In The Mix Magazine

Mike Raven

Mike Raven is the Managing Editor of in the Mix magazine. He has over 20 years of experience in distributor management in Florida with Southern Wine and Spirits, Premier Beverage Company and was the CEO of Lion Wines and Spirits.

Tony Abou-Ganim

Tony Abou-Ganim, currently featured on the Iron Chef America competition with Mario Batali, “Battle Mango”. Most notably featured demonstrating the art of cocktail preparation on the Fine Living Network program “Raising the Bar: America’s Best Bar Chefs”. For more on Tony's cocktail secrets and products visit themodernmixologist.com

Hailing Li

Hailing Li is the Production Coordinator for in the Mix magazine, and Manager of eProduct Solutions for iMi Agency. She also writes about the latest trends in technology relevant to the on-premise industry in her quarterly technology report. Similarly, on her off time, Hailing enjoys learning about the newest techno/gadget fads and internet memes.

Don Billings

Don Billings is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of "in the Mix" Magazine. He is also President and CEO of iMi Agency for the past 20 years.

Junior Merino

Born in Puebla, Mexico to a family and culture rich in both tradition and flavors, Junior Merino was taught from an early age about freshness, quality, and balance. Implementing his early teachings, Junior Merino arrived in New York where he fused his creativity with passion and began his career as a mixologist, sommelier, and entrepreneur. Now with his own company, The Liquid Chef, Inc., and with The Liquid Team, Junior Merino consults with top restaurants, hotels, cruise lines, clubs, airlines, and lounges all over the world. He also has a mixology school in Mexico, a multimillion dollar project that is the first of its kind. He is a part of The Liquid Lab, a unique bartending experience for invited individuals to discuss and share techniques, ideas, and cocktails. Junior Merino has been featured in magazines, radio, newspapers, and on TV because of his unique views into the cocktail culture as well as his amazing gift of giving harmony to his potable creations.

Dale DeGroff

Legendary bartender Dale DeGroff, aka "King Cocktail", is universally acknowledged as the world's premier mixologist whose innovations have globally impacted the industry. Winner of the 2009 James Beard Wine & Spirits Professional Award, DeGroff has been credited with bringing back the classic cocktail and reinventing the profession of bartending, setting off a cocktail explosion around the world. Author of the award-winning "The Craft of The Cocktail", and the newly released, "The Essential Cocktail" (Random House), DeGroff is also the founding President of The Museum of the American Cocktail, a non-profit organization with an exhibit in New Orleans, featuring the 200 year history of the cocktail, and offering monthly seminars in mixology. For more information visit: www.Kingcocktail.com or www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org.

Philip Raimondo

Philip Raimondo, National Accounts Master Mixologist for Beam Global Spirits & Wine, joined the company in the fall of 2008. Philip works closely with the sales teams for National Accounts, Luxury Accounts, and Regional Accounts, providing them with custom signature drink development and support for each customer’s beverage program. Philip brings over 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry and beverage operations to Beam Global Spirits & Wine from a variety of locations. Most recently, he was Director of Beverage with Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc, owner operator of Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Mitchell’s Fish Market Restaurants. Philip’s beverage philosophy is to always focus on fresh ingredients, “You can only make great drinks from great products.” He also believes that technique is paramount in creating luxurious cocktails.

Martin Cate

Martin Cate is a San Francisco Bay Area based rum & exotic cocktail expert. In Fall 2009, he will be opening Smuggler's Cove San Francisco - a new bar designed to celebrate the incredible diversity and versatility of the world's most exciting spirit: Rum. Martin and his original cocktails have been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Magazine, USA Today, and more. www.smugglerscovesf.com

Gaz Regan

Gaz Regan—the bartender formerly known as Gary Regan—is the cocktail columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, and the author of The Joy of Mixology. He also wrote The Bartender’s Bible, and co-authored, with Mardee Haidin Regan, The Book of Bourbon and Other Fine American Whiskeys, The Bourbon Companion, The Martini Companion, and New Classic Cocktails. Gaz and Mardee host the ArdentSpirits.com web site, publish the ardent spirits email newsletter (since 1999), and manage the Worldwide Bartender Database. His next book, The Bartender’s Gin Compendium, will be published in Fall, 2009. www.ardentspirits.com

Francesco Lafranconi

Based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, Francesco Lafranconi works for Southern Wine & Spirits as the National Director of Mixology & Spirits Educator.

