MBArk Expo West 2020 Agenda


MBArk EXPO WEST 2020 AGENDA

Here is the tentative schedule for MBArk, with activities, dates and times subject to change.  Other activities may be added as we get closer to the show.

Thursday, March 5

9:00am – 6:00pm
exhibits open in North Hall, Hilton and Marriott
Anaheim Convention Center, hotels

9:30am – 6:00pm
exhibits open in Arena, Arena Lobby, Floor 3
Anaheim Convention Center

10:00am – 6:00pm
main show floor open

Anaheim Convention Center

3:30 – 4:15pm
Walk the Floor with CEOs – OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

  • Get a head start on your Expo experience by walking a part of the show floor with an industry expert!
  • Join a small tour group led by either with Mark Retzloff (Founder of Horizon Organic) Terry Tierney (Board Member and former CEO of Daiya Foods) Peter Burns (CEO of ONEBrands), or Seth Goldman (Executive Chairman of Beyond Meat and Co-Founder of Honest Tea)

4:15pm
Booth Meeting with Chuck Engle, SVP of Sales at REBBL
Anaheim Convention Center, booth 5148 – OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

5:00 – 6:00pm
Focus Session on Sustainability – OPTIONAL ACTIVITY
panelists: Sara Axelrod, Director of Sustainability, Beverage Packaging – North and Central America, Ball Corporation (Texas MBA); and Lindsay Arell, Principal and Strategist at Honeycomb Strategies
Sheraton Park Hotel, Plaza C Ballroom

6:00 – 9:00pm
MBArk Welcome and Orientation Dinner
Sheraton Park Hotel, Plaza AB Ballroom

  • Introduction to the event and the industry by Joe Dobrow
  • Informal chance to meet your fellow MBArk participants
  • Group photo in your b-school logo gear

Friday, March 6

On both Friday and Saturday we hold a mix of scheduled activities and free time so that participants can set up meetings with individual brands,  roam the show floor, attend educational seminars, try food samples, and network with their favorite companies. Some activities have not been finalized yet and are not included on this schedule.

8:00 – 10:00am
MBArk CEO Breakfast
Sheraton Park Hotel, Plaza AB Ballroom

  • Our showcase event!
  • During the 8:00 hour, hear presentations from some of the industry’s legendary leaders:
    • John Foraker, CEO of Once Upon a Farm (Berkeley)
    • Paddy Spence, CEO of Zevia (HBS)
    • Carla Vernon, Natural & Organic Operating Unit President, General Mills (Texas)
    • Blair Kellison, CEO of Traditional Medicinals (Chicago)
    • Naomi Whittel, former CEO of Twinlab and bestselling author
  • During the 9:00 hour, we’ll rotate tables frequently so you can meet with our speakers and other special guests, currently scheduled to include:
    • Sara Axelrod, Director of Sustainability, Beverage Packaging of Ball Corporation (Texas)
    • Ibraheem Basir, Founder and CEO, A Dozen Cousins (Wharton)
    • Sarah Bird, CEO of Beyond Broth (Dartmouth)
    • Bill Capsalis, CEO of Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy
    • Rob Dalton, Co-Founder of 88 Acres (Babson)
    • Zach DeAngelo, CEO of Rodeo CPG
    • Chuck Engle, SVP of Sales at REBBL
    • Evan Faber, CEO of Moxie Sozo
    • Dustin Finkel, CEO of Ka-Pop (Kellogg)
    • Besty Foster, Global VP of Business Development at Whole Foods Market (University of Houston)
    • Emma Frelinghuysen, CEO of REDD Bar (Stanford)
    • Elizabeth Giannuzzi, Co-Founder of Siren Snacks (Stanford)
    • Seth Goldman, Executive Chairman of Beyond Meat and Co-Founder of Honest Tea (Yale)
    • John Grubb, Managing Partner of Summit Venture Management (Yale)
    • Fred Haberman, CEO of Haberman Modern Storytellers
    • Alex Hanifin, Founder of Alpine Start Coffee
    • John Haugen, Founder and General Manager of General Mills 301 Brand Elevator (UCLA)
    • Kris Holmes, VP/Principal/Recruiter, O’Connell Group (Kellogg)
    • Dan Horan, Founder and CEO of Five Acre Farms (Yale)
    • Heather Howitt, CEO of Thaiwala and Founder of Oregon Chai
    • Liz Myslik, CMO of Fresca Foods and CEO of Fresca Brands (Kellogg)
    • Cassie Nielsen, VP of Talent at VMG Partners
    • Ryan Pintado-Vertner, Founder and Principal of Smoketown (Berkeley)
    • Jess Price, CEO of Maker Oats (Kellogg)
    • Doug Radi, CEO of Good Karma Foods (Wake Forest)
    • Mark Retzloff, Founder of Horizon Organic and a member of the Hall of Legends
    • Nancy Rosenzweig, Founder and Principal of ValuesAligned Capital  (Northeastern)
    • Darcy Shiber-Knowles, Director of Operational Sustainability and Innovation at Dr. Bronner (Yale)
    • Jim Slama, CEO and Founder of Good Food Accelerator
    • Terry Tierney, former CEO of Daiya Foods
    • Eliza Timpson, CEO of Sunwink (HBS)

