Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Frank Golbeck, Co-Founder, President, Paradeleader
Frank has a passion for creating more joy, abundance and peace in the world through mutually beneficial partnerships. A creative, productive entrepreneur with a track record of recognized leadership and success, at this stage in his life he is focused on growing Golden Coast Mead into a regenerative force for good in the world.
Andrew Maffey, Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Maffey has spent 10+ years in organizational leadership and is a seasoned hand with high growth Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Corporate excellence. His most recent experience was with Boochcraft Hard Kombucha, having facilitated 2x growth year-over-year in revenue and a $4.2m raise for nationwide distribution as the Operations and Business Development Senior Principal. His deep passion for Lighting Up People's Lives and Regenerating the Earth was foundational in his transfer to Golden Coast Mead in March of 2020, after already having been a Monthly Mead Club Member at Golden Coast Mead for 5 years.
Praveen Ramineni, Co-Founder, Director
Praveen thrives as an entrepreneur, leading by example as a steward of delivering world class craft experiences. As an active CEO, Praveen applies his strong business acumen to continue the growth and business development for Golden Coast Mead to its highest and best potential.
James Phillips, Strategic Advisor
A devoted conservationist, James has been a tremendous resource as an advisor to Golden Coast Mead. Over 40 years experience, including 20 years in New York City in the advertising and marketing industry. The most recent 20 years remaining active in stewarding long-term sustainable investments.
Felipe Witchger, Director
Felipe believes in the power of co-ops. He weaves his work at CPA Co-op with faith and impact investing leaders to build more connective tissue between different parts of our broader movement ecology. Felipe organizes special workshops to unleash more productive capacity from our top leaders and catalyze new culture-changing possibilities.
Christopher Herr, Production Advisor
Christopher is an integral part of Golden Coast Mead team, having developed a high level care in our Mead making. He is responsible for managing the developing, tuning, and implementing recipes. Successes have included developing a repeatable protocol for producing the company’s sour meads and driving cycle time improvements as much as 30%.
Chris received a gold and silver for his Spiced Sour Mead and Orange Blossom Traditional Mead from the San Diego International Beer Festival.
Axel Eaton, Director of Sales and Cross-Pollination
Axel has strong business development across the nation, flexing a sincere professional connection with business-to-business sales with a Bachelor of Science Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. Experienced team player with a demonstrated history of working in promotion with ecological design. Skilled in Public Speaking, Sales, Scientific Writing, Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Stewardship, and leadership with a team.
Gary Lau, Director of Events & Beekeeping
Gary values include integrity, variety, efficiency, teamwork, and happiness. Gary is accountable to others in every action & expression of Golden Coast Mead's Events/Farmers Markets. Gary has proven his excellence in the Regenerative Beverage industry with over 3 years of experience directly with Golden Coast Mead. As a beekeeper, Gary cares for bees, domestic and wild, daily with world class care and candor; educating all who he comes in contact with.
Jolie Hubbard, Marketing Manager
Jolie is a veteran in the San Diego County beverage industry. She worked in many different environments to foster healthy growth in her communities. Her experience at Golden Coast Mead has used this eperience to create and execute strategies that have cultivated a meaningful and successful brand.
Abigail Jay Patrick, Tasting Room and Events Sales
Abigail has proven her excellence in the beverage sales industry with a well-tailored skillset and years of experience in Farmers Markets and Mobile Events Sales. She has been intstrumental in increasing Golden Coast Mead's retail footprint in Ocean Beach confidence and jovial abundance.
Alexander Sharp, Tasting Room Manager
Xander has proven his excellence in the Regenerative Mead Ecosystem with a well-tailored skillset and over 2 years of experience in the Golden Coast Mead Oceanside Tasting Room. Additionally, he has increased the retail presence across the digital and table top gaming worlds with confidence and excitement.
Ben Sweeney, Cellar Mead Maker/Chef
Ben has 6 years of experience in Sales and Culinary innovation development as a Restaurant Chef. New to making Mead, he has already made an impact starting with cellar and brewing work. The next seasons of releases have a brighter future with him joining the Golden Coast Mead Production team.
