Lumileds’ Post

🍻 The craft roll ups continue. You might have missed this one from two weeks ago because the news is so constant, but I wanted to share with some commentary. Key Brewing Co. and Monument City Brewing Company, LLC announced a joining of forces to create one of Maryland's strongest, independent brewing platforms. Both breweries have decent volume, but land in that range where you need to make moves or wither. That's the main reason I like this move. Combined, they are a competitive entity with two great local brands. On their own erosion would probably pull them down over the next year or two. They are maintaining each brand portfolio, but creating a new taproom concept that features both brands. All the more reason to visit. The Maryland brew scene has taken a lot of hits lately and this is the type of maneuvering its going to take to KEEP production and jobs in the area. Maryland had 113 breweries reporting production in 2023. Some have already moved on or merged out. All individual entities were in the 10K and below barrel production. There's no hard and fast number, but somewhere around that 10K mark is a competitive, local, distributing brewery. Anything in the 5K range or below that is distributed into retail is really going to struggle - for the most part. There are exceptions to every rule. These mergers, buy-outs, and platform roll ups are becoming very common. I believe they are very good for the industry. What I am hoping is that moves like this stabilize the back of house efforts so that these brands can focus on better consumer marketing and actual innovation. Thoughts? https://lnkd.in/ehAfZBAu

I truly believe the first 7 employees are one of the biggest factors in determining a company’s success. 💡 For me, the first few hires are everything. These early teammates don’t just fill roles—they set the tone for the entire company. They define our culture, set the bar for work ethic, and shape the identity of who we are and how we operate. What I find surprising is that in many conversations with investors, there’s so much focus on product, market fit, and growth strategies, yet very little emphasis on a team’s ability to build, scale, and manage an organization. For me, this is one of the most critical elements of any startup’s success—your ability to grow an internal organization can make or break your company. This leads to one of my core beliefs: there are always two products to build in any company—the one for your customers, and the one within your organization, your team. Startups often overlook how vital it is to build a strong internal team, but this is where the real magic happens. 🪄 Today, I’m excited to welcome Tyler Shortt to the team as our VP of Revenue. Tyler’s 16+ years of experience, especially in the wine and spirits industry, make him the perfect addition to Hippie Water. He’s a bar raiser, and I know he’ll help us not only grow revenue but also raise the level of thinking, interaction, and performance across the board. Let’s begin building. Welcome, Tyler! 🙌 Already have eyes on employee #2 👀 You know who you are.

The impact of being a Vistage member at Vistage UK extends far beyond personal growth and business success. Members gain insights, make better decisions, and strengthen their leadership, which not only transforms their companies but also creates a ripple effect. This positive influence flows through their employees, customers, and communities, fostering improved company cultures, increased job satisfaction, and broader economic and social contributions. The ripple effect of a Vistage member’s growth reaches far beyond the individual, benefiting everyone connected to their leadership. https://lnkd.in/dNJFY2RA #vistageuk #vistagechair #vistagemember #rippleeffect #peeradvisory #vistagecoaching

Always leading the way…what a great conference for those in attendance. My hope is they come back to their lives and implement some of the great ideas and practices that were shared with them to help others follow their passion, succeed and pay it forward. Gecko Hospitality (Corporate) #womenempowerment #womeninbusiness #womenchangemakers #cheflife #restaurantmanagement #restaurantindustry

As James Watt stepped down from his role as CEO of BrewDog and into a Non-Executive Director role, I was asked by The Scotsman for my thoughts on the company’s leadership transition. Too many companies leave succession planning until it’s too late. However, by giving an internal candidate, in this case, new CEO, James Arrow, the chance to develop over the years and use all the knowledge he’s gathered, Brewdog is in a position to navigate this transition better than most. You can read my Op Ed below – let me know what you think! https://lnkd.in/eNuYv6ys #ceosuccession #executivesearch #strategicplanning

Making lemonade out of lemons. The last few days have been a bit of a cluster. I’m on the road. I drove from Detroit to Toronto and I forgot a jacket. I left my very large, very full toiletries bag hanging in my bathroom in Atlanta. My suitcase zipper broke. Today I drove to Buffalo for an appointment that cancelled. All the things! So I decided to stop at Niagara Falls. And here I was reminded that we are all so small. Minor problems will always be as well as the major ones too. I adapt. I pivot. We can all adapt and pivot. Make lemonade from the lemons! #adaptability #mindset #ceos #leadership

The way in which companies handle succession planning and transitions of leadership can predict their future success. With last week’s announcement that BrewDog CEO James Watt was stepping down, our Chairman and CEO, Jamie Livingston, penned an Op Ed for The Scotsman on how companies like BrewDog can navigate major transitions of power within their organisations. Read more by clicking the link below: https://lnkd.in/eQwVVNQK #executiverecruitment #successionplanning

We truly are led by the best. Congratulations to Mark Maughan, recognized as an Executive Excellence Awards winner by Utah Business. Our customers—and the amazing things they do with Domo—are what we're here for. Among many other things, Mark and his team play a pivotal role in ensuring customer success and in telling their stories. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 #UtahBusiness #BusinessNews #Utah #CustomerSuccess #Leadership #Data #AI #BI #BusinessIntelligence #DataDrivenBusiness

Don't miss out on this checklist to #ASAE24! Not only does it count down the top things to do at ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership's Annual Meeting & Exposition, but it also includes a Spotify playlist to get you in the mood for fun, networking, inspiration and more! Check it out today and come by the Community Brands booth #522 and talk to the #NetForum team about your #association's goals. #AssnChat #AssnProfs #AssociationManagement #AssociationManagementSoftware

We'd like to thank Rusty Prewett of Prewett Pest Control for sharing his straightforward approach to hiring and onboarding new team members. Want to see what he had to say? Check our our latest Thought Leadership article here: https://hubs.ly/Q02PGlgf0