The third annual Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative (RILOC) Golf Classic was held at Cranston Country Club on June 2. The event featured more than 120 golfers, who also enjoyed product tastings and a dinner awards ceremony in the club’s ballroom. RILOC Board Member Nicole Gasbarro and Executive Director Nick Fede Jr. hosted the event. “We are thrilled to be making the RILOC Golf Classic an annual tradition that is an exclamation point on the calendars of so many from the beverage alcohol industry,” said Fede. “Seeing all three tiers of our industry come together in support of RILOC’s advocacy efforts for the entire industry is not only galvanizing but reassuring that we are all in this battle together. We could not do what we do without the generous support of all our sponsors.” Sponsors included Mancini Beverage; Southern Glazer’s Beverage Company; MS Walker; McLaughlin & Moran, Inc.; Johnson Brothers; Craft Collective; Stateside Brands; Milestone Brands; Pernod-Ricard; Proximo; Sazerac; Diageo; Suntory Global; Anheuser-Busch; Gallo; Palm Bay International; Charles Jacquin et Cie., Inc.; Bacardi USA; GlenPharmer Distillery; Constellation Brands; Tito’s Handmade Vodka; Heaven Hill Brands; Gin & Juice; Treasury Wine Estates; Foley Family Wines; Jackson Family Wines; Patrón; Whalers Brewing Company; Brown-Forman; Trinchero Family Wine and Spirits; Delegat; Bogle Family Vineyards; Delicato Family Wines; Narragansett Brewery; Old Bridge Cellars; Sport & Leisure; Dimitri Law Offices; Rhode Island Beverage Journal; and the International Association of Fire Fighters. Food was crafted throughout by the club’s food and beverage team helmed by Vin Martucci. The RILOC team works on behalf of package store owners on industry issues within each legislative session and offers industry meetings, conferences and events.
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- Team Southern Glazer’s Beverage Co.: Mario Silva, Sales Consultant; Jonathan McGowan, Fine Wine Manager; Bill Cerrito, Sales Consultant (Retired); Peter Hilton, Sales Consultant; and Nick Fede Jr., Executive Director, Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative (RILOC).
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- Brand Ambassadors Casie Pacheco and Susie Deaguiar showcasing Dulce Vida Tequila.
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- Team Tito’s: David Aiello, Sales Representative, Mancini Beverage; Joe Morenzi, General Sales Manager, Mancini Beverage; Ron Pariseau, Owner, Wyoming Package; and Matt Guindon, Vice President of Business Development, Wine & Spirits Retail Marketing.
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- Team Bacardi: Ralph Ritacco, Sales Representative, Southern Glazer’s Beverage Co.; Matt Kanaczet, Sales Representative, Southern Glazer’s Beverage Co.; Jack Nolin, Regional Manager; and Morgan Macia, Beverage Director, Potowomut Country Club.
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- Patrick McGinn, Regional Sales Manager and Beth Downing, Owner/VP, GlenPharmer Distillery.
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- Team MS Walker: Ray Arruda, Portfolio Manager; Elisia Barretto, Portfolio Manager; Melina Catelli, Portfolio Manager; and Kyle Grudzien, Sales Representative.
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- Skyla Blackinton, Brand Ambassador; Leigha Fields, Brand Ambassador; and Ryan Harrington, Regional Sales Director, Charles Jacquin et Cie., Inc.
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- Team Suntory Global: Vishal Modi, Owner, Alpine Wine & Spirits; Tom Johnson, State Manager; Chris Johnson; and Daryl Chabot, General Manager, Southern Glazer’s Beverage Co.
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- Lori Sax, Owner, Trendsetters; Molly McLaughlin, District Manager, Palm Bay International; and Emanuella Petrucci, Brand Ambassador showcasing Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.
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- Team Sazerac: Max Couto, Market Development Manager; Bryan Madeiros, Trade Development, Mancini Beverage; Rob Kiernan, Market Development Manager; and Vanessa Brown, Portfolio Manager, Mancini Beverage.
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- Lori Swift, Brand Ambassador, Constellation Brands highlighting Mi Campo Tequila.
