HEART Forward brings Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits' HEART values—Honesty, Excellence, Agility, Respect, and Teamwork—to life through authentic stories from our people. Each episode reveals real moments that show how these values shape who we are, how we lead, and how we win—together—with HEART
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How can leaders embrace AI while keeping people at the center of innovation? Elena Zhang, AI & Automation Engineer at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, shares how curiosity, adaptability, and HEART Values have shaped her approach to leading change and driving innovation. From building AI agents and automated workflows to championing Copilot adoption, Elena explains why agility is about more than responding to change. It's about embracing change as an opportunity for growth, learning out loud, and bringing others along on the journey. Listen in for an inspiring conversation on turning uncertain
What if the most important leadership skill today is the ability to adapt? Brennan Duke, Vice President of Customer Development and National Accounts eCommerce at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, shares how military service, digital transformation, and leading one of Southern Glazer's most strategic customer businesses have shaped his perspective on agility, teamwork, and leadership. From leading a newly formed team to earn Walmart's Distributor of the Year recognition to navigating the rapidly evolving worlds of eCommerce, AI, and consumer behavior, Brennan reflects on the power of trust, th
How can curiosity become your greatest leadership advantage? Kimberley Spence, Managing Director and Vice President of Supplier Development & Marketing at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, shares how a lifelong curiosity and willingness to challenge the status quo have shaped her transformational leadership journey. She explores the role of transparency, trust, and collaboration in building meaningful partnerships and reflects on the gratitude practices that help her lead with purpose and resilience.
What if your setback could become the foundation for your greatest success? Josh Gee, Vice President and General Sales Manager for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Transatlantic Division in South Carolina, reflects on the lessons that shaped his leadership journey, from embracing failure as a catalyst for growth to learning the value of resilience, trust, and self-awareness. He shares how meaningful mentorship, personal experiences, and opportunities have influenced his approach to leadership and service. Josh also discusses the importance of showing up as a trusted consultant and creating val
Kimberly Craven, Director of Commercial Finance for the Coastal-Pacific Wine & Spirits Division across the Central Region for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, explores what it truly means to lead with HEART when the pressure is on. Kimberly shares how the HEART Values come to life through everyday leadership decisions. From navigating open roles and shifting priorities to raising the bar through smarter processes and disciplined execution, she offers a powerful perspective on leading with clarity, energy, and intention. She also shares that excellence is about continuously asking “why” or “so
Bryan Adorjan, Portfolio Vice President for the American Liberty Division of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, reflects on his leadership journey from frontline roles to leading commercial operations, sharing how authenticity, confidence, and teamwork shape the way he leads and serves others. He also shares how winning with HEART comes to life through collaboration, process-driven execution, and building trust with our supplier partners and our customers
Victoria Lebesis, Director of Retail Sales for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits in Washington State, shares her experiences grounded in resilience, authenticity, and embracing change. From entering the industry during COVID to navigating rapid growth and constant reorganization, Victoria shares why leading with HEART isn’t a moment, it’s a lifestyle. She reflects on growth through pressure, self‑doubt, and change, offering a powerful perspective on agility, trust, and staying true to yourself. Victoria’s story is a reminder that when we live our values consistently, growth follows
Christine Steffen, Vice President of Supply Chain Execution for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, shares how the HEART value of Agility has guided her through large-scale transformation, helping her teams not just adapt to change but own it. She also reflects on the power of gratitude as a leadership mindset, reminding us how a simple shift in perspective can ground us, strengthen teams, and shape how we show up every day
Blanca Loya‑Garcia, Director of Human Resources & Talent Management for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, brings courageous, values-based leadership to life through her experience and perspective. Drawing on more than 20 years in the beverage industry, Blanca shares why leading with HEART means building trust through honesty, respect, and transparency—especially during times of change. She reflects on shaping a culture rooted in coaching, feedback, and teamwork amid significant leadership transitions. Blanca’s story is a powerful reminder that when HEART becomes a daily practice, it builds str
John Smith, Sales Consultant for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits - Florida, shares his journey from hospitality to sales, and from the Midwest to Florida, highlights the power of agility, teamwork, and continuous growth. John reflects on a celebratory moment when his team came together to accomplish a shared goal in just five hours - a powerful example of what’s possible when a team unites with purpose. His story is a reminder that leading with HEART creates meaningful and lasting impact
Mindy Sinha, Director of Operational Effectiveness for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Ohio, shares how teamwork and service shape strong, people‑first leadership. Inspired by her upbringing on a farm and her experience as a U.S. Army Captain, Mindy shares why Teamwork is the HEART Value that brings all others to life. She recounts a powerful moment when cross‑functional teams rallied together during an unexpected operational disruption, demonstrating HEART Values in action. Mindy also highlights the simple habit of assuming positive intent—and how that mindset has transformed collaboratio
Rachel Moorhead, Vice President of Wine & Spirits for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Illinois, shares why leading with HEART begins and ends with investing in people, connection, and growth. She reflects on founding Cheers to Women in Illinois and how a small idea grew into a deeply meaningful community initiative supporting teammates, families, and community. Rachel’s story is a powerful reminder that when leadership is rooted in care and collaboration, the impact extends far beyond the workplace
