Keen is a early stage Venture Capital firm focused on the BFY food and beverage industry. Targeting companies led by passionate entrepreneurs, seeking early stage capital along with seasoned managerial guidance leveraging our functional team of experts in co-manufacturing, packaging, sales & distribution, marketing, financial management and strategy. We have a proven track record of success taking great ideas to scaled market success in the national CPG space.

Advanced Micronutrition, the maker of Healright, is dedicated to reducing chronic diseases through innovative, science-driven foods. Healright Squares are a delicious micronutrient-dense intervention that comes in four flavors: Chocolate Cherry Pomegranate, Lemon Blueberry, Peanut Butter Banana, and Caramel Apple Fig and is designed to help protect against a number of serious and costly chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and moderate to severe digestive issues. In clinical research, Healright is shown to positively impact the body’s healthy inflammatory responses, which has been connected to serious health conditions. Backed by 15 research studies, Healright products provide what is most lacking in diets today, optimizing gut performance and metabolism with outstanding results in impacting metabolic dysregulation.

NGV is a early stage advisory firm dedicated to the natural products industries. Targeting companies seeking capital, management and strategy guidance and refinement of their market advantaged business model. Typical companies are in the natural, organic or related food and beverage space but can also include supplements, ingredients, pets, health and beauty, and service sectors.

Since 1980, Barnie's has been a leader in specialty coffee - roasting, retail stores and wholesale channel partnerships. Taking a senior ownership position and executive role in 2010, I led a business turnaround including new branding as Barnie's CoffeeKitchen with award-winning farm to table foods and coffees. Having developed cutting edge intellectual property around various product platforms, BCK was repositioned for national expansion in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space. The turnaround took hold in 2014 with a 100% gain in sales and is tracking to gain 50% in revenue in 2015. Earnings growth up over $2mm and now distributed across channels in 26 states. BCK serves the office coffee service, food service and grocery channels with over 5,000 locations.

Producers of Burgundian styled Pinot Noir from select family vineyards in California's finest appellations.

Strategic Planning & Innovation Architect driving branding, product platforms and sustained growth through detailed internal and external audits of brand vision, leadership team, business modeling, go to market strategy, competitive mapping and consumer insights. Clients included Fortune 1000 companies such as Constellation Wines, Chateau Michelle Estates, Cheesecake Factory and specialty food companies including Chuao Chocolatier, Hawaiian Springs, Promax Energy Bars, Driftwood Dairy and others.

A leading qualitative research firm, Iconoculture focuses on the "why" of data - serving Fortune 1000 companies in thought provoking advisory services that help shape their business against consumer and market macro-trends.

Responsible for the strategy, selection and team implementation across multiple categories and over 1,000 SKUS. Drove premium consumer experience, P&L expectations and market innovation across 260 stores and multi-million dollar e-commerce and catalog channels.

Led joint venture investment with Disney to establish a Wine Country Attraction under the Robert Mondavi mantle within a Disney theme park. The $20mm project included replicating the iconic RM winery building with wine bars, retail, gourmet deli, fine dining restaurant, theater and demonstration vineyards. Total employees:250 hired and trained to RM and Disney standards. The goal - Bring wine and wine education to the mass market to build category enjoyment, sales and brand loyalty.

Charged with revolutionizing the Olive Garden concept by repositioning the brand on culinary excellence, superior offerings that drove incremental revenue across all menu sectors with significant increases in profits without losing value perception of our consumer. Role expanded to address management structure and compensation at the unit level to align reward with these evolving brand values.