovative strategies, and realigned operations to achieve the company’s mission. Highlights of my accomplishments include: • Led efforts to segment accounts, built forecasts, and tracked success against key metrics, analytics, and scorecards to ensure sustainable growth and revenue goals. Achieved highest revenue growth over a 6-month lag. • Orchestrated the launch of the company’s most successful new brand by defining priorities for sales and marketing and crafting a strategy that highlighted the brand’s core message. • Recruited and trained a marketing team of 7 and was recognized with 3 Clio Cannabis awards in 2021 for marketing excellence. Show less



Drake's Brewing Company

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President Sales and Marketing

  • Nov 2015 - Feb 2021

  I was recruited to accelerate sales strategy and deployment resulting in enhanced business growth, market share, and revenue. Capitalized on opportunities to own the regional craft beer space and identify and execute national rollout. Highlights of my accomplishments include: • Achieved the #1 independent craft growth in the grocery segment for 3 consecutive years within the Bay Area. • Revamped sales team performance by quickly gaining trust and credibility, establishing accountability, and taking risks which led to achieving the fastest-growing craft brand in Northern California while doubling the business in under 4 years. • Enhanced brand recognition within the segment with new releases, accurate pricing, correct messaging, and a legacy consumer-focused brand refresh. Show less



Anchor Brewing Company

• United States
• Food & Beverages
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Vice President - Sales

  • Sep 2010 - Aug 2015

  Member of leadership team involved with all aspects of business with primary focus on sales and marketing. Directly responsible for all aspects and strategy of Anchor Brewing Company sales. From a total team of three sales and marketing members with a declining brand in 2010, built strategy, recruited a 32 member team, and called on distributors and accounts resulting in 4 straight years of exceeding revenue targets. Developed portfolio strategy and launch plans for Anchor California Lager, Anchor IPA, Variety Packs and other smaller initiative brands that provide over 25% of company sales volume and revenue in 2014. Steered Anchor into being the fastest growing craft brand in the Northern California food channel, and increased national distribution over 50% in four years. Number one draft brand in San Francisco in 2014 from 4th in 2010. Show less



Bacardi

• Bermuda
• Wine & Spirits
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior National Account Manager

  • Nov 2008 - Sep 2010

  Sole accountability for all aspects of largest national account in the U.S. for Bacardi (over 221,000 cases). Responsible for increasing value share, distribution, ad and promotional frequency, and directing analytics team while attaining alignment with all national distributors and Bacardi personnel. In first fiscal year led Bacardi in dollar value share vs. other national chains on Grey Goose (+5.06), Dewar’s (+1.04), Bacardi (+.08) and Bombay Sapphire (+.19), resulting in being the number one value creation chain in the company. During targeted marketing periods, increased ad and programming activity by +16 ads and 3 additional programs within first year, while remaining under budget.  Attained over 2,000 new distribution points on new items and expansion of current portfolio. Show less



Miller Brewing Company

• Food & Beverages
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Regional Sales Manager

  • May 2005 - Nov 2008

  Accountable for all aspects of business including distributor planning, pricing, strategy, chain, and manpower deployment. Direct sales team consisting of Unit Sales Manager, Distributor Sales Managers, analysts and a Chain Sales Manager who manages NorCal/Nevada On and Off-Premise CAMS. In 2007 grew volume 9% on entire portfolio while exceeding direct contribution financial goals (delivered 48 million dollars in marginal contribution vs. goal of 47 million). Off and On-premise chains +337,000 cases (+11.1%) vs. 2006 vs. goal of +290,000 (+1.7%). Distribution goals - all 11 broad market distribution goals attained (7 at stretch), all 8 chain KPI’s met (7 at stretch).  Launched two new brands in market (Chill, MGD64) gaining distribution in over 77% of chains and independents while exceeding volume plans on each. Led creation and implementation of Peroni and Pilsner Urquell national rollout plans for west coast target markets resulting in all targeted distribution goals surpassed and volume and case profitability goals exceeded. Show less