Tim Knittel
Founder of Distilled Living & Bourbon Industry Insider
Tim Knittel is a Kentucky bourbon industry insider with over 13 years experience in bourbon education & event design.
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Former Culinary Center Manager and Homeplace Host at Woodford Reserve Distillery (2009-2016) under the dual direction of James Beard Nominated Chef Ouita Michel & Master Distiller Chris Morris with the culinary program. In 2013 he transitioned to being the first Homeplace Host for Woodford Reserve responsible for VIP tours & tastings, and representing the brand and master distiller at the distillery.
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Founded Distilled Living in 2016 when he began presentations, tastings, distillery consulting, bar and restaurant consulting & publishing in both consumer & industry magazines.
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Certified Executive Bourbon Steward through the Stave & Theif Society (often compared to a Bourbon Sommelier) which is the highest classification available for a professional bourbon educator.
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Adjunct Professor of Bourbon Studies at Midway University (fall 2017 - current)
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Appointed the 1st Official Bourbon Ambassador of Churchill Downs (2020 - current)
He has assisted in developing new spirits for restaurants, bars and emerging brands both grain-to-glass and sourced.
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He has written for numerous industry and consumer publications including Artisan Spirit Magazine, DrinkDistiller.com and Whisky Wash and he has been featured in Maxin, Forbes, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, American Whisky Magazine, GoodMorningAmerica.com, NBCNews.com, Washington Post, Bourbon Review, Film Journal, Wonderlust, Bourbon & Bartner, Bourbon Pursuit podcast and more.
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He additionally has the only "Bourbon Technical Advisor" credit in IMBD for his work on the independent feature film Bluegrass Spirits starring Jake Busey and expected to be released soon.
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Tim is passionate about crafting meaningful experiences and uses Bourbon as a vehicle to sensory awareness.
To learn more, click below:
Federal & State Legislation & Regulatory Updates!
Robert Smith - Grand Springs
Robert Smith, Grand Springs, inc. of Virginia, is a long-established member of the bottled water industry, former IBWA President, a member of ASBWA and Chairman of the ASBWA Government Relations Committee. Robert will do a presentation on the FDA updates to the bottled water industry along with new and upcoming regulatory issues from states and the federal government.
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Currently, with the new administration, it is a wait and see regarding legislation and regulation for our industry. Everything from possible federal regulations being rolled back to tariffs and how they will affect the industry is on the forefront. It is an important time for all of us to be engaged and involved.
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Robert hopes to see you in Lexington!
To Can or Not to Can - That is The Question!
Clay Bell - Melwood Springs Water Company
To Can or Not to Can, that is the question. This session will cover the hot topic of canning or bottling in aluminum, equipment, cost, and customer base. Alumi-Tech Bottles or cans, which comes first? In this open discussion, we will try to cover all the issues going to aluminum. Capper, seamer, and special equipment. The growing side of the aluminum package, is it totally green? What works for your company?
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Clay Bell is Vice President and General Manager of Melwood Springs Water Company where he oversees daily operations and sales for the Blue Ridge Georgia facility. He has 39 years in the Beverage industry with Shasta Beverage, Pepsi Cola, and Melwood Springs Water Co. Clay is a member of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), President of the Southeastern Bottled Water Association (SEBWA) and a Certified Bottled Water Plant Operator, PCQI qualified. Clay lives in Blue Ridge Georgia with his wife Tamme where they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Clay is also an avid beekeeper maintaining 50 hives.
Next Generation Discussion Panel
Joel Burger - Sequoyah Water
Iverson Garrett - Nantze Springs
Ryan Pons - Trumbull Family Culligan
Tanner Hanstein - Ozarka Drinking Water
Joel Burger - Sequoyah Water
Joel Burger has been an independent distributor since 2001. Joel owns and operates Sequoyah Water, LLC. He entered the bottled water industry shortly after graduating from high school and worked to build the foundation of his home and office delivery (HOD) business while completing his degree at Toccoa Falls College. Headquartered in Blue Ridge, Georgia, Sequoyah Water services customers in North Georgia, Eastern Tennessee, and Western North Carolina. Joel resides in Mineral Bluff, Georgia, with his wife Kimberly and their son.
Iverson Garrett - Nantze Springs
Iverson Garrett, at the young age of 30, has been in the bottled water industry the biggest part of his life. He started working for his father and grandfather at a very young age, doing everything from loading route trucks and trailers to running equipment in the plant.
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Iverson is happily married to Kate Falcon and the two live just outside of Dothan, AL. They often commute to Nashville, TN as Kate is an aspiring singer/songwriter. Iverson attended Auburn University and he enjoys spending his free time doing motocross (dirtbikes and a closed course track), traveling to watch his wife sing, and hunting.