Patrick McGinn

I have worked with iMi for 2 years now out of both the Chicago and Woodstock offices. I am striving to increase knowledge on all facets of the alcoholic beverage industry.

Michael Parker

Michael Parker has been in the wine business in various ways since 1992, including restaurant, retail, and wholesale, but mainly as a writer for consumers in the mountains of North Carolina for twelve years. He enthusiastically supports his local and regional restaurants, bars, and artists, and believes that wine, dining, and art can bring the world together. He lives in Asheville with his pit bull terrier, Riff Raff.

Brittany Chardin

Brittany Chardin, the newest iMi account manager, has 25 years of on-premise experience: front-of-the-house, back-of-the-house and management. Brittany, a certified sommelier, is most passionate about all things Spirit related, especially gin cocktails and bringing her French, 5-star culinary background to innovative Food, Wine & Spirit pairings. Favorite words are pie and martini--but not when attached: as in the word “Pie-tini” … so wrong.

Colleen Sisler

Colleen Sisler is a Project Manager at iMi Agency, a full service marketing agency in the hospitality industry. She has been with iMi for 3 years and specializes in menu and POS design in addition to managing social media for in the Mix magazine. Colleen has 17 years experience in the on-premise arena in restaurants, distribution, hotel & resort catering as well as brand marketing.

Helen Benefield Billings

Helen Benefield Billings is a native of Sea Island, Georgia and was first bitten by the travel bug in 1992 during a two week holiday in Spain. Since that fateful trip abroad, her quest for seeing the world in which we live with open eyes has evolved into a full-time passion. "I feel so fortunate since nothing is more stimulating to me than jetting off to some exotic locale to learn about other cultures particularly through food and wine experiences." Helen has served as in the Mix's travel writer since the magazine's inception and most recently introduced a blog geared toward business travelers in the hospitality industry, The Jaded Traveler.

Pamela Tweedell

Pamela Tweedell, an iMi Senior Account Manager, specializes in managing beverage programs for her retail clients and creating award-winning beverage promotions.

Celeste Dinos

Celeste Dinos is an Associate Editor of “in the Mix” Magazine and a Partner at iMi Agency. While working in the hospitality industry, her travels have allowed her to visit many vineyards and distilleries around the world which has left her with the invaluable ability to say “thank you” in ten different languages.

Adam Billings

Adam Billings is Director of Accounts at iMi Agency, a full service marketing agency in the hospitality industry. He has been with iMi for 5 years and manages adult beverage programs for chain restaurant, hotel and concession clients. Adam is passionate about developing creative web and data solutions for our clients. He also supports C.O.R.E. Gives, a charity that grants wishes for Children of Restaurant Employees who have life threatening and life altering medical conditions. www.coregives.org

Christine Windsor

Ned Barker

Ned Barker Consults for multiple hotels, hotel chains, restaurant chains. Concept development; national menu and marketing initiatives; brand standards; training programs; rebate programs; property evaluations; customized workshops; lease evaluations, negotiations.

Kristen Araoz Gridley

Kristen is an iMi Account Manager and Bar Chef that has been in the restaurant and hospitality industry for 14+ years. She has a highly creative educational background that helps her guide her clients toward innovative and exciting projects and promotions. She has been a contributing writer for In the Mix magazine since early 2007.

Matt Simpson

Matt Simpson has been involved with craft beer for almost 2 decades. He taught Beer Education 101 at Emory University, is a BJCP Certified Judge, an Administrator for RateBeer.com, co-founder and Managing Editor of TheBeerCellar.com, ex-President of Ale Atlanta, an award-winning homebrewer, with multiple ribbons won, and owner of one of the largest, most robust and comprehensive beer cellars in the world.

Macayla Peterson

Macayla Peterson is an Account Manager and Bar Chef at iMi Agency, a full service marketing agency in the hospitality industry. She has 16 years of on-premise experience that ranges front of the house management to brand development. She manages adult beverage programs with our concession clients and works with fellow mixologists at iMi creating new and exciting cocktails.

Mike Ginley

In 2005, Reveries Magazine named Mike Ginley as one of that year’s Best and Brightest in Marketing. Mike has served with distinction on numerous high profile industry boards, including the Nightclub & Bar Board and the Cheers Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. He is the co-founder of Next Level Marketing.

Joey Scorza

Joey Scorza is a veteran bartender and has been with Intercontinental Miami for 24 years. This bubbly, somewhat exuberant Italian has an instinctual nose for flavors and is known for creating impromptu, on-the-spot creations for customers who are undecided about what to have. She loves the reaction on the face of the guest after they try one. "That’s what it’s all about - giving your guests an enjoyable experience.”

