Epec - James F.C. Hyde Sorgho Whiskey

World renowned Michelin Three-star mixologist and cocktail book author Brian Van Flandern was a professional bartender in New York City for over 25 years and has been named AMERICA'S TOP MIXOLOGIST by The Food Network. From 2004-2007 Brian helped open Chef Thomas Keller’s now famous Michelin Three Star restaurant PER SE as the head mixologist. Applying Chef Keller’s philosophy of flavor profiling to cocktails has earned Brian international recognition as one of the world's preeminent cocktail artisans and spirit authorities. As a beverage-industry influencer, Brian has earned a reputation as a champion and brand-builder for fine boutique spirits. In 2010 Brian released his first award winning book VINTAGE COCKTAILS (now in its tenth printing) with over 100,000 copies sold. The Wall Street Journal and Food Arts Magazine have written feature articles on Brian Van Flandern's innovative and unique recipes as well as his meticulous attention to detail. Brian's cocktails have been mentioned or featured in dozens of other internationally acclaimed publications including The New York Times, USA Today, The Daily Telegraph (London), Conde Nast Traveler, Gourmet Magazine to name a very few. Some of Brian's television appearances include a featured segment on Spike TV's "Bar Rescue", “The Barefoot Contessa" on The Food Network, CBS’s “The Early Show” and “Foodography” on the Cooking Channel, "The Wall Street Journal Live" and "Market Makers" on the Bloomberg Channel. www.MyMixologist.com. Brian came onto the board of directors in December of 2015. In addition to his board service, he serves as part time brand ambassador promoting James FC Hyde Sorgho Whiskey in his spare time. He is the owner and founder of the company Creative Cocktail Consultants where he has worked since 2010 to present.

Since 2010 to present, Mr. Glenn D. Pohs has been a Managing Partner of Pohs Capital, LLC, an investment firm located in Pearl River, NY. Previously he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Amex Membership Corporation ("AMC”) and served until it was sold to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") in September 2008. AMC is the entity that represented the equity ownership interest of the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX"), LLC seat owners and had controlling interest in the exchange. Mr. Pohs played a leading role in gaining the consent of the AMEX, LLC seat owners to approve the sale to NYSE. Mr. Pohs is a past Chairman of the Options Market Maker Association. Glenn came onto the board of directors of Epec in 2012 and is an active member of the board.

James Hyde, Vice Chairman of the Board, Former Vice Chairman of the American Stock Exchange. Proud St. Johns graduate. He joined the board of directors in 2010 and is an active member. In addition to his board service, he serves as part time brand ambassador promoting James FC Hyde Sorgho Whiskey in his spare time.

Mr. Ron Miller has been an Epec Vice Chairman since 2011 and its CEO/President since 2012. Prior to joining Epec, Miller served as CEO of NYSE-listed Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. one of the nation's largest producers of biofuels, grain neutral spirits and food/feed products from agriculture, a company helped start in 1981. During his tenure as Aventine's CEO, Miller guided the company through an unprecedented period of growth including a highly successful IPO. For his work with Aventine and the ethanol industry in general he was recognized by Ernst and Young as an Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006. Miller was a founding member of the Renewable Fuels Association and its longest serving Chairman ever. He continues to be a recognized leader inside and outside the industry, receiving its coveted lifetime achievement award in 2011. Aventine’s spirits business provided grain neutral base stocks to several U.S. bourbon and whiskey producers as well foreign spirits producers in Japan, Europe and Russia. Miller delivered the keynote address at the 2012 Sweet Sorghum Association's Annual Meeting.

Mr. Vanechanos has served as Epec's Chairman since October 2009, and was appointed to the position of Executive Chairman in April 2012 as his full time job. With Epec’s acquisition of Jersey Artisan Distilling Mr. Vanechanos became its CEO and President. From January 2010 until January 2013, he served as an active member of the Sweet Sorghum Association (“SSA”) Board of Directors (formerly the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Association), an industry organization focused on promoting the growth and use of sweet sorghum around the world. Before joining Epec, Vanechanos had a demonstrated track record of entrepreneurship. In 1994, well before Wall Street had ever heard of Netscape, he founded a business-to-business Internet e-Commerce company, DynamicWeb Enterprises (“DWEB”). The genesis for DynamicWeb was pioneering work, later memorialized in U.S. Patent No. 5,884,309 - "Order Entry System for Internet", by Vanechanos and assigned to DynamicWeb. He then served as DynamicWeb's Chairman and CEO, from its founding until it was sold in a merger transaction that valued DynamicWeb at nearly $50 million. Additionally, Vanechanos served as a member of the American Stock Exchange Board of Governors, from 2005 to 2008. He Chaired its Technology Committee, and served on both its Audit Committee and its Finance and Budget Committee.

Mr. Relis has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since the Company’s inception in 2008. He works a few hours a week as a needed basis. He is a licensed CPA and formerly with Deloitte and Touche, and Ernst & Young. He has also served as the Chief Accounting officer for Ursus Telecom(NASDAQ - UTCC) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd (NASDAQ – GILTF). Steven's current full time job is at Koutoulas & Relis LLC a CPA Firm where he has served as managing partner since 2008.

Jeff Griffith is a veteran advertising and marketing Creative Director with over 30 years of experience. He's worked at some of the most creative and prestigious firms in NY. He's won numerous awards in a variety of industries including food and beverage. In 2010, he was integral in the defeat of a proposed casino .5 mile from the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. His integrated multimedia campaign (involving famous Hollywood celebrities and historians) is now in the permanent collection of the Library of Congress and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

James Salzano, based in New York City, is an acclaimed photographer/director whose ability to think visually and understand the needs of his clients has earned him worldwide recognition, both for his work in advertising and portraiture. His client list includes the New York Stock Exchange, Macy’s, Pfizer and BMW. His recent projects have included broadcast TV spots for Macy’s and Pennsylvania Power and Light.