WHOLESALER IRON MIXOLOGIST COMPETITION WHOLESALER IRON MIXOLOGISTS NATALIA CARDENAS Beverage Development Manager Breakthru Beverage Illinois Natalia is a BAR 5-Day graduate, a Certified Spirits Specialist and has completed the Introductory Sommelier Course and Evaluation through the Court of Master Sommeliers. She has been recognized in leading spirits trade publications such as The Tasting Panel Magazine and Bar Business magazine for her industry knowledge and creativity behind the bar. Her personal philosophy and mission is to allow wine and spirits knowledge to be fun and approachable, and not intimidating because the more we learn about the terroir, geography and production of wine and spirits, the more we realize that the tapestry of our human history can be told through them. As former President of the Illinois chapter of the United States Bartender s Guild and current Beverage Development Manager at Breakthru Beverage, Natalia is a dedicated industry champion, committed to educating the trade and giving them the tools to succeed. In her spare time, she volunteers with ChicagoCares, is on the board at her local Toastmasters Club and is a proud member of the Professional Women s Club of Chicago.
STEVE FETTE Craft Spirit Development Specialist Allied Beverage Group, LLC Steve Fette brings over a decade s worth of bar experience to the WSWA Iron Mixologist Competition this year. Steve has personified what it means to be a well-rounded member of the restaurant, bar, and hospitality industry. From his humble beginnings as a bottle-flipping flair TGI Friday s bartender, to his role as head bartender and bar manager of Verve in Somerville, NJ, and most recently, Steve has traded in his shakers and strainers for a new career with Allied Beverage New Jersey as their Craft Spirits Development Specialist. Amongst his accolades, Steve is the 2016 winner of NJ s Iron Shaker Mixologist competition, and a back-toback regional finalist for the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience. In addition Steve is a certified Spirit Professional with the USBG and currently serves as the Secretary of the USBG-Central NJ chapter. He has spent over 8 years with Ultimate Beverage Challenge as a back-of-house associate. TROY CLARKE, SP, B.A.R. READY Director of Mixology & Spirits Education Martignetti Companies Troy Clarke is the Director of Mixology and Education, Martignetti Companies and Co-Owner of Twelve24 Cocktails. He also served as President of the United States Bartenders Guild, Boston Chapter (2011-2014). He brings over 20 years of experience in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry; ranging from time behind the bar, to years of Executive, Food & Beverage Management, and countless hours of continued education in the field. As the Founder & Co-Owner of Twelve24 Cocktails, Clarke sets out to create thoughtfully designed and carefully crafted apparel and tools for bartenders and industrial professionals. Prior to Martignetti, Clarke held numerous leadership titles including Director of Food & Beverage, Banquets Director and Director of Outlets at various well respected hospitality companies including; Sonesta Collection, The Ritz-Carlton, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Marcus Hotels & Resorts, among others. Troy s passion for the beverage industry grew through his many years working in restaurants, serving people across the country. His drive to continually learn and share his knowledge has led him to completing the 5 day BAR program in NYC along with Spirit Certification with the United States Bartenders Guild, and various wine certifications with Court of Masters and International Sommelier Guild. With an affinity for high quality ingredients and the total creativity that recipe design allows, Troy loves both creating original cocktails as well as cultivating the classics. As Director of Mixology for Martignetti, his passion and experience serves establishments throughout New England. Troy provides inspired and tailored cocktail design, and professional bartender training to take any account to the next level of total service and efficiency.
JESSE CORTEZ Mixologist Northeast Sales Distributing Jesse The Bougie Bartender Cortez was raised in Philadelphia, PA by his mother with his little brother and sister. Jesse s passion for music, art and food is inspired by his mother and is a major influence on the drinks he creates. Jesse has been working in the industry for 17 years and behind the bar for almost 11 years. TIKI TREY JENKINS National Account Mixologist Republic National Distributing Company Tiki Trey Jenkins is the National Account Mixologist for Republic National Distributing Company responsible for developing Beverage Menus and Programs across the U.S. Through ongoing education and experimentation, creating hand crafted cocktails, and advanced hands on staff trainings, Trey has revived the art of the cocktail and takes pride in teaching others how to stir up and elevate their Beverage Programs. Trey is able to create winning cocktails that are concept driven and the result of true passion and imagination. Trey started his career at one of the top craft cocktail bars in Texas, Péché, where he was able to move into the role of Bar Manager within a year. While working at Péché, he started a weekly Tiki Night that earned him the moniker Tiki Trey which led to opening their sister tropical bar, Isla. MICHAEL PRZYDZIAL Beverage Program Specialist AB, WSET Level 2 Wine & Spirits, BAR Advanced, CBS Southern Glazer s Wine and Spirits of Nevada Michael joined the Southern Glazer s Wine & Spirits of Nevada as Beverage Program Specialist in 2015. Prior to this, he spent several years developing beverage hospitality programs across the Las Vegas market and fulfilling a longstanding dream of working with some of the best in the beverage hospitality world. Since joining SGWS Michael has educated and developed numerous beverage programs throughout the Nevada market. He has furthered his personal education and achieved certifications from the prestigious Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits, and Sake Level 1 from the Southern Glazer s Academy of Sake in Nevada.
CASEY WALLIN Mixologist Young s Market Company Casey Wallin is the Mixologist for Young s Market Company in Arizona. After spending 10 years in the fashion industry as a global makeup artist for MAC cosmetics, he was ready for a change. He knew that he needed to be doing something that was highly creative and art driven but wasn t sure what that was just yet. Casey got a job bartending to pay for and allow the schedule flexibility to support his traveling habit. Little did he know that he would fall in love with spirits, cocktails and the whole hospitality industry at large. Casey moved to New York City in hopes of expanding his knowledge and to increase the competition level, so he could grow faster. His career and further education in NYC started at Hakkasan where he wrote the spirit bible and helped to create the classics section of the menu. In 2012 Casey won GQ and Bombay Sapphire s most imaginative bartender for New York and took second place in the national competition in Las Vegas. That same year he won the Bacardi Legacy competition for New York and took second runner up in the national finals in Miami. In 2013 he was a top 5 National finalist for Cochon US tour Pig and Punch competition. In 2014 he was a top five finalist for the JP Wiser Rye competition, and was back as a top ten finalist for the Bacardi Legacy national finals in New York City. During his time in New York City his cocktails were featured in many publications including Zagat, A.M. New York, Town & Country (top 20 summer cocktails), Thirstynyc.com, Thrillist, Tasting Table NYC, NY Times, Village Voice, and Market Watch magazine. Since 2015 Casey has been working for Young s Market Company as resource for the sales team, consulting their accounts on all things cocktail related. This platform has provided the opportunity for Casey to complete over 400 cocktail menus impacting the industry through mentorship, trend setting, and product education.