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- Ali Lussier, Trade Development Representative, Mancini Beverage showcasing Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
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- Brand Ambassadors Liz Parsons, Ryan Horton and Kim Fiola featuring Don Julio Tequila.
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- RILOC Golf Classic Co-hosts Nick Fede Jr., Executive Director, RILOC and Nicole Gasbarro, Board Member, RILOC and Owner, Phil Gasbarro Liquors.
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- David Tilton, Portfolio Manager, Johnson Brothers of RI showcasing Proximo’s 1800 Blanco Tequila.
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- Patrick Brown, Sales Manager, Johnson Brothers of RI; Ryan Catullo, General Manager, Kitson’s Liquors; Kevin Kitson, Owner, Chepachet Village Wine & Spirits; and Matt Reay, Owner, Wickford Package Store.
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- Team Mancini Beverage: Nick Fede Jr., Executive Director, RILOC; Tim Poulin, Pernod Ricard Trade Development Manager; Bobby MacKenzie, Assistant Vice President; Jody Millen, Director of Trade Development; Mike Reppucci, Founder and President, Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co.; and Tim Boynton, On-Premise Sales Manager.
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- North Higher Vibes THC Seltzers in Raspberry Lemon, Blueberry Citrus, Pineapple Orange and Blackberry Mango.
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- Team Gin & Juice: Matt Gardner, Regional Sales Director; Jack Kavanaugh, Regional Sales Director – Northeast; Alex Tamargo; and Charles Chivvis.
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- Trevor McCombe, State Manager, Stateside Brands; Nick Fede Jr., Executive Director, RILOC; and Dana Strom, Regional Manager, Stateside Brands showcasing Surfside Iced Tea + Vodka.
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- Mae Quinn, Intern, Johnson Brothers of RI highlighting Lucky One Lemonade in Raspberry and High Noon Vodka Seltzer.
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- Merchandise from Whalers Brewing Company.
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- Cazadores Paloma and Bacardi Bahama Mama, Mojito and Rum Punch canned cocktail.
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- Team Palm Bay: Scott Gayman, District Manager MA/RI, Palm Bay International, Jim Lane, Regional Manager, MA/RI, Palm Bay International, Jason Birkett, General Manager, Mancini Beverage.
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- RILOC Golf Classic Co-host Nick Fede Jr., Executive Director, RILOC.
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- Team McLaughlin & Moran: Terrence Moran, Jr., High End Brand Manager, McLaughlin & Moran, Josh Jones, Sales Supervisor, McLaughlin & Moran, Justin Erickson, Owner, Thirsty Beaver, Nick Fede, Jr., Executive Director, RILOC.
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- Team Sport & Leisure: Jay Cortellesso, Owner, Sport & Leisure, Nate “Stick” Travis, Owner, Sport & Leisure, Jay Kindness, Owner, Kind Spirits, Dylan Maldano, Head Bartender, Sport & Leisure.
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- Team Proximo: TJ Seaton, DM Retail, Johnson Brothers, Harold McGovern, General Manager, Johnson Brothers, Cole Larimer, Sales Rep, Johnson Brothers, John Faley, DM Retail, Johnson Brothers.
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- Team Diageo: Allison Ferreira, VP Independent East, Kathleen Danahey, Marketing MA/RI, Ed Brennan, BDM Lead Brands, Steven Braverman, Distributor Manager RI/MA.
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- Team Milestone: Eric Gomes, Matunuck Pizza & Ocean Mist, Dan Doherty, Owner, Doherty’s Pub, Brendon Walsh, Sr. Regional Director, Milestone Brands, Bill Strain, Mancini Beverage, Sales..
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- Team Constellation: Keith Hurley, Director MA/RI, Constellation Brands, Marlene Torres, Market Manager RI, Constellation Brands, Geoff Strickland, Field Sales Manager MA, Constellation Brands.
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- Team Allen’s: Alex Allen, Co-Owner, Allen’s, Dave Tungett, Co-Owner & Assistant GM, Blackstone Catering, Philip Correia, GM, Allen’s Wine & Spirits.
Photos by Laura Widness.
