Newborn Evolution LLC

Join me and Jon Hyman as we return from the Craft Brewers Conference and share key insights. We will cover trends, what’s new, and what’s no longer relevant. If you attended the conference or missed it, you won’t miss our chat. On April 29, 2026 Joanne will be chatting with Jon Hyman, Craft Beer Chair with Wickens Herzer Panza. His talk was Happy Staff, Better Craft: Brewing a Better Workplace. Happy employees make better beer and better business. Yet in an industry fueled by passion, long hours, and razor-thin margins, too many breweries overlook their most valuable ingredient: their people. The result? Burnout, high turnover, and toxic workplace dynamics that hurt morale and the bottom line. His session explores the connection between employee engagement and brewery success and why workplace culture isn't just a feel-good concept, but a financial imperative. Replacing a single frontline employee can cost up to 50% of their annual salary, especially in high-turnover roles like production and taproom staff. You'll learn how investing in your team pays off through lower turnover, stronger performance, fewer HR headaches, and a better customer experience. And Joanne Newborn will be discussing her talk “Attention to Action: Winning Distributor Mindshare to Deliver Revenue Results.” Getting a distributor to take on your brand is just the beginning. The real challenge is turning that attention into long-term action that drives revenue. Her session dives into building and sustaining distributor mindshare that leads to real results. She will cover setting expectations, aligning goals, building partnerships, and rising above the noise in a competitive portfolio environment. About Jonathan Hyman Jon Hyman is a nationally recognized employment lawyer with more than 30 years of experience advising businesses on workplace issues. He has also built a strong niche in the craft beer industry as a trusted advisor and frequent speaker at brewing conferences. Bring your questions to our LinkedIn Live!! Link to RSVP is: https://lnkd.in/eY3W3dUJ #beer #craftbeer #distribution #beerindustry

The changing consumer is the most perplexing and biggest challenge in today's alcohol beverage landscape… Why? Younger Generations Are Drinking Less (and Differently) ● 38% of adults aged 18–34 say they do not drink alcohol, up significantly over the past two decades ● Only 62% of adults under 35 report drinking, vs. ~72% in early 2000s (Source: Gallup – “Young Adults’ Drinking Habits in U.S.”) Consumers Are More Diverse in Preferences Than Ever ● The U.S. alcohol market is increasingly multicultural and multi-generational, with Gen Z and Millennials driving flavor experimentation and category crossover ● Growth in spirits-based RTDs, tequila, and imported beers tied to demographic shifts (Sources: Distilled Spirits Council of the United States – “Economic Briefing”;  NielsenIQ – “Multicultural Consumer Report” Experiences are Replacing Brand Loyalty ● 72% of Gen Z consumers say they value experiences over products ● Brand loyalty is declining across CPG; consumers are more willing to switch brands based on occasion, price, or experience (Sources: Eventbrite – “Gen Z & Millennials Experience Economy Report”; McKinsey & Company – “The New Consumer Loyalty”) Our May Executive Forum will be a panel discussion with the people who are seeing exactly what consumers are drinking and what they are asking for in real-time. Join leaders from Total Wine & More, Bonefish Grill and a highly successful Key Account and bring your questions for this high level discussion. Why you should consider joining the conversation: -Our Executive Forums are exclusive and by invitation only -We will be sharing expert insights during the forum from decades of experience in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industries -You will have the opportunity to have real-time conversations with high- level leaders like yourself, in the Alcohol Beverage Industry who are facing similar challenges -This is a great opportunity to expand your network leadership skills -All attendees will receive a high-level recap of the most pertinent key takeaways Join us on Wednesday, May 13, at 12:00 noon ET for  "Peek Behind the Bar & Shelf: What Retailers and Restaurants Are Really Seeing from Today’s Consumer—and How to Turn It Into Distribution & Velocity Gains for 2026”. RSVP in the link below or request an invite. Newborn Evolution LLC Bryan Portnoy

The New Brewer Magazine arrived and the opening article was by Sarah Billiu, VP of Membership of the Brewers Association.  In her article she mentions that every successful brewery needs a strong foundation consisting of 3 components:  1. Making great beer 2. Running a smart business 3. Delivering exceptional hospitality My talk’s focus is on #2: “ATTENTION TO ACTION:WINNING DISTRIBUTOR MINDSHARE TO DELIVER REVENUE RESULTS” Join me on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 9am in 201-AB at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Or connect with me after my sessions as I am happy to share insights, talk through your current approach, or just compare notes on what’s happening in the market right now. We are also a proud member of the Brewers Association. #craftbrewing #distributorpartnership #distribution #revenuegrowth