Ryan Pons - Trumbull Family Culligan
Ryan Pons has been involved in the production and delivery of bottled water for over 10 years. Starting out as a Route Driver for several years, he then moved to managing 8 bottled water routes and 4 salt and portable exchange routes. Ryan serves the company as the Quality Control Manager and holds a PCQI Certification. Ryan was instrumental in effectively implementing a company wide reroute that included 5 other dealerships and over 24 BW routes. Prior to bottled water, Ryan managed a large landscaping distribution center growing the business from 1M per year to 2.5M per year. Ryan is married and has 4 children ranging from 1 to 7 years old. He has served on the United Way board and is a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Panama City, FL. Ryan enjoys coaching football and soccer, loves outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting, and he also really loves to EAT.
Tanner Hanstein - Ozarka Drinking Water
Tanner Hanstein is President of Ozarka Drinking Water, located in Oklahoma City, OK. Tanner got his start in the water business by sweeping floors when he was 12 years of age. He has since held roles throughout the company, from warehouse to management. While working in the front office, Tanner was Director of Purchasing and Inventory Management (2018-2019); he served as Controller (2019-2022); and was named President. "Like most of us, I wear a lot of hats when it comes to his title. No job is too little or too high," he said. Tanner graduated from the University of Oklahoma in May of 2016 Suma Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance.
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What POU can add to your business
Steve Raupe - Ozarka Drinking Water
Steve Raupe is CEO of Ozarka Water and Coffee Service, second generation. He was born and raised in Oklahoma City and has been involved in the business all his life. He was named president of Ozarka in 1992 and took over as CEO when his father died in 1998. Steve graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 1988 with a bachelor’s in finance. Past civic involvement includes Better Business Bureau, past board member; YMCA, past board member; American Heart Association, past chairman; International Bottled Water Association, past chairman; Texas Bottled Water Association, past president. Steve is currently a gold member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. Steve is married to Susan and is the parent of four children, Justin, 28; Ashley and Tyler, 23; and Evan, 20.
Jay Trumbull, ASBWA President
Trumbull Family Culligan
Jay Trumbull, Sr., of Panama City, is the President/Owner of Culligan Water franchises with seven offices in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He also owns a plumbing company and HVAC company in Panama City.
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Mr. Trumbull served several years on the Bay County Planning Commission, the Panama City Housing Authority, the Bay Medical Board Foundation, and the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.
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He was appointed to the Florida Transportation Commission in 2011 and served as Chairman from 2015 - 2019.
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He was recently appointed to the Triumph Gulf Coast Board; a non-profit corporation organized to oversee the expenditure of funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state that resulted from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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Currently, Mr. Trumbull serves on the Board of Trustmark National Bank.
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Mr Trumbull is an Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Panama City. He and his wife, Tammy, have been married for 34 years and have three children and seven grandchildren.
What's New in POU?
Lynette MacFee, Oasis International
This session highlighted the latest advancements in Point-of-Use (POU) water coolers, showcasing new equipment options, key features, and innovative sales tools. We explored the benefits of POU technology and discussed the latest product enhancements. Attendees gain insights into effectively positioning POU solutions as an alternative to meet customer needs and drive business growth.
Lynette is the Vice President of Sales at Oasis International and a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in the drinking water industry. Specializing in the manufacturing and distribution of water coolers, POU, and filtration systems, she brings extensive knowledge and a deep commitment to providing clean drinking water. Passionate about education and exceptional customer service, Lynette continues to be a trusted industry leader dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and unparalleled support.
HR Trends 2025: What changes we will see!
Patricia Pannell, Gotcha Covered HR
With a new and energetic administration in the White House, we are seeing some whirlwind activity of Executive Orders and other proposed legislation that will affect the workplace in 2025. Major policy changes are already in place or being proposed that will impact immigration, DEI programs, EEO laws (particularly as they pertain to pregnancy and gender identity), and various labor relations issues. Make sure you’re caught up on all the changes impacting these key topics! Patricia Pannell,
J.D., CEO of Gotcha Covered HR, will lead you through the changes and anticipated challenges that may lie ahead.
“In the 25 years that I practiced law as a labor and employment attorney, I consistently saw small businesses fail to thrive because of avoidable legal mistakes. I founded Gotcha Covered HR specifically to help the small businesses of our community grow and prosper by learning how to be proactively HR compliant – as I love to say, ‘resolving issues in the conference room instead of the courtroom'.
My team of HR consultants has the experience and expertise to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofits, and corporations alike. Our services go beyond the one-size-fits-all approach because we understand each client has unique needs. Together, we create stronger, more vibrant businesses who in turn benefit the greater community by creating good jobs and healthy workplaces.”