The Platinum Mask

Jacob Lovett is a marketing and events professional turned full-time artist. When he was approached with the idea to turn a warehouse in the Thelin Industrial Park into an art gallery, he saw the potential for something even bigger: a curated space designed to attract, empower, and inspire Fort Worth’s best creative minds. The native Fort Worthian is passionate about creating community and collabo...

Anneliese Aeria is an actress, model, dancer, musician, artist, entrepreneur, and, most of all, a pet lover which is why at the age of 17 she founded AAPETPEOPLE. Growing up, she was painfully shy, and incredibly unconfident. Anneliese began modeling and acting when she was 12-ish, and working on sets with new, initially intimidating people was a very scary and nerve racking experience for her. Sh...

As a successful tech entrepreneur and global business leader, Tim Angelillo brings 15+ years of experience running divisions of publicly traded companies like Yahoo! and Time Warner as well currently founding and leading three start-up businesses in Austin, TX. These experiences allow Tim to share detailed insights on how to apply an entrepreneurial drive and marketing, sales, technology, and mana...

With 18 years of service experience in the DFW area, Alex Fletcher has gone on to run and design some of Dallas most well-known beverage programs. From Irish pubs and New Orleans style dive bars to speak easy and cocktail lounges. After opening The People's last stand in 2012 he quickly was promoted to General Manger where he learned to build a business from scratch. Helping to drive the craft coc...

Jamie Biel joined Treaty Oak Distilling in June 2018 with a focus on science and sustainability. As a botanist and former high school science teacher, she understands and appreciates the biochemistry of fermentation, distillation, and maturation. From water quality and conservation to sustainable farming techniques and locally sourced organic and heirloom grains, sustainability is a pillar of Trea...

David Stutz is an accomplished Entrepreneur, Senior Executive and Consultant who has demonstrate success spanning technology, commercial real estate, mobile & digital marketing, and advertising. David has held leadership positions with organizations including PIVMO, D1 Ink, C2C Outdoor, OMG Direct Inc., and Meredith Corporation. He co-founded Beach Juice Co. which is a brand of canned wine &am...

Adam von Gootkin brought his family legacy into the next generation by co-founding Onyx Spirits Co., an award-winning craft distillery offering America’s first ultra-premium moonshine and New England’s first whiskey. In 2015, his nationally released book Living Proof: Onyx Moonshine’s Journey to Revive the American Spirit, chronicled his unique approach to traditional business principles. After su...

Deron Brewer has been an Edna Valley based entrepreneur in San Luis Obispo CA for 20+ years and now owns Ragtag Wine Co. with his wife Sarah. Ragtag Wine Co. sources from nearby vineyards, most of which are in San Luis Obispo County. This allows the Ragtag Wine brand to be more diligent during growing and harvest seasons. The labels underneath Ragtag Wine also is made through a small batch process...

In December of 2015, Acre Distilling opened in the neighborhood that was Fort Worth's den of sin and vice in the Old West – aptly named Hell's Half Acre. Where Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Etta Place once walked, Acre's team set out to take a dash of that renegade Texan spirit and produce small batch libations of uncommon quality...

Kayla (she/her) is a trauma therapist and liberator of feelings who helps her clients befriend their bodies and better understand their emotions. She is body, sex, and kink positive, and LGBTQIA+ and poly affirming and welcoming of clients of all backgrounds. You can learn more on her website  https://www.kaylawhitelpc.com/ . Call, text, or email to schedule a consultation. 469.305.1179...

Nate Whitehouse is one of the co-founders of Drifter Spirits - Avuá Cachaça, Svöl Aquavit, Drifter Craft Cocktails, and Paladar Tequila.  Originally from Fort Worth, TX he spent the past eight years travelling extensively to build the brands and help educate bartenders on unusual spirits.  He is also one of the co-founders of THIRST Group, dedicated to indie hospitality engagem...

Texas native Amelia Lettieri is the co-founder and CEO of RancH2O, a ready-to-drink canned cocktail brand that champions her southern spirit and hospitality. Her corporate experience provides her with business savvy about the beverage and consumer packaged goods markets, while it is her pure grit, great courage, and deep faith that led her to become an entrepreneur, especially during the novel cor...