9:00am – 6:00pm
exhibits open in North Hall, Hilton and Marriott
Anaheim Convention Center, hotels

9:30am – 6:00pm
exhibits open in Arena, Arena Lobby, Floor 3
Anaheim Convention Center

10:00am – 6:00pm
main show floor open

Anaheim Convention Center

11:30am
booth visit with Gary Hirshberg, Co-Founder and Chief Organic Optimist, Stonyfield
Anaheim Convention Center booth 5308 – OPTIONAL ACTIVITY 

12:30pm
booth visit with Mike Messersmith (HBS), General Manager, and Drew Martin, VP of Sales, of REBBL
Anaheim Convention Center booth 5389 – OPTIONAL ACTIVITY 

1:30pm
booth visit with Katie Paul, VP Category Management at KeHE Distributors (St. Joseph’s)
Anaheim Convention Center booth 1418 – OPTIONAL ACTIVITY 

3:00 – 4:00pm
entrepreneurship focus session with Ryan Pintado-Vertner, CEO of Smoketown (Berkeley) and Michele Burchfield, CEO of Blume Honey Water
Sheraton Park Hotel, Plaza C Ballroom  OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

4:00 – 5:00pm
e-commerce focus session with Nick Green, CEO of Thrive Market
Sheraton Park Hotel, Plaza C Ballroom  OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

6:00 – 8:00pm
MBA Alumni Cocktail Hour and Dinner
Sheraton Park Hotel, Plaza D (cocktails) and ABC (dinner) Ballrooms

  • Eat, drink, rewind, trade stories
  • Join MBA alumni and learn about their career paths – attendees may include:
    • Jose Alonso, Co-Founder of Caldo Restaurant Technologies (Berkeley)
    • Kathryn Bernell, CEO of reBLEND (Kellogg)
    • Jenny Burns, Innovation Director at Applegate (Berkeley)
    • Natalie Cira, Director of New Ventures at Purple Carrot (Dartmouth)
    • Sarah Cline, VP of Sales at Sol Cuisine (Yale)
    • Loick Fenaux, Head of Life Science and Nutrition at Dohler Group (Yale)
    • Juan Giraldo, Co-Founder of Waku (Babson)
    • Amy Ho, RIND Snacks (NYU)
    • Manraj Jabbal (Colorado State)
    • Blair Kellison, CEO of Traditional Medicinals (Chicago)
    • Zoe Kissam, Marketing Manager, Innovation and Herbalist at Traditional Medicinals
    • Ramon Romero, Managing Director at Isanatur
    • and more…

Saturday, March 7

On both Friday and Saturday we hold a mix of scheduled activities and free time so that participants can set up meetings with individual brands,  roam the show floor, attend educational seminars, try food samples, and network with their favorite companies. Some activities have not been finalized yet and are not included on this schedule.

8:00 – 10:00am
MBArk Case Study Breakfast
Sheraton Park Hotel, Park AB Ballroom

  • Help problem-solve in real time for Lily’s Sweets and their CEO, Jane Miller (SMU)

10:00am – 4:00pm
main show floor open
Anaheim Convention Center

1:00pm
booth visit with Greg Steltenpohl, Founder and CEO of Califia Farms
Anaheim Convention Center booth 5484

2:00 – 3:00pm
MBArk Wrap-Up Meeting
TBD, probably Anaheim Convention Center room 205A