Are you heading to the Craft Brewers Conf or just very interested in the industry? Join me  for a small taste of what you will experience inside the Craft Brewers Conference in Philadelphia, PA. Joanne Newborn, CEO of Newborn Evolution LLC will be interviewing some of the most interesting speakers at the conference and sharing a bit of their crafty secrets. The link to RSVP us is: https://lnkd.in/efgUKKr2 On April 15, 2026 Joanne will be chatting with Ryan Malkin, Founder and Principal of Malkin Law about his talk "Legal Jeopardy: Test Your Knowledge.  In his unique session, beverage attorney Ryan Malkin and comedian Leah Renee will have a full game of jeopardy. You can join a team and test your knowledge of legal questions in a variety of areas, including licensing and permits, marketing and advertising, sales tactics, distribution agreements, production, and labeling. And Joanne Newborn will be discussing her talk “Attention to Action: Winning Distributor Mindshare to Deliver Revenue Results” Getting a distributor to take on your brand is just the beginning—the real challenge is turning that attention into long-term action that drives revenue. Her session dives deep into the art of building and sustaining distributor mindshare in a way that leads to real results in the market. She will explore what matters before the first case ships: setting expectations, aligning goals, and approaching the relationship as a true partnership. From there, she will tackle how to consistently earn and keep a share of mind in a competitive portfolio environment—what turns distributors off, what turns them on, and how to rise above the noise. About Ryan Malkin, Founder and Principal, Malkin Law is an attorney focusing on beverage and cannabis law. He has more than 15 years of experience providing guidance to suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, agencies, and third parties within these regulated industries. About Joanne Newborn, CEO & Founder, Newborn Evolution LLC: Joanne Newborn spent over two decades in the beer, wine and spirits business in sales, marketing, strategy, and distributor management, building and leading teams across North America. Her company, Newborn Evolution, partners with smart leaders to build teams that think strategically, problem-solve effectively, and take true ownership of their outcomes. Don’t miss these sessions at the Craft Brewers Conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center: You can see Ryan’s Talk on Tuesday, April 21, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM at the Think Tank Stage - Exhibit Hall A And you can catch Joanne’s session on Wednesday, April 22, 9am-10am, in 201-AB #craftbeer #craftbrewersconference #beer #law #distribution

Today is National Beer Day! Did you know that craft Is Built on Post-Prohibition Freedom?The craft movement exists because of the regulatory shift that began on April 7, 1933. Without that moment → no microbreweries, no taprooms, no local brewing renaissance. According to the Brewers Association: ● ~9,700+ craft breweries now operate in the U.S. ● Craft represents ~13% of total beer volume ● Craft drives nearly 25% of retail dollar sales ● From a handful of breweries post-Prohibition → to thousands today National Beer Day celebrates the moment beer came back. The Craft Brewers Conference celebrates what we’ve built since.m Back then, the challenge was getting beer back into people’s hands. Today, the challenge is getting your beer top of mind. I’m speaking on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 9am in 201-AB at the Philadelphia Convention Center at the Brewers Association’s Craft Beer Conference. If you are seeking to learn more about advanced distribution techniques, you won’t want to miss my session, “ATTENTION TO ACTION:WINNING DISTRIBUTOR MINDSHARE TO DELIVER REVENUE RESULTS” And if you are attending, let's connect! If you can’t make my session, let’s meet in person. Newborn Evolution LLC is a proud member of the Brewers Association. #craftbrewing #distributorpartnership #distribution #revenuegrowth #NationalBeerDay 

Are you finding it challenging to be a confident leader in today’s landscape? Pressures to perform are more intense than ever.  Being able to lead a high-performance team is also difficult due to low morale. Here is the answer. CONTROL CLARITY COURAGE I will be diving deeply into these three areas and illustrating how leaders can maintain confidence in high-pressure environments using these three actions. Participants will learn how to stay focused, communicate with conviction, and lead teams effectively even when the market environment feels unpredictable. Join Women of the Vine & Spirits and me for a Live Chat: “Confidence Under Pressure: How Leaders Thrive in Challenging Markets” on Tuesday, April 7 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET Newborn Evolution LLC #wine #spirits #beer #alcoholbeverage #leadership

