BSD Judges & Staff 2024

Judges & Staff

We are happy to partner up with some amazing people that help make this series of events come together. Without them, this series of events would not go as smooth.

BIO: Jason Druckenmiller
Accuracy Competition / Speed Competition / Flair Bartending Competition

With over 2 decades of experience in beverage alcohol and the hospitality industry, Jason Druckenmiller has built an extensive resume as a global ambassador, a full spectrum beverage program developer and a hospitality consultant with a focus on guest experience and profitability coaching.

Over the last twenty years Jason has traveled through 52 countries hosting beverage creation & development seminars, profitability coaching workshops, and developing full scale multi concept beverage programs while working for some of the biggest beverage alcohol suppliers in the globe.

Jason is looking forward to bringing his passion and knowledge from competing and judging competitions since the mid 90’s. Jason is beyond excited to be able to contribute to an already stellar judging panel for The Bartenders Shakedown 2024!

BIO: Ivan Usov
Flair Bartending Competition

BIO: Akim Dagdzhyiev
Flair Bartending Competition

Akim Dagdzhyiev aka Akimba Flair.
Flair bartender with 15 years experience . made 100+ competitions , 5 times national champion of Ukraine , international champion , finalist and winner of most prestigious flair competitions. Owner of biggest online flair bartending school in the world “Akimba Flair”.

BIO: John Kao
Flair Bartending Competition Mixology Judge

Bio:
•30 years experience in the business
•Certified Sommelier
•Mixologist
•Beverage Manager
•Current Education Committee Chairperson of USBG Palm Beach
•Member of Chilled Magazine’s Chilled 100
•Camp Runamok Alumni
•Body Double for Josh Gates

BIO: Dianna Greene
Flair Bartending Competition Mixology Judge

Dianna is the Eastern Regional Director of Gonzalez Byass USA, leading a small (but mighty) team representing a diverse international portfolio of wines and spirits. As an 18-year industry veteran, she has worked with iconic brands within the bartender community, such as Ketel One Vodka, Angostura Rums & Nonino. She is passionate about the telling the story behind the brands, category knowledge and helping bartenders build their skill sets & careers. She has been an active member of USBG since 2010 and helped launch the Diageo World Class program in the United States. Dianna has delivered several seminars on various topics for the bartending community on topics including, How to be a Brand Ambassador, Personal Finance, Bitters Workshops, Vodka, Fortified Wines, Competition Prep and was a guest professor at FIU School of Hospitality. Although Dianna has never worked as a bartender, she can mix and shake like a pro, even winning a little cocktail competition along the way, in 2021 she was crowned the winner of the Straight Up Solutions Cocktail Throw Down at the Hospitality Executive Exchange Conference. Dianna has had the honor of serving as a judge for various competitions over the years, including the Cocktail Art Challenge, Bartender Shakedown, Bar Brawls and other cocktail local competitions.

Dianna lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL when she isn’t on the road for business or adventure travel. When she is home; she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends- enjoying a great glass of wine or a cocktail, of course! She enjoys the great outdoors and has been an avid camper most of her life- last Spring she visited Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico and camped in the Gaudalupe Mountains and Big Bend National Park. Dianna is thrilled to be a part of the Mixology Matters program and appreciates staying connected to the bartending community.

BIO: Jules Aron
Flair Bartending Competition Mixology Judge

Jules Aron is a 5 time cookbook author, holistic nutritionist and sustainability expert. She is a bar consultant and festival beverage director for SEED Food and Wine in Miami, the spirits editor and host for the Palm Beach Media Group, and regular contributor for Discover the Palm Beaches as well as other National publications.

BIO: Francisco López
Flair Bartending Competition Deduction Judge / Cocktail Competition Judge

Francisco López

Bartender 31 years of experience

International Director PRBA

2019 PRBA National Champion

USBG, AMBA, PRBA Member

WCC Competitor, MATTONI, Various Pan American

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BIO: Jhonnatan Mejias
Cocktail Competition Judge

I am passionate about the arts, music, travel and good food and drink.
I was born in Caracas, Venezuela and I have spent the last 10 years between Ireland, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

I have 20 years dedicated to the beverage and gastronomy industry as a bartender and ambassador for different portfolios. My true passion is in the discovery of multisensory experiences and unforgettable moments.

