Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/57654
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Movers & Shakers A s the beverage industry's largest career network, BevForce knows who's coming and who's going at the leading global beverage compa- nies. BevForce is the only beverage industry staffi ng agency providing both an online job board and executive recruiting services. Visit www.bevforce.com to sign up for the Movers & Shakers newsletter or to report your job move or recent hire. Brad Mendosa has been named State Manager of New York at The Patrón Spirits Company. He had been Area Manager of New York at The Patrón Spirits Company. Philip Marte has been named Sales Manager at Singha North America. He had been Territory Sales Manager at NuCo2. Dirk Langford has been named National Accounts Director, East at The Wine Group. He had been National Accounts Manager at Don Sebastiani & Sons. Stacy Belter has been named Brand Manager at Bacardi. She had been Brand Manager, Americas - White Spirits, Rums & Liqueurs Portfolio at Diageo. Eric Anderson has been named Director of Trade Development at Wirtz Beverage Nevada. He had been Director of Sales at Wirtz Beverage Nevada's Reno Division. Jennifer Sullivan has been named MD/DC Sales Manager at Bulldog Gin. She had been On & Off Premise Field Manager - Pernod Ricard Portfolio at Southern Wine and Spirits. Michael Pitman has been named as Regional Manager, Retail – Upstate NY/PA/Ohio at Voss USA Inc. He had been Market Category Manager, Glacéau Brands at Coca-Cola Refreshments. Darren Doalson has been named Vice President, Sales Wine and Spirits at Wirtz Beverage Nevada. He had been Vice President of Sales in California at Diageo. Brian Rector has been named as Trade Development Manager at Voss USA Inc. He had been Non-Traditional Business Manager at Energized Distribution. Holly Remitz has been named Market Manager - NY, CT at Purity Vodka. She had been Field Marketing Manager - East Division at Beam Global Spirits and Wine. In Focus with BevForce This month, we chatted with Jeff Popkin, who was recently named VP of Sales at Vita Coco. He was previously Vice President of Distribution at Red Bull North America. TP: How would you defi ne Vita Coco's company's culture and what attracted you to it? JP: Vita Coco is a Brazilian brand of pure coconut water (never from concentrate), and the company's culture is a perfect refl ection of the product we produce and sell. The team is extremely passionate, true to the Brazilian heritage of the brand. Everyone is extremely high energy, and after one meeting with CEO and co-founder Michael Kirban, I was convinced it was the place for me. TP: What advice would you give to job seekers looking for their next role? JP: Be true to yourself and what you want out of your career. Focus only on opportunities where you can passionately represent that brand, whether in a selling capacity or support role—it's all still sell- ing. You will have more fun and success if you can put your heart and mind behind your efforts. 14 / the tasting panel / march 2012