Tyler Kennedy

Former restaurant sommelier turned e-com D2C, import and production professional. 12 years experience in restaurants and another 7 in e-commerce. 

Waynesmiley Consulting
6/2020-Present Consultant/Principal
Assist businesses with no wine division break into the regulated space.
• Arranged imports of wine bottles for domestic sales.
• Wrote tasting notes and copy for several D2C wine companies.
• Assist production facilities with sales of wine and products.
• Help sell wines to consumers and manage accounts for clients.

Usual Wines, San Francisco/Sonoma, CA
7/2018-1/2023 VP of Wine and Beverage
Grew wine brand from ~$1m to over $10m in domestic wine production and sales.
• Oversee all things wine related including dry goods, liquid inventory, production scheduling, copy writing, marketing, sales, retail store management and D2C strategy.
• Oversaw compliance and TTB COLA work
• Innovate new products for sale including fresh fruit wine spritzes and the launch of a sparkling wine that went on to be 60% of our sales.
• Manage winemaker and oversee domestic production.
• Maintained relationships with vendors and production facilities.
• Problem-solved when others thought the situation dire.

VINEBOX Inc, San Francisco, CA
1/2015-7/2020 Wine Director
Leveraged Sommelier experience into the D2C and Import space
• Imported over 350 individual wines unique to the United States.
• Managed production facilities in Europe.
• Oversaw management of wine dry goods and packaging.
• Developed the first wine advent calendar, “12 Nights of Wine”
• Public tastings and blog posts
 

Education
Florida State University - Business 
Court of Master Sommeliers
- Level 2