My experience has led me to visit more than 35 countries, 150 cities and 4 continents where I have been able to share Caribbean cocktails at their best. “JMCOCKTAILS” as my friends in the industry know me. I am inspired by the diverse cultures of Latin America, preserving their flavors, colors and Latin vibe in my cocktails.

With talent and determination at the bar, I have been able to represent as an Ambassador in Latin America, the Caribbean, Colombia and Europe.

BIO: Adrianne Stebbins
Accuracy Competition / Speed Competition / Cocktail Competition Judge

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BIO: Chase Moore
Flair Bartending Competition Deduction Judge

With over 28 years’ experience Chase Moore has honed her skills as a luxury spirits and wine specialist. Spending her early years extensively traveling around the world ignited a passion for this age-old industry. A career within the industry that spans a wide range of skills from buying for a multimillion-dollar resort, owning her own distributorship and having the opportunity to represent some of the best brand names in the industry.  Chase holds 3 degrees from Villanova University specializing in international business and holds a WSET2 Certification.

Spending her lifetime perfecting her passion, two years ago she took a position working for a groundbreaking and innovative gin producer, Conniption Gin. She now runs the state of Florida from the tropical Key West to the beautiful beaches in the Panhandle. This helped to fulfill a dream to work with fellow hard-working women like herself.  Under these creative minds it allows her to reignite old passions and introduce a new generation to a love of modern-day gin throughout the country.

BIO: Amanda Ashcraft
Front of the House Manager

BIO: Josh Gates
Back of the House & Stage Manager

BIO: Kara Ashcraft
Merchandise Manager

BIO: Dean Serneels
Emcee

Dean Serneels love for the craft has remained deeply rooted in entertaining his guests. Dean catapulted himself into the industry spotlight the invention of the Flairco Flair bottle. He is still humbled by bartenders that share how much his work inspired them to get behind the bar.
He currently works as the Director of Beverage Applications with American Beverage Marketers. Here he supports the sales team advising independent bars, and national chain accounts and training distributor sales teams on how to craft innovative cocktails, all while inspiring the next generation of great bartenders.

BIO: DJ Kid Karter
Event DJ

Harrison “DJ Kid Karter” Carter – I have been perfecting the art of DJing for nearly 20 years and even DJ’d my high-school prom! I have been privileged enough to have been supplying musical entertainment to festivals, clubs and weddings throughout South Florida for 10 years.  I love controlling a crowd that thinks they don’t want to dance .”  There’s something about jumping up and down on a stage as you watch the waves of people bounce with you”

BIO: Cesar Romero
Videographer

Cesar Romero, worked in the food and beverage industry for over 30+ years, growing from the bottom, learning, improving and developing ideas in every aspect, from dishwasher to Chef de cuisine, from bar-back to Bar Consultant and Brand Ambassador, achieving knowledge and experience from every moment and opportunity to build a strong understanding of the industry.

Now dedicated Media producer and Creative focused on podcasting, filmmaking and photography developing captivating perspectives of the industry that gave me such a strong understanding of what it means; trying to tell those stories in the different mediums I work.

BIO: Ryan Cohen
Photographer

With over 16 years in the industry, Ryan Cohen has artfully captured the essence of countless events in South Florida and beyond. Skilled in immortalizing moments, Ryan Cohen’s photographs tell a story, encapsulate emotions, and stand the test of time. From private events and portrait sessions to grand celebrations, Ryan Cohen offers a unique and heartfelt perspective. As graphic designer as well, he can find the artistry and authenticity in every shot, so get ready to strike a pose and experience your world through his lens. Learn more at (site).