IWSR

iMi Global Insight

Scott Kinsey

With over 15 years experience in the restaurant industry, Scott Kinsey, Hooters Director of Research and Development, has been taking the latest food and beverage trends to the Hooters forefront. His passion for flavor began in Europe and traveled back with him to the states, where he worked at RMG for 11 years before coming on board with Hooters. Scott also co-authored the Hooters Cookbook, release in 2007.

David Alan

David Alan is a true champion of the Cocktail and is a great contributor of cocktail culture in Austin. Promoting packed industry events, one after another, including the premier mixology competition in Austin, The Drink. He is a nationally certified mixologist and is co-owner of The Tipsy Texan, a growing empire which supplies libations with a culinary aesthetic to raved-about gatherings regularly. He is a prominent drink blogger, with his own blog, Tipsytexan.com and also contributes to The Austin American Statesman, Rare magazine , Edible Austin and the Conde Nast travelers daily travel blog.

Brian Loukmas

Brian Loukmas is a national accounts mixologist, and represent the Bacardi portfolio. Brian began his career in the industry over 19 years ago, with job stops along the way at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and helping open the first Bahama Breeze concept. He recently became a welcomed addition to TEAM Enterprises. Brian brings a wealth of “real world” knowledge of drinking trends and consumer taste proclivities, as well as extensive drink development and mixology experience. His customized cocktail creations have been award winning and hugely successful in many venues, from independent establishments to national chain beverage programs.

Charlotte Voisey

Charlotte Voisey is the Company Mixologist at William Grant & Sons USA. Charlotte was named UK Bartender of the Year in 2004 and has presented at top industry events including Tales of the Cocktail, Sante Symposium, Aspen Food & wine and the Las Vegas Nightclub & Bar Show.

Lynnette Marrero

Lynnette Marrero joined the Diageo Reserve team as Rum Ambassador in November 2008. Since then, she has been sharing her knowledge and passion of Rum through tastings, seminars and events. Marrero’s “spirited” career began when she accepted a job at New York’s Flatiron Lounge alongside cocktail savant Julie Reiner. After learning the ropes at Flatiron Lounge, Marrero became head bartender at Freemans NYC where she developed the cocktail menu, ensuring that the restaurant’s cuisine was perfectly complemented by her innovative drinks. In 2006, Lynnette created drinksat6, a premium cocktail catering and consulting company. She worked with many restaurants including Elettaria in Manhattan's West village, where she worked closely with the chef to create an award-winning cocktail menu. While at Elettaria, Marrero’s true passion for Rum was ignited. Always striving to learn more, Marrero worked with Brian Miller of Death and Co. and perfected the art of mixing Rums. She also spent a week shadowing the Zacapa Rum Master Blender in Guatemala. During her Zacapa immersion, Marrero harvested sugarcane and learned about the Rum production process from start to finish. James Beard said, “Of all the spirits in your bar, Rum is the most romantic.” Lynnette has fallen in love with Rum and strives to elevate the Rum category one sip at a time.

Ted Breaux

Ted Breaux, Master Distiller, is a professional scientist who has dedicated well over a decade of research toward resolving the scientific and historical mysteries associated with absinthe. Armed with a respectable background in applied analytical sciences, he has perfected sophisticated techniques for the purpose of accurately reconstructing the most famous original brands of the liquor (seewww.vintageabsinthe.com). Ted’s research has been widely recognized. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ted's reputation as a staunch promoter of truth and accuracy of information and education in all matters absinthe is surpassed only by his unceasing passion for recreating history through the fine art of absinthe craft.

Jacopo Falleni

Jacopo Falleni is an award winning mixologist and trainer. He is a partner in Café Firenze on W. Los Angeles Drive in Moorpark, California. www.cafefirenze.net

Kara Newman

Kara Newman is the spirits columnist for Chile Pepper magazine, and author of “Spice & Ice – 60 tongue-tingling cocktails” (Chronicle Books, November 2009). She is a frequent contributor to Wine Enthusiast and the San Francisco Chronicle. Kara's work has also appeared in the New York Times, Gourmet, Saveur and now in the Mix. Check out her website at www.karanewman.net.

