Creators

FUTURE PROOF

Your instructors are some of today’s most influential bartenders and bar owners.

Meet Your Creators

Claire Sprouse

Sustainability Advocate

...has worked vigorously to address the industry’s influence on climate change, with a focus on educating and consulting on sustainable practices...

Claire Sprouse

Sustainability Advocate

Claire Sprouse has bartended, managed, and consulted at some of the country's most well-known and awarded cocktail institutions, from Houston to San Francisco, and now New York City. She opened her first bar --Hunky Dory in Brooklyn, New York (2019), followed by Buddy in San Francisco, California (2021). For over the last decade of her hospitality career, Sprouse has worked vigorously to address the industry’s influence on climate change, with a focus on educating and consulting on sustainable practices for audiences around the globe. Her commitment to these goals have been recognized by many, including Tales of the Cocktail “Sustainable Spirit Award” 2015; “Golden Spirit Educator Award” 2016, Southern Foodways Alliance “Future of the South” Fellowship 2020, and Drinks International “Bar World 100 of the Most Influential Figures”, 2019, 2020, 2021.

Jim Meehan

Cocktail Philosopher

...passion for service, quest for further knowledge, belief in the transformative power of hospitality, and commitment to mentor the industry’s next generation...

Jim Meehan

Cocktail Philosopher

Jim Meehan’s hospitality career spans over twenty-five years from Madison, Wisconsin to New York City to Portland, Oregon, where he oversees beverage for Snow Peak USA. Meehan also serves as the global mixologist for American Express Centurion airport lounges and as an advisor to Banks Rums, which he co-founded. After editing multiple editions of Food & Wine Cocktails and Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide; Jim authored his own books-The PDT Cocktail Bookand Meehan’s Bartender Manual-which have become industry favorites worldwide. Jim’s passion for service, quest for further knowledge, belief in the transformative power of hospitality, and commitment to mentor the industries next generation is only divided by his duties as a proud father and devoted husband.

Steve Schneider

Global Bar Operator

...worked tirelessly on the front lines of the cocktail renaissance to achieve a level of success seldom seen..

Steve Schneider

Global Bar Operator

Steve Schneider has earned a reputation as one of the most respected and successful bartenders in the industry. Now a nineteen-year veteran of the bar business, Steve rose to prominence as Principal Bartender and Bar Manager of pioneering cocktail bar Employees Only (EO). In June of 2016, he became a partner in Employees Only Singapore, the company’s first expansion outside of NYC. Today, he is an operator, shareholder, and investor in multiple venues across the world. A former US Marine, Steve’s first career in the military was cut short after a nearly fatal accident left him in a coma. When he miraculously recovered, he took the first job he could find – a position at a local dive bar. However, Steve found himself enjoying the fast-paced environment and the science behind creating a truly stunning craft cocktail. He soon turned the initially temporary stint into a serious life change and worked tirelessly on the frontlines of the cocktail renaissance to achieve a level of success seldom seen at that point in time in the bar industry. “I almost died in a bar,” Steve says of that night, “And I was reborn in a bar.” Steve has racked up a long list of accolades and appearances, but some of the most notable are Twitch Channel ‘mightyschneidey’ – formerly The Steve Schneider Show – (2015 Podcast available on iTunes and Google Play), Hey Bartender (Documentary), 2015 Bartender of the Year – Nightclub and Bar Media Group, 2012 Cocktail World Cup Champion (42 Below, New Zealand), VH1 Big Morning Buzz, Jamie Oliver’s DrinksTube, Watch What Happens Live ESPN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal.

Advisors

Heidi Hinkle Vargas

Vice President, Sales

...oversees the national strategy and execution for all things hospitality which includes national accounts, field sales, brand ambassadors, and trade marketing programs across North America...

Heidi Hinkle Vargas

Vice President, Sales

If you’ve ordered a Bacardi cocktail at one of your favorite neighborhood bars or restaurants across the U.S., Heidi probably had her hand in getting Bacardi brands there. During her time as Vice President and Managing Director of On-Premise, Heidi managed the entire On Trade for Bacardi USA. This included an award-winning national account team who cared for the largest restaurant, hotel, casino and concession chains. In addition to this, she built the national strategy for independent bars and restaurants. There, she kept a vigilant watch over what she refers to as the On-Premise Empire, a field sales team covering the country who bring the Bacardi brands to life for consumers and are consulting partners for venues across the U.S. Heidi led the development between Bacardi and Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management to create the Bacardi Center of Excellence; a dynamic educational partnership focused on developing the next generation of beverage management, fine spirits, industry innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Through passion and insights, she formed the vision for Future Proof. The timing aligned as she took on the Advocacy team in 2020 and left the development in the capable hands of Jaymee Mandeville and Adrian Biggs. In 2013 Heidi joined Bacardi with impressive hospitality and beverage credentials. She previously worked at Pernod Ricard and at MGM Resorts International (Bellagio and Aria Resorts) where she managed massive beverage programs. Under her leadership, she cultivated hundreds of bartenders and cocktail servers as well as groomed many of the food and beverage executives that are prevalent in Las Vegas today. During this time, Heidi was voted by her peers as the Santé Spirits Professional of the Year. She has been recognized by employers and peers for driving results through building positive culture and leading with authenticity. Currently residing in Southern California, Heidi is married with identical twin boys and is a self-proclaimed foodie and home chef. Heidi says Future Proof is one of her proudest career accomplishments, as it will provide the trade with unparalleled knowledge and impressive credentials.

Adrian Biggs

Director of Advocacy

...manages the Bacardi Team of Portfolio Ambassadors in their efforts to help elevate and educate bar owners, managers, bartenders, and service staff...

Adrian Biggs

Director of Advocacy

Born in Tasmania, the little island state below mainland Australia, Biggs has lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand, England and the USA. Kicking off a career in Food and Beverage operations Biggs spent 10+ years honing his craft in the hospitality world having worked in large scale casino hotel operations, fine dining restaurants, craft cocktail bars and a stint on in the cruise industry. Biggs made his way into the supplier world via a close connection with 42BELOW vodka in New Zealand that blossomed into an Account Development Manager role with Bacardi UK in London. As fate would have it a 42BELOW ambassador role opened in San Francisco at a pivotal point in Biggs career. Being a company guy has seen Biggs flourish in an array or roles in the past 14 years in the US, where he most certainly calls home. Currently as Director of Advocacy for Bacardi North America Biggs has channeled his years of on premise and ambassador experience into efforts that support the organizations passions to win in the on premise. With the best portfolio of brands and dedicated team of ambassadors Biggs is already setup for success. Residing in Miami, Adrian when not working can smash a golf ball a yard or two, keeps fit and active, is known to be a touch overzealous around Passionfruit cocktails and is wrapped around his two daughters' fingers.

Jaymee Mandeville

National Education Director

...is a demonstrated trainer and awarded mixologist. Jaymee has been a featured presenter and panelist and comes with a wealth of industry insights...

Jaymee Mandeville

National Education Director

Jaymee Mandeville leads across field and digital as Director of Education across the Bacardi Portfolio. She is a demonstrated trainer and awarded mixologist. Mandeville has been a featured presenter, panelist and committee member for over 20 trade shows across the globe. With 9 years in brand advocacy at TEAM combined with a decade experience working behind the bar for notable hospitality groups SBE and One Group, she brings a wealth of industry insights. LA native and NY based, she has worked in both fashion and entertainment prior to making her name in the spirits industry. As a proclaimed jet setter, science enthusiast, advocate of diversity and promotor of sustainability, Jaymee continues to travel far and wide to share her knowledge, experience and curiosity with the next generation of bar professionals.

Recruitment & Certification

Colin Appiah

Director Culture & Lifestyle

...is responsible for fostering brand advocacy for the Bacardi USA Brand Portfolio, building brand loyalty, and elevating the bartending community through brand focused educational programming, events, & seminars...

Colin Appiah

Director Culture & Lifestyle

As one of the spirits industry’s most well-known and liked pioneers and trendsetters, Colin Asare-Appiah, MC/LGBTQ+ Advocacy Trade Director, and winner of the coveted 2016 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for “Best American Brand Ambassador”, has been making waves and setting industry standards since he first got his start in the industry over three decades ago. Born in Ghana and raised in the UK, Colin began on this path as the original cocktail guide for BBC’S “The Good Food Show” with Anthony Worrel Thompson and started consulting on a myriad of spirit brands, truly immersing himself in all things spirit and cocktail right at cusp of the craft cocktail revolution. From there, at the age 22, Colin co-founded the bar school, London Academy of Bartending along with industry professionals Douglas Ankrah, Richard Hargroves, Alex Turner and Andrew Chan-sing with the goal of teaching everything they had learned to rising bartenders, colleagues in the industry and beverage companies. Due to its immense success, the business morphed into a bar and was globally recognized as LAB, has become a renowned and benchmark establishment in the industry. Since then, Colin has worked with numerous spirit brands, chefs, cocktail bars, and industry experts across the globe. He managed the bar at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Babington House and starred in his own show “The Cocktail Kings” on the DISCOVERY Channel where he and a co-presenter travelled around the world creating bespoke cocktails to reflect their destinations. The show is still being aired in Asia and South America. Colin moved to the US in 2004 as a partner of a premium vodka brand and was responsible for all aspects of the business, from working with the TTB and customs to inspiring the distributors and sales teams across the country with innovative programming and inspiring and mentoring a new generation of bartenders. In his current role, Colin is responsible for fostering brand advocacy for the Bacardi USA Brand Portfolio, building brand loyalty, and elevating the bartending community through brand focused educational programming, events, and seminars. He was recognized as the Best Brand Ambassador in the USA in 2016. His expertise and spirits knowledge has been featured in Imbibe, Complex, WSJ, TIME, and Cocktail Lovers Magazine to name a few. Colin currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and sons.

