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Why Mentors Matter

Why Mentors Matter

Ready to get focused quickly, take more confident action, and create stronger outcomes than you would on your own?

If you’re sorting through questions like which channels are right for your brand, how to sell more units into the right stores, approach buyers effectively, adapt your supply chain for eComm and DTC, or reach profitability sooner—you’re not alone.

That’s where the Emerge Global Mentor Community comes in.

You’ll connect with talented CPG leaders who know what it takes to scale. Get the right guidance, the right tools, and the right intros to move your business forward—without wasted time or costly missteps.

Stop guessing.
Make the right moves.
Get better outcomes than you can imagine.

Emerge Global Mentor Network

Robert Berg

Data Analytics Strategist

Leverages data and insights to help CPG brands develop and validate their strategies for growth, across distribution, velocity, new product development and raising capital.

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Robert Berg
Data Analytics Strategist
You deserve more thoughtful, customized approach to your business needs. I know how to leverages data and insights to help CPG brands develop and validate their strategies for growth, distribution, velocity, new product development, and raising capital. If you are ready to move forward, I will create a simple plan to help you see how can get actionable insights. Contact me at robt.berg@iridescentdata.com.

Kim Biddle

Influencer & Digital Marketing Expert

Experienced in Sales, Partnership and Influencer Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Online Marketing, and Digital Marketing.

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Kim Biddle
Influencer & Digital Marketing Expert
Experienced in Sales, Partnership and Influencer Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Online Marketing, and Digital Marketing.

Bryan Bootka

Sales & Broker Relations Advisor

Expertise in Sales Management and Broker Support.

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Bryan Bootka
Sales & Broker Relations Advisor
A Qualified VP of Sales for a Fraction of the Cost. Early-stage CPG founders deserve a proven leader even with a startup budget. We understand how precious your time and money are and want to help you scale sustainably!

Kelly Bottenfield

Sales & Business Development Advisor

Provides coaching on various market strategies including specialty, conventional, club, and food service.

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Kelly Bottenfield
Sales & Business Development Advisor
Kelly Bottenfield is an accomplished sales professional with the proven ability to help emerging brands with advisement in the following areas: sales and distributor management, purchasing management, broker and team management, merchandising, and marketing. Kelly brings expertise in diverse areas of natural grocery, conventional, club, c-store/drug, e-comm and foodservice. She has been instrumental in achieving record growth in saturated markets with her decisive leadership skills.

Todd Brantley

Private Business Banking

Financial Advisor to early-stage CPG founders. Advising on pros and cons of various financing products and raising capital strategies.

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Todd Brantley
Private Business Banking
Financial Advisor to early-stage CPG founders. Advising on pros and cons of various financing products and raising capital strategies.

Dexter Burgess

SEO Expert

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) • Search Engine Marketing (SEM) • Digital Marketing • Market Research & Analytics • Content Marketing • Performance Marketing

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Dexter Burgess
SEO Expert
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) • Search Engine Marketing (SEM) • Digital Marketing • Market Research & Analytics • Content Marketing • Performance Marketing

Allison Condra

Lawyer & Regulatory Advisor

Counsels clients on regulatory issues and federal labeling laws facing the food, beverage, and restaurant industries.

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Allison Condra
Lawyer & Regulatory Advisor
Alli concentrates her practice on regulatory issues facing the food, beverage, and restaurant industries. She represents clients in matters with the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as state-and local-level food and agriculture agencies, specifically as it relates to food safety and food labeling and marketing issues. She counsels clients on compliance with local, state, and federal labeling laws, including nutrition labeling, menu labeling, genetically-engineered food labeling, and country of origin labeling. Alli helps clients understand litigation and government-enforcement risks associated with various claims made on their labels and labeling, particularly in the “clean label” space. Alli advises clients on food safety matters. This work includes helping clients understand their obligations under the various food safety laws, assisting clients in creating compliant food safety policies and procedures, and counseling clients through food safety enforcement and litigation matters. Prior to joining DWT, Alli was a fellow at Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic. She has her J.D. from Drake University and her LL.M. from the University of Arkansas, both with concentrations in food and agricultural law.

