Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!
Rescheduled this month to Tue 11/12

NOVEMBER 12TH HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!

OCTOBER 1ST HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

Dear Cultivate Bend Members,

We are excited to invite you to our inaugural Annual Members Meeting, where we’ll reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future. Join us to hear from our Operations Manager, Board President and other Board members leading key areas such as Finance, Events, Sponsorships, Marketing, and Educational Programming. We'll review our achievements, discuss upcoming plans, and introduce the next wave of board members elected by YOU. This meeting is a chance to connect, share insights, and ensure we continue to serve your needs as we build a vibrant ecosystem for the natural products CPG industry across Central Oregon.

Meeting Agenda

• Introduction of New Board Members

• Department Updates & Visions for 2025

• Town Hall Q&A Session*
  *an opportunity for Members to ask questions and offer up suggestions

All members are welcome to attend our Annual Members Meeting. We strongly encourage you to also participate in the Ask the Experts event prior to the start of this meeting.

This is a FREE Event

Have your essential business questions answered by experts. The sessions will be Question and Answer format so come ready to ask the questions most important to you.

Event Topics Include

• Leveraging AI

• Consumer Research

Schedule of Events

• 5:00-5:45 PM
  Mingle, Network, Snacks and Beverages

• 5:45-6:15 PM
  Introductions & Topic 1- Leveraging AI with Justin Coats

• 6:15-6:40 PM
  Topic 2 - Consumer Research with Sara Schor

Meet the Experts  

This is a FREE Event for Cultivate Bend Members!

Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!

SEPTEMBER 3RD HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!

AUGUST 6TH HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!

JULY 2ND HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

Kick off Summer with us on June 26th at Alpenglow Park for Cultivate Bend’s Summer Party!

Join us for food and drinks, games, music, networking, and member product booths. Families are welcome and we encourage you to bring some comfy chairs and blankets!

This is a Free Event for Cultivate Bend Members!

Donations & Vendor Booths

Interested in donating product to the event or having a booth for selling or sampling your product? Contact us!

Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!

JUNE 4TH HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

In the competitive landscape of Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), navigating the myriad of sales channels can make or break a business. Having an effective sales channel strategy is vital for reaching target markets, maximizing revenue, and securing valuable shelf space.

Join us at our upcoming event as Kyle Krull - Senior Director of Sales at Kettle & Fire - dives into the intricacies of pitching to retailers and explores proven strategies for success.

Following will be a moderated panel discussion with industry leaders bringing to light their expertise on how to approach each channel as well as the opportunity to get answers to your specific questions.

In true Cultivate Bend style there will be ample time to network with like-minded professionals and enjoy some tasty food and beverages.

Come join us and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit!

Presenter

Kyle Krull
Senior Director of Sales at Kettle & Fire

Kyle is an experienced Senior Sales Director with a demonstrated history of meeting and exceeding goals in the Natural CPG Industry. He is skilled in Key Account Acquisition, Data Analysis, Distributor Management, Promotional Planning, and Broker/Merchandiser Management. Kyle is passionate about utilizing his decade-plus of CPG experience to grow and scale Regenerative CPG Brands.

Discussion Panelists

Alisha Runckel
VP of eCommerce and Growth at SYSTM Foods

Alisha is an entrepreneurial eCommerce leader with over 15 years of experience in eCommerce and marketing. Working with companies of various sizes, sectors, and ownership structures has afforded her vast experience in multiple functional areas. Alisha has a demonstrated track record in direct-to-consumer CPG, including eCommerce, omnichannel go-to-market strategies, retention marketing, customer lifecycle programming, conversion optimization, process development, program/project management, revenue forecasting, and performance marketing.

Mateo Sluder
Founder and Sales Strategist at Weave

Mateo Sluder is a seasoned sales leader with over a decade of experience in the natural products CPG and beverage industry, known for his dynamic, unique and results-oriented approach. As VP of Sales at Guayaki Yerba Mate, he played a pivotal role in expanding the team from 40 to over 300 employees and tripling revenue to $72M. During his 11 years at Guayaki, he received extensive mentorship from many great leaders, including one of CPG’s most visionary sales strategists. With this support, he gained deep experience in how to successfully navigate many channels of trade, from Natural to Grocery to Convenience and Food Service. His greatest passions in CPG center around the nuances of successfully introducing new categories and helping early-stage founders make their dreams come true.

