Low and no-sugar beverages: from soda 2.0 to flavored waters

Elizabeth has more than 10 years of experience as a regulatory and business reporter for trade press. She covers the food and beverage industries, including innovation, start-ups, health, wellness, nutrition, FDA and dietary supplements.

Heather Herring is the Chief Operating Officer at Crunchy Hydration – a functional sparking water on a mission to improve mental and physical health through mindful hydration. Fueled by the excitement and creativity of being a part of a start-up journey, Heather collaborates with Crunchy’s CEO and Founder, Megan Riggs, to drive organizational vision, strategy and growth. With more than 30 years of experience in hospitality, manufacturing and distribution, Heather is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of building and optimizing teams, developing effective sales strategies, and managing distributor relationships. Previously, Heather was the Director of Operations at St. George Brewing Company, where she led a successful rebranding and significantly increased sales. Her entrepreneurial spirit is evident as owner and operator of Barefoot Gourmet Catering, where she has delighted clients with culinary experiences since 2000. Heather’s career also includes impactful roles in human resources, training, community relations and operations. Heather’s dedication to community service is highlighted by her volunteer work with Hampton Roads Ecumenical Lodgings and Provisions, Inc.; charity golf tournament planning and execution; Habitat for Humanity; SAME (So All May Eat); and as a Girl Scout troop leader. Heather shares her diverse experience and passion for growth in speaking engagements and through her involvement in the business community.

Melissa has tracked key trends in the health, wellness, food and retail industries for over 20 years and has developed a deep understanding of retail & cultural trends across a wide array of products and categories. Melissa leads Hartman’s Syndicated Studies division and is a key member of Hartman’s Leadership Team. She has an MS in Food Marketing from the National University of Ireland, Cork and a BS in Political Communication from Emerson College. Melissa has appeared on The Food Network as well as numerous national media annually.

Michael Fedele is the Founder and CEO of Throne SPORT COFFEE. With a distinguished career spanning over 15 years, Michael previously served as the Head of Marketing at BODYARMOR Sports Drink, where he spearheaded all marketing initiatives from 2012 to 2022. Under his marketing leadership, BODYARMOR's retail sales skyrocketed from $1 million in 2012 to over $1 billion by 2021, culminating in the company's successful acquisition by Coca-Cola. Michael has a proven track record of launching game-changing better-for-you products and executing groundbreaking national marketing campaigns. His extensive network includes collaborations with a roster of world-class athletes, such as Kobe Bryant, and Patrick Mahomes, among many others.

Uncle Matt's Organic Founder and CEO, Matt McLean is a pioneer, agriculture activist and entrepreneur in the organic farming and food movements. A seventh generation Floridian, Matt’s citrus roots date back four generations to his great grandfather who farmed without the use of harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Matt founded Uncle Matt’s Organic in 1999 with three acres in his Dad’s backyard. Uncle Matt’s is now the largest organic orange juice brand and the number one selling OJ and grapefruit juice in the U.S. with a full line of organic and functional beverages sold nationwide in over 20,000+ stores.