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Mariena Mercer Boarini from the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on the power of yes, balancing creativity and business in a high volume setting, and being a mother in the bar world

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Release Date: 01/21/2020

Celia Waddington from Ignite Creative Services

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Hey hey Movers and Shakers, it's your host April Wachtel, and I’m thrilled to bring you another inspiring episode of Movers and Shakers. Today, I sit down with Celia Waddington, the creative force behind Ignite Creative Services. Celia’s journey through the world of hospitality and brand building is nothing short of remarkable—her innovative approach has helped shape some of the most memorable experiences in the industry. In this episode, Celia shares her story of founding Ignite Creative Services, the challenges and triumphs of building a creative agency from the ground up, and her...

Dushan Zaric from Employees Only and Macao Trading Company

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Hey hey Movers and Shakers, it's your host April Wachtel, and I’m pleased to present to you a most unusual episode of Movers and Shakers. If you’re a regular listener and are familiar with our standard format- this isn’t that. In today’s episode I interviewed an old friend and the cocktail mastermind behind world-famous New York bars Employees Only and Macao Trading Co- Dushan Zaric. Dushan is widely recognized as an industry leader and a pioneer in craft bartending; his innovative work behind the bar has revolutionized the art of the cocktail. Dushan and I hadn’t...

Elayne Duff from the Beverage Brand Ambassador Academy

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today’s interview is with Elayne Duff from the Beverage Brand Ambassador Academy. Elayne Duff is a 20-year veteran of the spirits industry. She was Diageo U.S.A.’s first head mixologist and luxury spirits ambassador, has appeared on the T.V. show Bar Rescue numerous times as a beverage expert, and was a Global Manager of experiential events and education at Ab-InBev. More recently Elayne founded “Duff on the Rocks,” an on and off-trade brand strategy consultancy, launched a YouTube show “Celebrating the Brand Ambassador” and created the...

Allison Evanow from Square One Organic Spirits

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today’s interview is with Allison Evanow from Square One Organic Spirits. Allison is the Founder and CEO of Square One Organic Spirits and Cocktails. She is a pioneer in the organic spirits space, starting Square One as the U.S.’s first all organic spirits company and one of the first women to start her own spirits brand. Square One crafts a line of USDA Organic vodkas and botanical spirits and now also has two new products lines – organic cocktail mixers and convenient ready to drink sparkling vodka cocktails. In the podcast today we discuss: How Allison harnessed...

Lance Winters and Dave Smith from St. George Spirits

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today's interview is with Lance Winters and Dave Smith from St. George Spirits. Lance is the Master Distiller and Dave is the Head Distiller for St. George Spirits, one of the pioneer craft distilleries in the United States. Founded by Jorg Rupf in 1982, St. George originally distilled eau de vie, then birthed and sold the Hangar One brand, and expanded their portfolio across categories to include base spirits like Gin, Vodka, and Whiskey, as well as liqueurs and more esoteric offerings like Absinthe and Shochu. In the podcast today we discuss: How Lance and Dave have grown the brand...

Kim Lawton and the Fourth Annual Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today’s interview is a special episode on the Enthuse Foundation Pitch Competition coming up in November of 2022. Some of you know, I worked with the Foundation when they were starting out four years ago, and the event remains near and dear to my heart. It’s a competition for women founders in food, beverage, and cpg, with some great cash prizes and marketing services available to the winners. I was fortunate to have Kim Lawton, the co-founder of the Enthuse Foundation and co-owner of Enthuse and Inspira Marketing join me on the podcast to talk about the Foundation, the competition, and...

Andrew Merinoff from DisPact Ventures and Chinola on the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make and his advice for entrepreneurs raising capital in the current investing climate.

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today's episode is an interview with Andrew Merinoff. Andrew is the founder of DisPact Ventures, an investment fund focused on emerging retail, food & beverage and technology brands, and is also the co-founder of Chinola Passionfruit Liqueur. Andrew’s experience spans multiple sectors and industries, including F&B, Wine & Spirits, Hospitality, Investing, and Marketing. Most recently, Andrew worked to develop intuitive spirit branding for Proximo Spirits, where he focused on brand development for the company’s current portfolio. In the podcast today we discuss: How Andrew...

David Gluckman, Author of "That S*it Will Never Sell," and the creator of Baileys on building brands that sell

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today's episode is an interivew with the man, the myth, the legend, David Gluckman. David is the Author of the book “That S*it Will Never Sell,” and is the creator of Baileys (the number one selling liqueur in history, which has sold billions of bottles across 160 countries. David is also the mind behind Ciroc Vodka, Tanqueray 10 and dozens of other beverage brands. In the podcast today we discuss: The story of Baileys and what he learned after presenting the brand to his clients David’s advice on advancing ideas through large organizations What large companies should do with their...

Jackie Summers from Sorel on how cancer lead him into the drinks business and Sorel’s exponential growth after years of perseverance

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today's guest is Jackie Summers- a James Beard Finalist AND judge; a seasoned public speaker, and the creator of the award-winning Sorel Liqueur. His accolades are FAR too many to list, but to give you a small sampling, he’s been named one of the world’s “100 Most Influential Bar Industry Figures” by Drinks International Magazine (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), one of The 50 Most Influential People In Brooklyn Food by Brooklyn Magazine, The 2019 Award winner for “Best Food Essay” by the Association of Food Journalists and on and on. In the podcast today we discuss: ...

Philip Duff from Liquid Solutions on why large companies struggle with innovation (and make “bonkers” acquisitions)

Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel

Today’s guest is Philip Duff- a renowned expert on distilled spirits and a beverage consultant to drinks companies everywhere. He bartended around the world for decades and founded Holland’s first bar to enter the World’s 50 Best Bars. Philip owns the lauded Old Duff Genever brand, served as the first Director of Education for Tales of the Cocktail, and regularly appears on TV & in publications like Esquire, Reuters, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and more. In the podcast today we discuss: The evolution of Phil’s career in the global drinks business Why large...

More Episodes

Today’s guest is Mariena Mercer Boarini. Mariena is a second generation Las Vegan and a ten year veteran of the industry. Excelling in alchemy, and with a focus on experiential cocktails, Mariena oversees cocktail creation for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Mariena has been featured on The Food Network, Esquire Magazine, Saveur Magazine, Tastemade, and various other media outlets. She has been named “Top Bartender in Las Vegas” and one of the “Top 10 Female Bartenders in the World.”

In the episode today we discuss: