2025 Speakers

Jon Berg

VP of Thought Leadership, NIQ Beverage Alcohol Vertical

Jon started his career working in sales for Pfizer but moved over to the Beverage Alcohol industry where he has been for the last 20 years. His recent work history has been with MillerCoors, Bacardi USA and Moet Hennessy. Jon’s roles have been focused on commercial insights development, category management, shopper research, and retail pricing design. His investigative work and primary consumer research has taken him to all the major US and Canadian markets, as well as global projects in Europe. Now within the Thought Leadership framework at NielsenIQ, Jon is working across BevAl segments to develop insights material that can support and help define NIQ client success.

NielsenIQ is a global measurement and data analytics company providing the most complete and trusted view of consumers and markets in 90 countries covering 90% of the world’s population. Focusing primarily on consumer packaged goods manufacturers and fast-moving consumer packaged goods retailers, NielsenIQ gives customers the power to defy what’s possible.

Karen Daenen

Director of Research & Consumer Insights, Jackson Family Wines

Karen Daenen is the Director of Research & Consumer Insights at Jackson Family Wines. For past 14 years, she’s been leading all consumer research for Jackson Family Wines with emphasis on identifying and translating consumer and wine trends, analyzing brand equity and spearheading new research methodologies. Prior to Jackson Family Wines, Karen was Director of Research at Nielsen and at Opinion Research Council where her client base centered on Fortune 500 Food, Beverage Alcohol & other CPG (consumer product goods) firms. Her wine career started at Kobrand Corporation in New York. She currently resides in Sonoma County and is also co-owner of Two Shepherds, a small 4,500 case winery.

Erica Duecy

Founder and Podcast Host, Drinks Business

Erica Duecy is one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She is founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and data + marketing consultancy, and has built data insights and marketing programs for Drizly, Union, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. She served as Chief Content Officer for VinePair and Pix, and was founding Editor in Chief of SevenFifty Daily. She also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest, Saveur, and Fodor’s Travel. Her content, podcast, and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, wine judge, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famous cocktails.

Fintan du Fresne

Founder & CEO, WineMerch

Following an undergrad in Geology with post-grad in Viticulture and Enology, Fin moved to California in 2003. Stints at Calera and Adelaida served him well before landing as head winemaker at Domaine Alfred. Fin is currently General Manager and Winemaker for Chamisal Vineyards and Malene Wines. He has served on a number of Boards including WOPN and SLO Coast Wine Collective. He is an advisory member for WIVI and Central Coast Insights and a technical advisor to Cal Poly. Fin is passionate about sustainability and efficiency- both energy and labor efficiency- how can we do more with less?

Kaleigh Theriault

Director of Thought Leadership, NIQ Beverage Alcohol Vertical

Kaleigh has 8 years of NIQ experience and considerable background working with clients in multiple categories. She has been involved with the Beverage Alcohol category for the last four years working on Thought Leadership and client specific business questions and projects. Kaleigh brings a unique skillset of analytic capabilities, as well as commercial selling story creation, and has significant background in bringing consumer insights to the forefront in support of sales trends. She has been pivotal in the NIQ strategy and tactics for Beverage Alcohol as the industry changes and develops.

WiVi Central Coast

The largest gathering of wineries, growers and vendors on the Central Coast.

To view a Speaker biography, click the “+” on the photo.

Jon Berg

VP of Thought Leadership, NIQ Beverage Alcohol Vertical

Karen Daenen

Director of Research & Consumer Insights, Jackson Family Wines

Erica Duecy

Founder and Podcast Host, Drinks Business

Fintan du Fresne

Founder & CEO, WineMerch

Kaleigh Theriault

Director of Thought Leadership, NIQ Beverage Alcohol Vertical