BIO: Anothony Nader
Photographer 52 Chefs

Anthony Nader is a food and cocktail photographer by trade, and avid journaler, reader and professional friend by leisure. Based in Miami, FL, his company 52Chefs is in its 8th year, diligently serving bars, restaurants and liquor brands locally and around the world since 2016. Part of his professional time has also been allotted to teaching F&B photography in-person locally, online through social media and the BH Photo Eventspace, and abroad. His most recent musings include jiu jitsu, boating and writing his own guide on how to journal out of his South Beach apartment.

Born and raised in Miami, FL, Anthony Nader’s career in photography began as a nightclub photographer at 14 years old. Digging into several facets of photography from then until now, including jewelry and little league sports, he admits to shooting food as having been the most gratifying and meaningful.

Having been a server at franchise restaurants in his late teens, he has a particular interest in supporting the photographically underserved hospitality community with quality images of the work that goes unnoticed and often overlooked. He feels it’s an unending journey to share food and drink stories with the world.

Anthony’s current efforts in photography projects are all in preparation for a 3 year move to Asia starting in the spring of 2025.

BIO: Dean Serneels
Emcee / Cocktail Network Live Anchorman

Dean Serneels love for the craft has remained deeply rooted in entertaining his guests. Dean catapulted himself into the industry spotlight the invention of the Flairco Flair bottle. He is still humbled by bartenders that share how much his work inspired them to get behind the bar.
He currently works as the Director of Beverage Applications with American Beverage Marketers. Here he supports the sales team advising independent bars, and national chain accounts and training distributor sales teams on how to craft innovative cocktails, all while inspiring the next generation of great bartenders.

BIO: Jacin Lowe
Cocktail Network Live Production Lead

With over 15 years of experience in filming a wide variety of content, Jacin has partnered with globally recognized brands like Bacardi, HSBC, and Toyota. His expertise extends to supporting smaller, local Palm Beach businesses such as Dodeblue, NeTTronix, and Healing Insight Therapy & Wellness. This combination of large-scale and local experience allows Jacin to deliver high-quality, tailored video production services that benefit businesses of all sizes. Whether elevating a brand’s visual identity or capturing the essence of a small business, his work helps clients stand out and grow through professional content creation.

BIO: Rob Husted
Founder & Creator of the Bartenders’ Shakedown & Mixology Matters Cocktail Conference

With over 30 years behind the bar, keyboard, or on camera… Rob Husted and his company BarWars LLC have a vast market reach and respect within the hospitality industry. His influence on classic and current trends has been sought out by numerous organizations – from the United States Bartenders’ Guild to The Food Network. Whether he’s behind the bar educating consumers or speaking at educational seminars to the elite family of bartenders, his passion motivates others.

Rob’s philosophy of creating quality cocktails in a timely manner while entertaining your guests has been embraced and demonstrated by bartenders of all skill levels across the globe. He doesn’t claim to be one of the best bartenders in the world, he just wants to help you to be.

Now to add to those accomplishments, Rob has appeared on A&E, Travel Channel, CMT and Food Network numerous times promoting Flair & Mixology. He is the founding president for the United States Bartenders’ Guild Palm Beach Chapter as well as the United States Bartenders’ Guild National Flair Committee and sits on the IBA (International Bartenders’ Association) USBG (United States Bartenders’ Guild) Liaison Committee. Along with Josh Gates they created an award winning pop-up bar on Lake Worth beach “Tiki ‘Ono”. Through BarWars LLC (www.barwars.info) Rob and his team do as much as they can to help spread the gospel of Flair bartending and Mixology by focusing on four things… Advanced Bartender Training, Special Events, Drink Development and Bartending Competitions.

To further add to his reach, Rob runs an event staffing company called “Cocktails4Hire” where they staff and showcase many different styles of bartenders for events and consumers worldwide.

Anything else you would like to know, you can ask over some drinks… Cheers!

Bartenders’ Shakedown Main – Accuracy Competition Rules – Speed Competition Rules -
Cocktail Competition Rules – Flair Bartending Competition Rules – Event Partners -
Mixology Matters Cocktail Conference Main – Registration/Tickets – Judges & Staff – Live Broadcast

All Rules subject to change without notice.
Copyright BarWars LLC