Leeanne Grunow

Project Coordinator

...is an awarded scholar with her bachelor’s and master’s from FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Upon graduation she parlayed her acquired experience into landing a new role with TEAM Enterprises...

Leeanne Grunow

Project Coordinator

Leeanne Grunow is an awarded scholar with her bachelor’s and master’s from Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.  As a member of the inaugural Bacardi Center of Excellence Internship Program, she was chosen for three separate internships with Bacardi North America.  Upon graduation she parlayed her acquired experience into landing a new role with TEAM Enterprises - Education Project Coordinator.  As a proven leader in collaborative organization, task management and event production, Leeanne dedicates vision and structure to Bacardi’s next gen bar training program, ‘Future Proof’.    Her peers describe Leeanne as passionate about food, beverage, people, and travel.  She leaves a legacy at FIU as founding President of the Wine Guild and integral eboard member of the Bartenders Guild.  In addition, she was a Carnival Cruise Line Gold recipient and recognized Worlds Ahead Triumph Scholar.  With a constant desire to contribute to the wellbeing of the planet and global community, her interests in sustainability led Leeanne and her team to the International Sustainability Hospitality Concept Competition, where they were chosen to represent FIU in Amsterdam.   With experience ranging from leading events at SOBE, off-premise marketing strategy, brand advocacy, and on-premise data and analytics, she offers a variety of skills combined with a love of learning.    As a Floridian, Leeanne loves all that nature has to offer and in her free time you can find her working on growing her own vegetable garden.

Brian Connors

Director, Bacardi Center

...passion for beverage education is proven with the development of awarding winning beverage programs and innovative educational platforms. Brian works directly with industry and academia creating innovative solutions...

Brian Connors

Director, Bacardi Center

Brian Connors is the Senior Director, Global Food & Beverage Innovation, and Founding Faculty Director of the Bacardi Center of Excellence at Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Brian works directly with industry and academia creating innovative solutions for operational training, concept development, and educational resources. As the Director of the Bacardi Center of Excellence, Brian has created the first-of-its-kind Bacardi Spirits Management Major, and developed and launched the virtual learning platform called BacardiTeach, and contributor to Future Proof. Hosts the popular industry-focused BacardiTalks series and 2 Barstools & a Knife Podcast. He also oversees the Bacardi Innovations Fund which launched Cecilia the world's first interactive robot bartender that received national media attention on NBC’s Today Show, FOX & Friends, and international media coverage. He is also the lead faculty of the Beverage Management programs at the top-ranked Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management including the new wine studies and beverage entrepreneurship, brewing arts, and spirits management programs. Brian is the lead curriculum designer and facilitator for Accelerate Learning Systems, which customizes learning programs for Sandals Corporate University. Sandals Corporate University is the Sandals Resorts International adult education program for Caribbean nationals employed by Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts. He was the Wine & Beverage Consultant for Celebrity Cruises. In this role, he assisted in the development of their award-winning beverage programs and traveled the globe training the fleet of nine ships and one of the largest teams of Sommeliers in the world. Throughout his career, Brian has consulted to nearly every segment of the industry including independent and multi-unit restaurant groups, hotels, resorts, entertainment venues, private city, and country clubs, retailers of natural and organic goods, hospitality REITs, and the mega yacht industry. He is regularly invited to speak nationally on topics such as innovative education, food & beverage trends, strategic marketing, and hospitality leadership. Brian has developed nationally recognized, award-winning wine and beverage programs, and has appeared on the Travel Channel’s ‘Trip of a Lifetime’ as well as national television and print media features. Brian earned his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University, has trained for his Sommelier certification at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, and is certified by the Court of Master Sommelier. He is also a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) through the Society of Wine Educators, International Bordeaux Wine Educator (IBWE) through The Bordeaux Wine Trade Council (CIVB), and a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) according to standards achieved through the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Brian served as Alumni Admissions Ambassador at Cornell University for the School of Hotel Administration and was a board member of the Cornell Hotel Society. Brian has a Master's degree from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, and a Bachelor of Science from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, which is a specialized business school in the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University.

Creators

FUTURE PROOF

Meet Your Creators

Claire Sprouse

Jim Meehan

Steve Schneider

Advisors

Heidi Hinkle Vargas

Adrian Biggs

Jaymee Mandeville

Recruitment & Certification

Colin Appiah

Leeanne Grunow

Brian Connors

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