Jerald is one of the world’s leading authorities in the drinks space who, over the course of his 25 years as director and now President of BevTest, has professionally reviewed and analyzed over a quarter million wines, beers, and spirits and trained hundreds of hospitality and drinks professionals in the science and art of critical liquid evaluation and sensory analysis. Leveraging his deep knowledge and vast experience, he collaborates with beverage brands of all sizes seeking to create great products and winning marketing and sales strategies. Over the past two decades, Jerald has worked closely with the world’s most-admired beverage brands and holding companies, including Diageo, Pernod-Ricard, Beam-Suntory, PepsiCo, Heineken, Starbucks, Bacardi, Campari, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, and the Boston Beer Company.

Frequently sought out for his expertise and analysis, Jerald has contributed and provided articles, insights, and critiques to media that include The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNBC, The Chicago Tribune, All About Beer, The New Yorker, BBC, Restaurant Hospitality, and many others.

A graduate of the University of Chicago with a BA in Economics and post-graduate work in the arts, Jerald has amassed certifications and honors that include being valedictorian of his class at The Chicago Wine School, a Certified Sensory Specialist by The Siebel Institute of Technology, Pilsner Urquell’s Beer Connoisseur #2 (the late, great drinks author and BevTest panelist Michael Jackson being #1), and an appointment as ‘Cavaleiro’ by the Confraria do Vinho do Porto—an honorary Portuguese Knighthood for his service in the understanding, appreciation, and promotion of Port wines.

Debra manages the day-to-day operations at Beverage Testing Institute. With over 30 years of experience working in hospitality with a focus on food and beverage, Debra not only understands beverages from a product standpoint, but from the context in which beverages are consumed and brand loyalties are forged.

With a degree in restaurant management and extensive experience managing large-scale events at prestigious and high-profile occasions including the Kentucky Derby, Debra keeps a laser-like focus on efficiency and achieving objectives. Clients and partners benefit from Debra’s ability to bring simplicity and order to complex undertakings.

In addition to bringing her culinary expertise to bear for clients and partners, Debra also volunteers by teaching cooking classes for Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger in the United States.

Lance recently became the Senior Partner at BevTest after decades of experience in the financial services industry where he led sales teams that provided products that offered lifetime income streams. Saving, growing, and protecting retirement investments to both maintain an auspicious lifestyle and ensure a legacy that endures is a specialty that harmonizes across markets.

Since becoming involved in BevTest’s daily operations he is working with the management team to implement proven business processes to further enhance the effectiveness and deliverability of BevTest’s many offerings. By taking a great service and making it even better, it is Lance’s hope to expand the reach and presence of BevTest to lead the industry forward.

This is accomplished first by continuing to provide the best independent beverage ratings in the marketplace by using BevTest’s unmatched proprietary methodology. Then growing additional ventures that adhere to BevTest’s mission of improving the beverage industry one brand at a time with independence, integrity, and consistency. Of course, this is the beverage business, so he wants BevTest to not only provide the best service to our clients, but also have some fun along the way. As his father says, “Skoal!”