Headed to the Craft Brewers Conference in April? I’ll be speaking about something I see every day with craft brands. Getting distribution is one thing. And getting distributor attention is another. If you’ve ever thought: - “Why aren’t they pushing our brand?” - “We have great beer… what are we missing?” - “How do we stand out in a crowded portfolio?” Come chat with me after my session. Happy to share insights, talk through your current approach, or just compare notes on what’s happening in the market right now. My session is April 22 at 9am -  “ATTENTION TO ACTION:WINNING DISTRIBUTOR MINDSHARE TO DELIVER REVENUE RESULTS” I will be available at the convention center on April 22 from 10:30am - 3:30pm to meet 1:1 to discuss your biggest distributor challenges in today’s rapidly shifting and declining landscape. If you would like to set up 15 - 30 minutes to chat, reach out to me on LinkedIn Messaging or send me an email to Concierge@NewbornLeadershipEvolution.com We are also a proud member of the Brewers Association. #craftbrewing #distributorpartnership #distribution #revenuegrowth 

Anybody experiencing Burnout and Leadership Fatigue? The past few years have brought a plethora of unexpected shifts in business: ● Pandemic recovery ● Supply chain disruption ● On-premise volatility ● Workforce turnover Women leaders frequently carry additional responsibilities such as: ● Mentoring other women ● Leading DEI initiatives ● Serving as culture champions within organizations This creates a hidden workload beyond their formal job responsibilities. I will be exploring how leaders can maintain confidence in high-pressure sales environments where targets are aggressive, distributor mindshare is competitive, and results are constantly under scrutiny. Participants will learn how to stay focused, communicate with conviction, and lead teams effectively even when the market environment feels unpredictable. Join Women of the Vine & Spirits and me for a Live Chat: “Confidence Under Pressure: How Leaders Thrive in Challenging Markets” on Tuesday, April 7 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET #wine #spirits #beer #alcoholbeverage #leadership

Do you know the very interesting history of National Beer Day? It is celebrated every year on April 7 in the United States and it marks the day in 1933 when the Cullen-Harrison Act went into effect.  This act allowed the sale of beer up to 3.2% ABW, beginning the end of Prohibition in the United States. Within 24 hours, Americans reportedly consumed 1.5 million barrels of beer! It represents the rebirth of the U.S. brewing industry and it laid the foundation for what would eventually become today’s craft beer movement. It’s essentially the first “reset” moment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and local brewing Which is a great segway into what’s next. I’m speaking on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 9am in 201-AB at the Philadelphia Convention Center at the Brewers Association’s Craft Beer Conference. If you are seeking to learn more about advanced distribution techniques, you won’t want to miss my session, “ATTENTION TO ACTION:WINNING DISTRIBUTOR MINDSHARE TO DELIVER REVENUE RESULTS” And if you are attending, let's connect! If you can’t make my session, let’s meet in person. Newborn Evolution LLC is a proud member of the Brewers Association. #craftbrewing #distributorpartnership #distribution #revenuegrowth #NationalBeerDay 

It is a rarity to see a company in today’s landscape that has lasted 50 years (½ a century!) According to Harvard Business Review the average lifespan of companies today is about 15 years, vs. the 1930s when the average lifespan was 60+ years. So today, I have the privilege to interview @ElainePivinski who is the founder of Franklin Hill Vineyards. Fifty years ago, Elaine started her winery with a bold vision: to live off the land while raising her children. What began as a personal mission has grown into one of the largest wine producers in the region—now spanning two locations and distribution in 450+ Fine Wine & Spirit stores and 150+ grocery stores across Pennsylvania. But this conversation isn’t just about where she’s been—it’s about where she’s going next. Her philosophy: “You attract what you think and do” Elaine’s impact is undeniable—recognized by Governor Rendell as one of the Top 50 Women in Business, a National Women’s Business Enterprise, and the first female inducted into the Lehigh Valley Business Hall of Fame, along with numerous honors including the Athena Award, Trailblazer Award, and Circle of Excellence. This is more than a celebration—it’s a masterclass in leadership, legacy, and longevity. Join our LinkedIn Live for Women’s History Month Spotlight: 50 Years of Leadership, Legacy & Wine Join Joanne Newborn, CEO & Founder of Newborn Evolution LLC, for a powerful and inspiring conversation with Elaine Pivinski, Owner & Founder of Franklin Hill Vineyards—one of Pennsylvania’s most influential women in wine. If you’re a founder, leader, or woman building something meaningful—you don’t want to miss this. Save your spot. Bring your questions. Be ready to be inspired. https://lnkd.in/gyxu_tHa Friday, March 27 at 11:30am ET. If you can’t make it we will send you the replay if you RSVP.