Matt Cotton

Foodservice broker

Strategic foodservice broker partner to emerging brands

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Matt Cotton
Foodservice broker
Strategic foodservice broker partner to emerging brands

Brian Curry

CPG Executive Search Expert

Executive search firm helping emerging brands secure exceptional talent for growth.

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Brian Curry
CPG Executive Search Expert
Brian is a Founder and Managing Partner of Fairfield Partners Executive Search and has led the firm’s natural food & beverage practice since 2005. He has completed assignments for roles that include CEO, all top-level executive functions, and key sales, marketing, finance, and operations assignments with many iconic natural brands in the space, starting with Bear Naked and KIND Snacks early on and recently with companies that include The a2 Milk Company, Angie's, BrightFarms, Fast Bar, Jack & Annie's, Jovial Foods, Maya Kaimal, NuTrail, Tasty Bite, UNREAL, YumEarth, Zesty Paws, and many others. Brian and his team focus on emerging brands – often with revenues of $0-$10MM and most have less than $50MM. Fairfield Partners can help emerging companies develop a successful plan for their critical hiring needs, including guidance on building the right spec, sharing compensation metrics, best interview practices, and how to best showcase your business and hire the right candidate! They stand behind every search they conduct with a one-year guarantee. If for any reason, the selected candidate does not stay with the hiring company for one year, Fairfield Partners will do a replacement search for no additional fee.

Jessyca Dewey

Digital marketing, content and social media.

Digital marketing strategy, content and social media for social change. Ex-VaynerMedia and Demand Media.

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Jessyca Dewey
Digital marketing, content and social media.
Digital marketing strategy, content and social media for social change. Ex-VaynerMedia and Demand Media.

Joe Dickson

Food Industry Standards & Policy Expert

Expert in organic and sustainable agriculture systems, food labeling and certification.

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Joe Dickson
Food Industry Standards & Policy Expert
Joe Dickson is Merryfield’s Co-Founder and Head of Standards & Policy. A leading advocate for natural and organic products as well as organic agriculture and integrity in food labeling for the past two decades, Joe is an expert on clean labels. Before joining Merryfield, Joe spent more than fifteen years at Whole Foods Market. He held several roles but culminated his tenure as Director of Quality Standards, where he led the team responsible for developing and maintaining standards for the products sold in its stores as well as developing and maintaining the company’s status as the first national certified organic retailer. His work was integral to the launch of many company standards programs, such as the Premium Body Care standard for personal care products, Eco-Scale standards for cleaning products, strict requirements for organic personal care products, the company’s industry- leading standards for egg production, and the company’s GMO Labeling policy. Joe has also served as a board member of The Non-GMO Project, the USDA National Organic Standards Board, the Texas Department of Agriculture Organic Industry Advisory Board and The Organic Center. A graduate of Vassar College, Joe lives on a ranch in Bastrop County, Texas, where he and his husband raise goats and chickens, grow vegetables, and manage the property as a songbird and wildlife sanctuary.

Greg Esslinger

Natural Foods Distribution Expert

Advises brands on how to navigate and grow sales in the natural channel thru distribution. 10+ years with UNFI purchasing, sales, category/supplier management roles. Helps brands, both large and small, grow sales and increase profitability with the natural distribution network.

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Greg Esslinger
Natural Foods Distribution Expert
Advises brands on how to successfully navigate and grow sales in the natural channel thru distribution. 10+ years experience working within UNFI purchasing, sales, and category/supplier management roles. Helps brands, both large and small, grow sales and increase profitability with the natural distribution network.
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Guide emerging brands.

Guide emerging brands.

Industry leaders and experts from all across the food and grocery retail industry help Emerge brands thrive in a supportive environment. We’re grateful for each person in the Emerge network who shares their time, enthusiasm and talents! The community is also supported and strengthened by industry partnerships with SPINS, Nielsen, Natural Source Sales, Fairfield Partners, Mable, MyWay3PL, Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, and many more.

Are you interested in guiding CPG brands to scale sustainably and profitably? Join our global community, and share your passion and talents!

Be a mentor