Nick Mautone

Versatile Nick Mautone is a restaurateur, beverage expert and is the author of the cocktail and entertaining book, “Raising the Bar.” Mr. Mautone, who has an exclusive agreement with GREY GOOSE, conducts training seminars in addition to marketing appearances on behalf of the brand. Nick was the former Manager of New York’s Gotham Bar & Grill and Managing Partner of Gramercy Tavern. He currently operates a multifaceted food service, management and consulting company, Mautone Enterprises. Currently Nick is partnering with TV celebrity and author Rachael Ray on a new restaurant concept “Bar RR”. www.GREYGOOSE.com

Manny Hinojosa

Raised and educated in Mexico City, Manny Hinojosa remains true to his roots through his passion for tequila. He is certified as a Distintivo T by the CRT (Consejo Regulador del Tequila) and has extensive knowledge in every facet of the production of premium and super- premium tequila. Manny’s experiences in judging, consulting, and mixing combine to make him a lucrative resource. Manny has garnered scores of awards for his skills in mixology, including, 1st place at the CORZO Tequila bartender competition in San Francisco in 2003 and most recently, 1st place at Shake It Up, at the International Bar and Night Club Convention in Las Vegas in February, 2008. Additionally, Manny works as a judge for bartending competitions across the United States and in Mexico and has created cocktail menus for upscale restaurants. He makes his own juices, syrups, and garnishes, resulting in unique drinks that display his expertise and attention to detail.

Jenny Adams

Jenny Adams is a full-time freelancer for the food and beverage industry. She resides in Birmingham, Ala., working as a contributing editor for Nightclub & Bar magazine and The Southern Beverage Journals. Jenny also writes regularly for Where magazine, Men’s Journal and The Tasting Panel, as well as contributing a monthly bar column for the Miami Herald’s travel section on great bars around the globe. Her first book, “Mixing New Orleans, Cocktails & Legends” was published in July of 2007 -- as the official book of the Tales of the Cocktail festival that year. For more information, visit www.jennyadamsfreelance.com.

Jennifer English

Jennifer English is one of America's most respected and articulate culinary personalities. She is a sought after speaker, teacher, writer, cocktailian, trend consultant , award winning talk show host, and is widely recognized as one of America's leading tastemakers. Jennifer is a James Beard Award winner and proudly serves as Vice President for the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society Board. In 1999 Jennifer founded the Food & Wine Radio Network, and is heard weekly as the host of "Sunday Brunch." Jennifer is seen weekly as the KVOA TV-4 Fresh@4 Food Contributor on the Tucson NBC affiliate. In 2006 Jennifer became a partner in the Flavorbank.com spice market where she inspires mixologists through product scholarships to get creative with spices behind the bar. She makes her home in Tucson, AZ with a 'mixologist garden'(a lime tree, lemon tree, orange tree, and fresh mint plants).

Jacques Bezuidenhout

Jacques started his career in South Africa and then London. He moved on to work in San Francisco in 1998 and has worked with the Irish Bank Bar & Restaurant, Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, Tres Agaves and currently consults with the Kimpton Hotel Group. He was voted Best Bartender in San Francisco by Anthony Dias Blue, served as Brand Ambassador for Plymouth Gin and is the current chairman of the San Francisco chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild. Jacques has recently accepted a position to consult for Partida Tequila as their Cocktail & Tequila Ambassador.

Gavin MacMillan

Gavin MacMillan is a master mixologist and bar chef and owner of BartenderOne Corp, Canada’s Fastest Growing group of Bartender Training Facilities. He is a published author, award winning bartender and a regular contributor to all major Canadian industry news media. He is considered one of Canada’s leading authorities on cocktails and mixology. You can reach him at gavin@bartenderone.com Website: www.bartenderone.com

Cheryl Charming

Cheryl Charming aka Miss Charming™ is one of America's top mixologists and cocktail celebrities and is often referred by her peers, friends, and fans as the "Rachael Ray of Cocktails." She currently has 9 published books and lives in Orlando, FL.

Bob May

Bob May has been an entertainment marketing entrepreneur for more than 30 years, founding three highly successful E-M agencies and producing more than one thousand campaigns for most of the world's best known cusonsumer and B2B brands, as well as organizations and non-profits. He is currently a partner in Atlanta based Lucid Media.

Liza Zimmerman

Liza Zimmerman has been writing and consulting about wine and cocktails for more than 15 years. She has published hundreds of stories in national Wine, Spirits and Lifestyle magazines. She is also the exclusive wine and spirits “examiner” for the San Francisco Examiner.com. Liza is now the editor in chief of Cheers Magazine.

Dave Robert

Dave Robert is the French Wine Portfolio Manager for Premier Beverage Florida