Forktales

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Jenn Palmer is the founder and CEO of JPalmer Collective, bringing 20 years of experience in the financing industry. She specializes in helping growing consumer brands access capital and has developed a particular focus on food, beverage, health and wellness companies and women-led businesses.  JPa…

Amit Pandhi is a longtime food industry executive and brand builder with experience leading both emerging and established consumer brands. His career has included leadership roles at Popchips, Velocity Snack Brands and other food companies, with a particular focus on turnarounds, growth and buildin…

Paul Hemingway is Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Litehouse Foods, where he also leads innovation. A 25-year CPG veteran, his career has included roles with major companies including The J.M. Smucker Company and Coca-Cola before joining Litehouse about five years ago. Litehouse Fo…

Jim Herr is Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and R&D at Herr’s, where he helps lead the consumer-facing side of the family business. A third-generation family member, he brings a deep connection to the company’s history while helping guide its continued growth, innovation and consumer …

Amir Yazdi is the founder and managing partner of Bastian Capital, an investment firm focused on identifying, acquiring and growing restaurant and hospitality businesses. A former film producer, Amir transitioned into the restaurant industry more than two decades ago and has built a career scaling …

Pete Olander is the founder of Happie, a plant medicine beverage company focused on cannabis-infused and functional mushroom drinks. Before launching Happie, he worked in private banking at J.P. Morgan and later in the nutrition and consumer packaged goods space, experiences that helped shape his e…

Jenny Mehlman is Senior Marketing Director at Dairy Farmers of America, where she leads branded cheese and butter businesses. With a background in brand stewardship and innovation, she focuses on making legacy food categories relevant through consumer insight, storytelling and everyday moments that…

Mike DiBeneditto is CEO of Golden Waffles, a nearly 90-year-old foodservice brand known for its fresh-baked waffle program. With a background in broadline distribution and leadership roles shaped by industry acquisitions, he brings an operator-first mindset grounded in clarity, partnership and disc…