We’re excited to introduce you to the Off-Premise National Accounts Team reporting to Vice President of Off-Premise National Accounts, Mike Sporich. If you would like to learn more about this team’s role at Heaven Hill, click here. Read on to learn a bit more about the team, the accounts they cover and their favorite part of their role at Heaven Hill.

 

Joe Narciso​​​​​​​: Regional Chain Manager

Located in Northern California

Time with Heaven Hill: 3 years

Accounts Covered:

• Albertsons/Safeway (Corp)
• BevMo
• Raley’s
• Save Mart/Food Maxx/Lucky
• WinCo
• Costco; Northern California

 

What is your favorite thing about working with national accounts?

The impact national accounts has on depletions. One major program will translate to a truckload or truckloads of product being delivered. From there, walking into the stores and seeing the mass displays of our fine Heaven Hill products on the floor, knowing that we, National Accounts, and our wholesaler partners, got the job done!

 

What has been your proudest career moment as part of Heaven Hill’s Off-Premise National Accounts Team?

Two moments stand out. The first, when Mike Sporich offered me an opportunity to join his National Accounts team. The second is when we ran a sweepstakes promotion at Albertsons/Safeway in the state of Washington. The buyer asked all spirit suppliers to present unique promotional programs to drive sales. Working with Travis Zinkel (Heaven Hill RM for WA) and our best-in-class Marketing Department, we developed a sweepstakes where customers could win one of ten 24 Hour Fitness one year gym memberships. It was supported in stores with signage and featured in ads. Sales growth was +15.3% over prior year. Unfortunately, covid hit when we were about to award the prizes and gyms were shut down. Instead, each winner was provided a $500 Visa gift card and the Albertsons/Safeway buyer was very happy with the results of the program and how we handled the prize swap with his customers.

 

What is your favorite Heaven Hill product?

That is a very hard questions to answer, since we have so many fine products in every spirit category to select from.  It really comes down to what I am in the mood to enjoy at the moment. However, if I had to select one item, it would be Heaven Hill Seven-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond.

 

Michael Russell: Regional Chain Manager

Located in Southern California

Time with Heaven Hill: Started with Deep Eddy Sales in 2014, joined Off-Premise National Accounts Team in June 2020

Accounts Covered:

• Bashas
• Costco; AZ, CO, HI, NM, NV, S. CAL
• Rite Aid
• Smart & Final
• Stater Bros
• Trader Joe’s

 

What is your favorite thing about working with national accounts?

We are band of brothers that push each other to improve & win

 

What has been your proudest career moment as part of Heaven Hill’s Off-Premise National Accounts Team?

Regaining Hpnotiq distribution at 534 Rite Aids in California after it was discontinued twice in 5 years

 

What is your favorite Heaven Hill product?

Evan Williams Black

 

Matt Dannemiller: Regional Chain Manager

Located in Seattle, Washington

Time with Heaven Hill: Started with Deep Eddy Sales in 2014, joined Off-Premise National Accounts Team in June 2020

Accounts Covered:

• Albertsons/Safeway – WA
• Bartell Drugs
• Costco; AK, WA
• Rite Aid; WA

 

What is your favorite thing about working with national accounts?

Being able to really affect business at a larger scope. Working with the buyers that make decisions on major chains in your region is exciting and rewarding.

 

What has been your proudest career moment as part of Heaven Hill’s Off-Premise National Accounts Team?

I have only been here 10 months so I am looking forward to a number of proud moments with the National Accounts team. However, I would say most recently getting Black Velvet Apple as a new item in 198 Safeway’s in Washington was a nice first win.

 

What is your favorite Heaven Hill product?

I have sold Deep Eddy for so many years and absolutely love the product. Now being exposed to so many great brands with the Heaven Hill portfolio, I must say Elijah Craig on the rocks has been a new go to lately.

 

Shane Colwell: Regional Chain Manager

Located in Detroit, Michigan

Time with Heaven Hill: Almost 9 years

Accounts Covered:

• CVS
• Meijer
• Rite Aid; Midwest
• Target
• Total Wine & More
• Walgreens
• Wegmans

 

What is your favorite thing about working with national accounts?

I enjoy the personal interaction within our Heaven Hill team and the individual accounts and distributor partners.

 

 

What has been your proudest career moment as part of Heaven Hill’s Off-Premise National Accounts Team?

Being the recipient of the first ever “Nimble” Corporate Value Award, since the nomination comes from my counterparts and peers.

 

What is your favorite Heaven Hill product?

Definitely Bourbon and if I had to choose my favorite day in/day out, it would have to be Elijah Craig Small Batch.

 

Jeff Jones: Regional Chain Manager

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana

Time with Heaven Hill: 1.5 years

Accounts Covered:

• Costco; Midwest, Northeast, Southeast
• Hy-Vee
• Kroger

 

What is your favorite thing about working with national accounts?

I enjoy seeing a large-scale National Program come to life in stores all across the country. An example would be the Bourbon Heritage program at Kroger last September, which included Elijah Craig and Evan Williams.

 

What has been your proudest career moment as part of Heaven Hill’s Off-Premise National Accounts Team?

In the summer of 2020, we executed a very successful National Program at Kroger featuring Evan Williams American Hero. The program generated more than $1,300,000+ in retail sales and we sold more than 59,000+ units during the eight-week program.

 

What is your favorite Heaven Hill product?

I’m a big fan of all of the bourbons, but Evan Williams Single Barrel is my favorite.

 

Joe Neal: Regional Chain Manager

Located in Bentonville, Arkansas

Time with Heaven Hill: 7 Years

Accounts Covered:

• Walmart/Sam’s
• Military

 

What is your favorite thing about working with national accounts?

The best thing about national accounts is when you get a win, it’s a lot of volume. Each retailer has its own culture and process for managing their business so you have to adapt your approach to what’s important to them.

 

What has been your proudest career moment as part of Heaven Hill’s Off-Premise National Accounts Team?

In the spring/summer of 2019 we gained over 13,000 new points of distribution in Walmart. That was something we had been working on for five years to get Walmart on board with what Heaven Hill’s items could do for their business.

 

What is your favorite Heaven Hill product?

Hmm, I like changing it up, but my two staples are Elijah Craig Small Batch and Deep Eddy Original. My new “sleeper” recommendation to my whiskey friends has been the Black Velvet Reserve eight-year-old. Fantastic whiskey for the price

 

Corey Nathan: Key Account Manager

Located in Dallas, Texas

Time with Heaven Hill: 4 Years

Accounts Covered:

• Whole Foods Market

 

What is your favorite thing about working with national accounts?

Our National Account Retail team, we have the best time when are all together in person or over a Teams meeting/happy hour. I have enjoyed working with more Heaven Hill team members in states that have national account retail chains. They help us out a lot and provide great insights into their specific markets.

 

​​​​​​​What has been your proudest career moment as part of Heaven Hill’s Off-Premise National Accounts Team?

My latest business review and new item presentation with Whole Foods Market. Last year I helped create the presentation deck and this year not only did I build the presentation, but I gave my first national account presentation to the buyer. I hope it leads to more distribution and continued growth with Whole Foods Market.

 

What is your favorite Heaven Hill product?

I have a top 3 for different occasions: Elijah Craig, Lunazul Reposado and Deep Eddy Original