NexxtLevel Brands Podcast

Ernie Harker is a Branding Consultant and the Owner of Ernburn, a marketing and advertising agency focused on making brands ignite. He started the creative production studio, 8fish, in 1995 after working as an illustrator, designer, and storyboard artist. During his time as the Founder and Owner, 8fish became well-known among ad agencies and clientele for animation, video production, writing, dire...

David Klavsons is the Chief Executive Officer of King Juice Company and Calypso Lemonade, the creators of the flavored lemonade faction of the beverage industry. David has over 30 years of experience transforming and optimizing business performance, growth, and innovation with industry-leading companies.  Before heading King Juice Company and Calypso Lemonade, David held executive roles at compani...

Michael Schwarz is the Founder of Treeline Cheese, a pioneer plant-based cheese brand. He left his career as an intellectual property lawyer after learning about the cruelties of animal agriculture and felt compelled to create cruelty-free alternatives to dairy cheese.  Michael began experimenting by fermenting cashews in his home kitchen. When he was confident enough with his recipe, he started k...

Wade Brooks is the CEO of LivBar, a USDA-certified organic superfood and nutritional bar founded in 2012. Wade has 25 years of executive management experience running multiple companies. He founded his first company during his college years, which became the first Apple Computer VAR in the US. He has a BS and MBA from Willamette University as well as executive education and management training fro...

Alison Cayne is the Founder and CEO of Haven's Kitchen, a company with a mission to change the way people feel about cooking. Alison has been helping people cook, not just follow recipes, since 2012, when she opened up the Haven's Kitchen Cooking School in New York City. In 2018, Haven's Kitchen launched their first product, a line of fresh, globally-inspired sauces in a pouch. It’s now available...

Matt Feldman is the Co-founder and CEO of Moku Foods. Growing up in Hawaii, Matt was raised with an appreciation for nature and a lifelong commitment to preserve the environment. He learned at an early age about the meat industry’s immense carbon footprint, which led him toward plant based foods and sustainable food sources. A serial entrepreneur, Matt started his first business with his sister bu...

Andy Kurtts is the Founder and Creative Director of Buttermilk Creative, a full-service packaging design company that specializes in the food and beverage space. He is also a Mentor with SKU, an accelerator program for CPG startups, where he gives back to the industry as an email marketing champion.  Andy previously led the in-house design group at The Fresh Market, a specialty grocery store, earn...

Taylor Verbeck is the President and CEO of Social Sampling, a company that utilizes the force of social media​ and influencers​ to engage consumers before shopping and up to the moment of purchase. She started her career at the age of 14 after an in-store event put on by a national marketing company. After high school, she was promoted to Regional Manager at Mass Connections, managing over 5,000 e...

David Page is a two-time Emmy Award winner, executive producer, and the Author of the highly-praised book, Food Americana . He changed the world of food television by creating, developing, and executive producing the groundbreaking show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . Before that, he spent time as an NBC News Producer and Senior Producer based out of Chicago, London, Frankfurt, New York, and Budapes...

Andrew Young is the Vice President of Product Management and Director of Vendor Relations at CBD Emporium, a leading chain of retail stores specializing in CBD-related products. Andrew began his journey in the cannabis industry over a decade ago and has been an advocate, stakeholder, and patient in the medical marijuana industry since 2007.  Andrew's career began in architecture, which caused a se...

Andrew Suzuka is the Founder of Otamot Foods, a brand that makes organic and veggie-filled tomato sauces. Otamot Foods was launched in 2019 after adding some veggies to a pizza sauce he was making for his daughter, Evelyn. The brand's sauce is now sold in over 1,000 stores, including Whole Foods, Kroger, Fresh Thyme Market, and others. If the name looks familiar, that’s because it is: “Otamot” is...

Sandra Ann Harris is the Founder and CEO of ECOlunchbox, a mission-based consumer products company creating high-quality, eco-friendly, and plastic-free food container solutions. ECOlunchbox is a certified B Corp and California Green Business. Sandra and her company share the same mission: to protect the oceans by reducing consumer dependence on plastics.  Sandra is a speaker with a diverse backgr...

Shannon Roddy is an Amazon Strategy Consultant and the Founder of Marketplace Seller Courses, a suite of online courses, resources, and tools for brand owners selling on Amazon. He consults his clients on how to set-up, optimize, and launch their Amazon storefronts and products, as well as best practices for successfully promoting and protecting their brands on the Amazon platform.  His first vent...