Ty Stringer, Customer Service Representative for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, reflects on the power of agility in navigating change. From early life transitions to supporting customer onboarding amid evolving systems and priorities, Ty shares how embracing uncertainty has shaped his resilience and confidence. He reflects on a major overhaul of customer service operations and how staying flexible and solutions‑focused helped drive a successful transition. Ty’s story is a reminder that agility isn’t just about change—it’s about growth, adaptability, and showing up ready to learn
Becca Weaver, Human Resources Director for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits South‑Central Region, shares how Honesty has become the HEART Value that anchors her leadership. Becca reflects on how transparency, empathy, and intentional conversations build trust and create cultures where people can thrive. She shares the vision behind the HEART Values Playbook, a practical toolkit designed to help employees embed the values into daily actions. Her message is simple and inspiring: when we lead with honesty in the small moments, we create connection, strengthen teams, and shape our culture
Cory Williamson, Sales Leader for Coastal-Pacific Wine & Spirits across Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, shares his leadership journey from the U.S. Marines to hospitality and sales. Cory reflects on what leading with HEART truly means, how culture and accountability drive sustainable success, and why assuming positive intent has been a defining mindset in his leadership. A powerful reminder that the agility in how we lead matters just as much as what we deliver
DaLonna Bush, Chain Accounts Specialist for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits in Kentucky, reflects on how leading with kindness, embracing change, and stepping up for others, especially during community moments like Eastern Kentucky flood relief, brings the HEART Values to life. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that when kindness and teamwork come together, even the smallest moments can create meaningful, lasting impact
Jose Carrillo, Brand Development Manager for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits in Florida, shares how purpose, discipline, and values guide his leadership. From supporting team members through career transitions to emphasizing mental and physical health, Jose’s message is clear: when leaders invest in people and lead with HEART, everyone grows
Bob McKim, Senior Director of Operations, New York for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, shares his journey through operations and logistics, shaped by decades of experience in fast‑paced, execution‑driven environments. Through a powerful story of his team rallying around a colleague during a serious illness, Bob brings HEART to life, showing how compassion, teamwork, and genuine care create belonging and lasting impact. His message is clear: when values move beyond words and become daily actions, they build strong teams, resilient cultures, and meaningful results
Rachel Pallais, Chain Account Specialist for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Louisiana, reflects on how Honesty has become the guiding value in her leadership. She explains how transparency in expectations, direct but respectful communication, and owning mistakes help create a culture where trust can thrive. Through a memorable coaching moment with a sales consultant - one that required both courage and compassion - she illustrates how honest feedback can strengthen performance, build confidence, and reshape someone’s trajectory. That consultant went on to become one of her top performers, a
Justin Sankey, General Manager of Southern Glazer’s newest business unit in Massachusetts, shares his experience leading the company’s first major acquisition in nearly two decades—the integration of Horizon Beverage. Through the lens of Southern Glazer’s HEART values, the conversation explores how agility, teamwork, and collaboration come to life during periods of significant change. From aligning systems and strategies to launching the Proof e‑commerce platform in a new market, Justin reflects on how people - not processes - are the true competitive advantage. Drawing from his career journey
Brooke Marsh, Senior Director of Logistics for Florida, shares why Teamwork is the HEART value that has shaped her leadership the most. Brooke reflects on one of the defining chapters of her career - navigating unprecedented business growth during COVID while simultaneously rebuilding the Lakeland Distribution Center after an F3 tornado tore a 50,000‑square‑foot hole in the warehouse. Through grit, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to one another, the team never missed a single shipping day. It’s a powerful example of unity, shared purpose, and operational heart in action
Craig Kneifl, Area Manager for the Coastal Pacific Division in Nebraska, shares why Excellence has become the value that guides him most - a mindset of striving to elevate the work he does for customers, his team, and the company. Through a standout story of building a nearly 10‑foot Crown Royal display - with purple paint, teamwork, heavy lifting, and plenty of creativity - he illustrates how excellence comes alive through collaboration and pride in the details. He also offers simple, powerful advice: strive for excellence in everything you do. Passion and effort shine through - and when team
Kim Scarpone, Senior Vice President of Sales Execution in Nevada, shares defining moments that pushed her to lead with courage, adapt in uncertainty, and embrace a cross‑country move that reshaped her life and leadership. Through her candid reflections, Kim explains how leaning into change, forming alliances, and opening up sooner helped her thrive in new environments and build culture alongside a team committed to supporting one another. She also highlights the power of honesty - especially in senior‑level moments that require vulnerability and difficult conversations. For Kim, honesty delive
Jason Bouchard, Director of Brand Development Managers for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, shares what “leading with HEART” means to him - equal parts love and accountability. For Jason, HEART is about creating a culture built on trust, transparency, and growth. He reflects on a defining moment for his team: the launch of the Coastal Pacific BDM division and a powerful three‑day kickoff where every team member shared their “WHY” and crafted their personal operating guidelines. Through vulnerability, authenticity, and connection, the team built a foundation that continues to shape their cultu
Kennedy Granger, On‑Premise Area Manager for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, shares how embracing a growth mindset has helped her navigate a period of significant organizational change - from new team members to new leaders across the division. Through real examples, she highlights how honesty and respect have been essential to building trust, supporting her team, and creating a foundation where everyone can grow. Kennedy also reflects on how living the HEART values helps us develop both personally and professionally - building confidence, strengthening resilience, deepening relationships, a