Natalie Gibbens
Senior Manager of Foodservice at Voyage Foods

Natalie is a seasoned CPG professional with 8 years of expertise specializing in foodservice and strategic ingredient sales. While working for emerging CPG brands, Natalie's career spans across commercial and non-commercial foodservice accounts. She has had success launching products and working closely with national and regional restaurant chains, group purchasing organizations, contract management groups, broadline distributors, and colleges and universities.

EDCO’s Central Oregon PubTalk is a happy hour aimed at bringing together different facets of the business community in one place to network, share ideas and further local businesses.

4:30 pm Networking | 5:30 pm Program

Program Agenda:

Keynote Presentation: Mark Drummond, Advisor & Investor, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Mixed Reality, WorldStage

Company Pitch: Entwyne
James Kelly, Co-Founder and CEO

Company Update: CEOX
Luann Abrams, Founder

The Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute is BACK with a lineup of webinars for your learning pleasure. Come, network, engage, and learn from entrepreneurs who've walked the walk. First to share her journey is Gail Becker of Caulipower on May 15th.

RSVP for Tales from the Trenches TODAY!

Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) invites you to explore the innovative businesses propelling our community forward. The Made in Bend Tour offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek into the operations and strategies of four local businesses that are shaping our region's economic future.

Agenda

• 10:30 AM
  Meet at Brian's Cabinets for welcome remarks and group formation

• 10:45 AM
  Walking tours begin - Representatives from No Bake Cookie Company, Humm Kombucha, Brian's Cabinets, and Crux Fermentation Project will peel back the curtain on their business strategies, offering insights into their supply chains, manufacturing, employment, and business growth.

• 12:45 PM
  Catered lunch and an economic development update from EDCO

• 2:00 PM
  Adjourn

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with the businesses and leaders at the forefront of Central Oregon’s economic expansion. Space is limited, and interest is high. Secure your spot today. Space is limited!

Sponsorship Opportunities are available. Reach out to Larry Holeman at Larry@edcoinfo.com for additional information.

Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!

MAY 7TH HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

An Intimate Conversation with Gary Hirshberg & Industry Experts

Date: Monday, April 29th
Time: 11:30am - 2:30pm
Location: 1000 NW Wall Street, Suite 220

📍 Above the Patagonia store. Enter off of Wall Street.

Cultivate Bend is thrilled to announce a special hybrid virtual/in-person event with luminaries in the natural products sector featuring Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and former CEO of Stonyfield Organic Yogurt, and Founder and President of Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute.

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

Part 1

Hirshberg will share his entrepreneurial journey building Stonyfield into a leading organic brand, as featured on the "How I Built This," in a keynote presentation delivered with Elliot Begoun of TIG Brands.

Topics Include:

• Startup Cash Flow Management

• Tips for Raising Capital in Today's Market

You’ll have the opportunity to get your real-world questions answered directly by Hirshberg, Begoun and panelists. 

Part 2

Finance Case Study Presentations

• See 3 local brands present their case studies live!

• Includes Questions & Feedback from Expert Panelists:

  • Gary Hirshberg, HEI

  • Elliot Begoun, TIG Brands

  • Jasper Van Brakel, RSF Social Finance

  • Sean Edwards, Village Family Capital

  • Jenn Lynch, Portland Seed Fund

Registration Prices:

• Early Bird (before 4/19): $40 Cultivate Bend Members; $50 Non-Members

• 4/20-4/26: $55 Cultivate Bend Members; $65 Non-Members

• Registration ends on Friday April 26th at 5pm

About Stonyfield Yogurt

In the early 1980s, two farmers focused on sustainable agriculture had a simple idea - use their homemade organic yogurt as a way to generate funds for their educational farm in New Hampshire. What started as a modest endeavor in 1983 to raise money slowly transformed into an entrepreneurial journey filled with numerous near-fatal challenges. However, against all odds, their fledgling yogurt business managed to persevere and overcome each obstacle it faced. Through resilience and determination, it ultimately blossomed into one of the leading and most recognizable yogurt brands nationwide. From its humble beginnings as a nonprofit side-hustle, it defied expectations to become a major player in the organic foods market.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Partner Sponsor: Hirshberg Entrepreneurship Institute

Presenting Sponsor: Village Family Capital

PubTalks are Oregon Entrepreneurs Network’s flagship networking events where members of the entrepreneurial community gather to connect and learn from and about entrepreneurs.

Our networking PubTalk series in 2024, taking place outside of the Portland-Metro area, will be hitting the road to Bend for our in April PubTalk on Wednesday, April 10th starting at 5:00 pm.

We’re partnering with The Haven for a fun evening where attendees will

• Make new connections

• Engage in conversation

• Discover opportunities and partners to help your business grow!

There will be food, beverages, 5-Minute Pitches from regional entrepreneurs, and a facilitated networking game to loosen up the crowd.

April 5-Minute Pitch

At each PubTalk three companies are invited to wow the crowd with a five minute pitch. OEN is delighted to welcome these companies for our April PubTalk:

• Just Send It

• LMTD

• PYLO

Cultivate Bend Monthly Happy Hour

First Tuesday of Every Month!

APRIL 2ND HAPPY HOUR

No agenda, just show up, buy your own beverage, and have fun connecting with others in the industry!

$1 OFF ALL BEVERAGES
No registration required!

Thanks to our contributing sponsor Crux Fermentation Project

Mountain Burger Monday

Every bite counts! Join us at Mountain Burger in Bend on Monday, April 1st to support Cultivate Bend. 10% of ALL SALES, ALL DAY will go toward supporting our organization! A huge thank you to Mountain Burger for the support.

Common Ground Documentary

Screening & Panel Discussion at the Tower Theater

Common Ground is the highly anticipated sequel to the juggernaut success documentary, Kiss the Ground, which touched over 1 billion people globally and inspired the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to put $20 billion toward soil health. By fusing journalistic expose’ with deeply personal stories from those on the front lines of the food movement, Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. The film reveals how unjust practices forged our current farm system in which farmers of all colors are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late.

All ticket holders will be entered into a raffle upon entry to win a gift basket of regenerative foods.

Post Screening Panel Discussion and Q&A

After the screening, audiences are invited to stay for a panel discussion moderated by Kyle Krull on regenerative agriculture. Kyle is a Senior Director of Sales at Kettle & Fire and Founder at Regen Coalition as well as a Cultivate Bend Board member.

Panelists Include

Stephanie Alexandre & Blake Alexandre
Alexandre Family Farm

Grass-based dairying is our PASSION. It is our MISSION to farm in harmony with nature, honoring the Earth and all the creatures under our stewardship to make the most delicious, nutrient-rich eggs and dairy products

Chris Casad
Casad Family Farms

At Casad Family Farms we grow mixed vegetables and root crops for wholesale distribution to local restaurants and grocery stores in Oregon. In addition to diversified veggies, we raise hays, grains, and specialty seed crops. In 2020 we expanded our prescriptive grazing & pasture management program. We raise cattle and heritage breed hogs, pastured chickens and turkeys. Though we have sold our meats to customers in our region for almost 10 years, in 2022 we launched our Direct Delivery Meat Box Program where we ship our meats frozen to customers nationwide as well as offer Local Delivery in Bend, Oregon.

Dr. Anthony Gustin
Equip Foods & Perfect Keto

Dr. Gustin is a former sports rehab clinician turned entrepreneur, author, podcast host, investor, and amateur farmer. He’s passionate about exploring how to live like a human and is dedicated to helping others reject the manmade environment that has made them sick so they can reclaim their humanity. As the founder of Perfect Keto and Equip Foods, Dr. Gustin has been working tirelessly to provide people with real food nutrition and supplementation to help them on their health journey.