Buddy Jordan is the creator of Texas’ one and only ready to drink bloody mary, The Bloody Buddy.  The Bloody Buddy is a chili pepper infused vodka and homemade bloody mary mix combined in one convenient bottle.  Everything is produced at our distillery in Dripping Springs with love.  We are preservative free, non GMO and all natural.  The Bloody Buddy is a pre-mi...

Liquid to Lips Tastings is a wine and spirits marketing company. We work with retail outlets, alcoholic beverage companies, wholesalers, and distributors to build product and brand awareness through in-store sampling and special events. After realizing I wanted to work in wine and spirits marketing full-time, I filed for my LLC in late 2018. By early February 2019, we started covering all maj...

Susie Robb is a mom, interior designer, business owner, and author. Raised in west Texas, her love of interiors began under the study of her grandmother and piles of Traditional Home and Southern Living Magazine. Her love for design can be seen in her remodeling projects, the products she designs for her store and the vintage pieces she curates. Susie is owner and lead designer of  shopfromsu...

Curnelius is a Co-Founder of Tequila with Fiends. He serves as the Chief Operations and Compliance Officer at TWF. He has a background in Operations, Procurement, and Project Management. A former Division 1 athlete, Curnelius has always given great thought to what he has put into his body. Tequila was the only spirit that rarely gave him hangovers or left his body drained the following day after e...

Chandra Nicole Lever is the owner of Channic Cellars, a small business that provides custom hand-crafted premium wines. She is an Arkansas native born in Little Rock and raised in Pine Bluff. Ms. Lever currently resides in Texas. Chandra earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business/ Economics from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Her pursuit of fine wine began in 2018 in her role as...

Rosie Luciano is the founder of New Horizon Coffee and a human trafficking activist. Through coffee, Rosie is telling a story, bringing awareness, and creating new opportunities within the coffee community.

Merrilee Kick is the CEO/Founder of BuzzBallz/Southern Champion, the only woman-owned Distillery/Winery/Brewery combination in the United States. The company is in Carrollton, Texas,  and makes ready-to-drink cocktails called BuzzBallz, as well as spirits like rum, vodka, gin, bourbon, and some private label brands. The products are sold in 49 states and 21 countries.  The company is fam...

Emily Ackerman is the North Texas Business Development Executive for Carr Riggs & Ingram, a Top 25 National CPA Firm in the Dallas Fort Worth Office. They guide individuals in properly managing taxes, planning estates, formulating wealth management strategies, and more. Emily truly understands the value of building relationships in a business development role and intentionally creates transfor...

Matriarch Financial, LLC is a financial consulting firm with women in mind.  Through virtual one-on-one consultations, Matriarch consultants help their clients with creating a conscious spending plan that includes planning for debt reduction, savings goals, spending strategically, and learning the basics of investing. Your first consultation is 100% free!

Akia Brown is a natural-born leader. She is dedicated to working hard, integrity, and building meaningful relationships. She has worked in many sectors including corporate management, customer service, education, and retail management. Her extensive background has allowed her to connect with people from all walks of life. She has a passion for helping others obtain their goals and educating them i...

NewTrnd is a new age clothing & media company founded by viral fashion designer and creative director Trnd Drew. The brand focuses on bridging the gap between luxury and streetwear through technique and carefully chosen design language to create the highest quality product. Documenting this process through an acclaimed docu-series "Following The Trnd" that follows Trnd and his l...

I speak to Kali O'Campo of the Love You, Mean It coffee brand. This brand offers products, services, and resources for better focus and better results in your daily life. She doesn't just stop at providing organic, naturally extra-caffeinated coffee and also hosts The Coffee With Kali show on The Country Network. Her business is diversified with a coffee subscription package, CBD partnerships, fin...

I speak with Jason Ley, the CEO of Better Drinking Culture and the author of the Drinker's Manifesto. This organization is working to promote drinking better and to make moderation aspirational. BDC has partnered with major alcohol brands and communities, and Ley speaks publicly to the alcohol industry and at colleges to spread awareness.  @betterdrinkingculture and @jasonley