About Us
Mission
We bridge the gap between brands and bar professionals, building relationships to help drive sales and amplify your brand
The Team
Jeff Greif
CEO & Head Agent
Jeff Greif has been in the drinks industry for 16 years and is the CEO and Founder of Bartenders’ Bridge. In his tenure in the drinks industry, he has developed trade advocacy plans for hundreds of brands connecting them with the bartending community to grow their brands. Prior to Bartenders’ Bridge he was the publisher of Chilled media. During his term he has helped the magazine grow to be a leading media entity in the drinks trade space.
Greif is a seasoned publishing executive whose experience includes such illustrious publications as GQ, Vogue, The New Yorker, George and Conde Nast Traveler. He is also the CEO of Free Agent Media, a media company specializing in marketing and Publisher of Travelsquire.com, a digital travel magazine.
FUN FACT: Jeff is obsessed with boutique fitness, attending multiple classes of SoulCycle and Barry’s each week to balance out his cocktail calorie intake.
Thom Meintel
Vice President of Content & Image
Editor-in-Chief, (B)ridge Blog
Thom Meintel has been in the drinks industry for over 20 years and is the Director of Creative and Brand Image and Founder of Bartenders’ Bridge. Thom has worked to create a Trade Advocacy program selling cases for top brands. As such he is the the Editor in Chief of the (B)ridge Blog. Prior to Bartenders Bridge he was the Associate Publisher/Editor at Large for Chilled Media then went on to start the Bartenders’ Bridge with Jeff Greif. He also had a successful tenure as a publishing executive specifically covering the drinks category, most recently as the Director of Travel for Architectural Digest and the LA Times.
FUN FACT: Thom loves to binge on TCM Classic movies while having his evening drink of choice, a very dry vodka martini.
Wendy Hodges
Vice President of Trade Advocacy & National Talent Scout
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Katy Wallace
Vice President of Marketing & Brand Strategy
TASTEMAKERS Chief Agent
Katy brings a very diversified background to The Bridge. Bartender, shot girl, promo model, spokesperson. Merchandiser, key account manager, SWS distributor sales rep of the year. Brand ambassador, sales manager to U.S. brand director. From Southern California to New York City and beyond, she has done it all and understands the elusive gap between sales and marketing.
She hates boring and doing things “the usual way,” and strives to create programs that are unique and impactful. Katy currently runs her consulting company, Brave&Heart, Inc., and joined BB to create and run the TASTEMAKERS program, along with lending her many years of industry expertise to the team.
FUN FACT: When not working you can find her enjoying tacos, watching football, and hanging out with her two foster-failure former feral rescue cats, Ritchie and Tommy. Adopt don’t shop!
Genie Cabrera
Talent Scout
Genie is an experienced hospitality and financial operations professional with more than two decades of service in private club management. She currently works at The Harmonie Club in New York City, where she oversees accounts receivable, financial reconciliation, and member services. Genie is also a co-founder of NYC Celebrates Women, a platform dedicated to uplifting and supporting women of color entrepreneurs and small business owners through community events, networking, and mentorship. She brings deep bartender/industry relationships to The Bridge, and will be a huge asset to growing the Bartenders’ Bridge community.
FUN FACT: Genie is all about philanthropy and daiquiris! Beyond her professional work, Genie supports the Los Santos Mora Family Foundation in the Dominican Republic, which focuses on providing medical outreach and resources to underserved communities.
Carol Donovan
Talent Scout
You can currently find Carol behind the bar at Division on the Rocks in Chicago, IL. An award-winning bartender and mixologist, she has worked at almost every type of bar during her hospitality career – from shot & beer local pubs to craft cocktail bars, including roles from bartender to beverage director and buyer. Carol is a BAR 5-Day graduate, a “Certified Spirits Professional” through the USBG Master Accreditation program, and WSET Level 3 Sake certified, among many other certifications. Her “Intoxicatingly Fun Cocktails” sees her teaching spirits and cocktail classes to enthusiasts all over the city and suburbs of Chicago. Check her out on Instagram @Intoxicating_Fun! Carol is an industry-leader who will recruit the right followers to The Bartenders’ Bridge.
FUN FACT: When not working, you can find her at her other career – professional church choral singing – or spending time with some of her ten siblings!
Jenny Klein
Digital Experience Agent