Our team has the knowledge, experience and connections to help.
Steve Bate
Steve is a non-profit management and fundraising consultant focusing on food, beverage and tourism sectors. Formerly Executive Director of the LI Wine Council, he has also held a number of nonprofit board positions involving significant marketing responsibilities, including Chairman of Discover Long Island and Secretary of the East End (of Long Island) Tourism Alliance. In these roles, Steve has obtained and administered millions of dollars in project grant funding. Prior to the LI Wine Council, Steve conducted or oversaw significant economic research projects both as a consultant and as head of an international business organization based in Paris. Steve will be the administrative lead of True Eats and will compile and prepare all materials, including research synthesis reports, surveys and results. He will also oversee all grant applications, implementation and reporting.
Stephen Munshin
Stephen launched Edible East End magazine in 2005 to celebrate and promote local food producers and their products. Over the next 14 years, Edible Holdings became a significant New York-focused media company that includes 4 titles (Edible Manhattan, Edible Brooklyn, Edible Long Island and Edible East End), a robust digital space and thriving event division. With his extensive publishing, public relations and branding experience and his unparalleled network of artisanal food and craft beverage sector stakeholders, Stephen will oversee outreach to producers, consumers and the trade, program events and educational/promotional tool development.
Erin O’Conner
After 20 years in both secondary and higher education, Erin decided to make a make a career change. Encouraged by 2 local farmers, the neighborhood CSA, and llama named Murphy, she flipped her day job and weekend love affair with food and farms. She now supports artisanal entrepreneurs as they emerge into the marketplace. She is the Director of CM Ventures. During her time in higher education, Erin partnered with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the Boston Mayor’s office, and the U.S. Department of State on projects on behalf of a university in Boston, MA. She has planned, executed, and assessed several large-scale events and programs at multiple institutions: orientation, academic advising, leadership programs, family weekend, and commencement among them. Erin has also designed both student life and academic curricula as the Dean in a Washington, DC boarding school, and later as the Principal of a Massachusetts Charter School. Erin was born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Cleveland, OH, and Houston, TX. She holds degrees from Smith College and The University of Virginia.
Charles Merinoff
Charles is a principal founder and Co-Chairman of Breakthru Beverage Group. He is passionate about local farming and artisanal food production. Based on his considerable experience with marketing through product differentiation not only in his primary professional field but also as a small farm producer himself, Charles is overseeing the launch of a new non-profit dedicated to improving the viability of small New York farms by identifying, validating and amplifying their products unique stories. He will be an active participant and engaged speaker/expert in each target product sector’s activities.