Carla King is the Senior Marketing Manager at Mary's Gone Crackers, a snack company that uses only whole, plant-based ingredients. She is a talented marketing and brand development leader with proven experience in driving business, creating customized marketing programs and solutions, pushing strategy sessions, and articulating the expectations.  Carla balances brand needs with company interest to...

Dr. Gerald Horn is the Co-Founder and CEO of Breinfuel, a cerebral beverage designed to fuel the brain for responding effortlessly with increased focus, alertness, and productivity. Currently the Co-Medical Director at Lasik Plus Chicago, Dr. Horn's background lies in ophthalmology, pharmaceutical science, and disruptive drug development. Dr. Horn has committed his 40-year career to maximizing the...

Melanie Kahn is the Founder of Poppilu Lemonade, a healthy lemonade that delivers all of the taste of traditional lemonade with added health benefits. Melanie started the business in 2017 after experiencing cravings for lemonade while pregnant. She recently added a new kids product line to the company that launched in Walmart and is expanding rapidly.  Poppilu is based in Chicago where Melanie sta...

Filip Keuppens is the Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Pickle Juice® Sport. Having nothing to do with cucumbers, the innovative brand uses a proprietary grain and blend of vinegar that blocks the nerve signals that initiate cramping. Pickle Juice® Sport has highly researched and study-backed benefits—and it’s just the kind of no-spin, real deal, game-changing product that Filip love...

Darren Rude is the Co-Founder and CEO of Youtheory, one of the original collagen supplement brands. Founded in 2010 alongside his wife, Patty, Youtheory is currently one of the largest manufacturers of collagen and turmeric in the US. The brand continues to win top industry awards with a rapidly expanding portfolio of new and innovative health products.  Youtheory's success is powered by people, p...

Matthew Jordan is the CEO of Our Gorongosa, a specialty coffee using regenerative practices that support human development, rainforest reforestation, and wildlife conservation in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park. All of their profits support initiatives that lead the way for those communities surrounding the park. As CEO and Director of Sustainable Development for Gorongosa National Park, he’s...

Nona Lim is the Founder and CEO of Nona Lim, a fresh Asian comfort food brand based in Oakland, California. She is a former competitive fencer who has always believed in the health benefits of a nutritious diet and the feel-good sensation of amazing flavors. In 2014, she launched her Nona Lim brand inspired by her childhood in Singapore as well as the country's melting pot of culinary traditions a...

G. Steven Cleere is the Founder and Chief Brand Developer of NexxtLevel Marketing, a consulting firm that specializes in retail marketing. For over 30 years, he’s been actively involved in marketing, advertising, and promotion disciplines. In 2019, Steve and his wife, Debra, combined their backgrounds and created Kitchen2Shelf, an educational service that provides online courses and in-person work...

Adam Spriggs is a Partner at Nucleus Maximus, a boutique branding agency that helps CPG companies position and package their products to win attention and sales. In 2019, he founded The Angel Group, a growing network of industry executives and consultants who invest in early-stage CPG brands.  Adam’s work and perspective have been covered by notable trade groups including New Hope Network, BevNET,...

Louisa Lawless is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Stratus Group. She is part of a winning team that builds brands like KÖE Kombucha and Perfect Hydration.  Louisa has a rich history of brand building, having served as General Manager for Red Bull North America and contributing to the development and subsequent sale of Core Nutrition to Keurig Dr Pepper. She lives in Long Beach, California with h...

Sue Kakuk is the Founder and CEO of Kakookies, a better-for-you grab-n-go cookie for your busy and active lifestyle. Sue carefully crafted her plant-based cookies after she noticed that her daughter and her cycling teammates were stopping at Dunkin Donuts before and after the races. Her simple mission was to pack the nutrition of an energy bar with the deliciousness and comfort of a cookie—which i...

Hector Saldívar is the Founder and Owner of Tia Lupita Foods, a better-for-you healthy Mexican inspired food brand that uses clean and simple ingredients in all their products. Tia Lupita is also the first brand to introduce the nopal cactus as an alternative, functional, and sustainable ingredient in the US market.  Hector was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and later earned a Bachelor's degree in Int...