I’m a Creative with real Business experience.
I've spent my life pursuing a passion for the entertainment business. After performing for years as a signed rock musician, I began using the microphone and guitar to become a stand-up comedian. While touring all 50 states, I enjoyed visiting breweries during my down time -- enough to start documenting my experiences as a beverage writer. Soon, I was covering beer, wine, and spirits full-time, and educating thirsty audiences across the country.
Today, I’ve found a way to combine all of these creative interests with my penchant for sales and marketing as the VP for Ruby, iHeartMedia’s branded content studio, which is dedicated to crafting meaningful, impactful, and culturally relevant stories with corporate partners.
WORK EXPERIENCE
As Global Head of Brand Strategy for Kerrang! — the premier UK-based rock publication founded in 1981 — I led all global digital marketing, monetization, and audience growth strategy for what is now an international brand. Fueled by a passion for rock, punk, and heavy metal, I applied my experiences in writing, editing, production, marketing, management, and sales to establish a massive digital audience for the brand in America — and eventually, throughout the world.
Previously, I was Editor-In-Chief of The Beer Necessities (a digital publication founded by Anheuser-Busch), Beer Editor for About.com (now Dotdash), and Program Scheduling Coordinator for Comedy Central.
BEVERAGE WRITING
I have written about beer, wine, spirits, and coffee for Food & Wine, Tasting Table, Thrillist, Wine Enthusiast, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Men’s Journal, Playboy, Saveur, Quartz, Travel + Leisure, DuJour, Draft, Salon, All About Beer, Fatherly, Vinepair, Mr. Porter, Serious Eats, VICE Munchies, The Daily Meal, the Institute of Culinary Education…and many MORE!
BEVERAGE EDUCATION & Consulting
As a Certified Cicerone®, Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS), and a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), I’ve taught beer, wine, and spirits classes at Astor Center, The Brooklyn Kitchen, and NYC Wine Company. I’ve hosted branded events for The Glenrothes, High West Distillery, Anheuser-Busch, Pabst, Brookfield Place, and Prosciutto di Parma, and have spoken at trade and consumer events around the world such as Thirst Boston, the Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference, Euphoria, and the US Beverage Expo.
In 2016, I spent a year as the Beer Director for Merchants Hospitality, buying beer and curating menus for five downtown New York restaurants.
COMEDY / TV
As one half of comedy duo Dave and Ethan, I co-created and co-starred in Dave and Ethan: Lovemakers on NBC’s digital comedy platform, Seeso. I've hosted various videos for Food & Wine Magazine, and an international video series for Budweiser. Previously, you may have seen me on NBC's The Tonight Show, The Today Show, VH1’s Top 20 Countdown, Bravo, TruTV, Food Network, as the host of PBS’s Bongo Bongo and Music Choice’s Rock U, or all over my parents’ house, where my mother proudly displays a few too many framed photos of her son.