Welcome to the NC Specialty Foods Association’s
‘Summer of Innovation’ series of events
Throughout the Summer of 2025, the NCSFA will offer a series of live, online events designed to help our members learn and grow in this season of new innovations. Please review and sign up early to reserve your spot and take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your peers and expand your knowledge on a variety of topics.
Each event will be a live, interactive format using the Zoom video platform. No account or login required. You will receive complete information when you register.
Current NCSFA Members: Free
Guests: $10 per event
** Exclusive – NCSFA Member Only Benefits **
- Official NCSFA swag mailed to you from NCDA if you attend at least one event
- Door prize for each event if you register AND attend the live event
- Incentive bonuses for members that register AND attend the events
Grand Prize: $200 grant from the Carlye Teague Education fund
First Prize: Two members will receive a one-year extension on your membership
Second Prize: Three members will receive a six-month extension on your membership
Here is how the incentive bonuses work:
Incentive awards will be drawn at random during our Grand Finale on August 27th. Members will receive one entry for each session you actually login and attend. If you are a member, please register using the Member Ticket and login to Zoom with your real name, otherwise, you may lose your chance to win.
NOTE: Registration alone does not qualify you for an entry. Attend more sessions – get more chances to win!
** NEW! Click here to register for all events with one ticket**
Each event is free for members – guests save $10 – $50 for all events!
~Legal Basics and AMA (Ask Me Anything)~
Josh is a partner in the business law practice at Smith Anderson in Raleigh, focusing on representing startups and entrepreneurs. Josh started his practice in 2007 at a large international firm in Boston and, since moving back to the Triangle in 2015, has become immersed in the Triangle business ecosystem, helping entrepreneurs form entities, raise capital, make acquisitions, execute successful exit events and deal with all the curveballs that running a business involves. This session will cover legal basics for businesses, including choice of entity, insurance, employment issues and commercial risk management, plus an opportunity to ask Josh whatever legal questions are on your mind.
Who: Josh Diver, Smith Anderson
Date: Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~eCommerce – What you need to know about your online presence~
Hart discovered his passion for marketing when his first small efforts at Telluride.com started yielding a serious impact on revenue. He saw how much marketing could help businesses grow and communities flourish, and he was sold. Now back in his hometown of Raleigh, Hart is always searching for fresh, creative ways to gain exposure and bring companies closer to their customers at his creative marketing agency, Chair 8. He and his team of 10 specialize in full-service marketing campaigns for small-to-medium challenger brands.
Who: Hart Roberts, Chair 8 Media
Date: Wednesday, June 25th, 2025
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~From Shelf to Sold: Winning Customers for Your Specialty Food Brand~
Kristen is the Founder and CEO of Tabletop Media Group, a full-service media agency specializing in food, beverage, agriculture, and lifestyle brands. With a background in PR, social media, and agriculture, she built Tabletop Media Group to help businesses tell their stories and grow. When she’s not leading her team, she’s traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or dining with her husband, Zayne.
Learn how to attract and retain customers for your specialty food business through strategic branding, PR, social media, and partnerships. This session will cover actionable marketing strategies to help your products stand out in a competitive market and drive sales growth.
Who: Kristen Taber, Tabletop Media
Date: Wednesday, July, 9th, 2025
Time: 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
~Funding & Scaling a business~
Phil is the founder of Wicked Crisps, a company based in Greensboro, NC. They have been making baked snacks for over 35 years. Laura Stewart is the founder of Haw River Mushrooms based in Saxapahaw, North Carolina. Her company grows mushrooms and creates food solutions that make it easier to get mushrooms in your daily diet.
Join Phil and Laura as they share their experiences in funding, growing and scaling their businesses.
Who: Phil Kosak, Wicked Crisps
Laura Stewart, Haw River Mushrooms
Date: Wednesday, July, 23rd, 2025
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~Packaging 101: Your roadmap to packaging~
Andy Kurtts is the Founder and Creative Director of Buttermilk Creative, a design studio specializing in packaging and branding for specialty food and beverage brands. With over a decade of experience helping emerging and established food brands stand out on shelf and online, Andy brings a deep understanding of both design aesthetics and retail strategy to the table.
About Belmark
Belmark works with hundreds of small- to medium-sized CPGs, and are a great fit whether you’re finding your first pouch or looking to upgrade your current packaging. Belmark doesn’t just work as a packaging supplier for your label, flexible packaging, folding carton, or prototype needs, but as a partner that grows with you. Belmark is committed to helping small brands and will 100% hop on a call with you to guide you through your packaging journey.
Who: Andy Kurtts, Buttermilk Creative
Date: Wednesday, August 13th, 2025
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~The Grand Finale and Awards Presentation~
All-Star Panel
Join our All-Star panel as we give attendees the opportunity to get your questions answered from a variety of perspectives. And be sure to stick around, meet our ‘Mystery Guest’ and find out who won in this years Best in Taste Awards Competition
Who:
Dustin Kennedy, Whole Foods
Becky Yehia, Broker
Brantley Hattrich, B&B Pecan Processors – Distributor
Karla Ward, D’Vine Foods – Copacker
Date: Wednesday, August 27th, 2025
Time: 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.