Abel Arriaga is the founder of Compa Spirits y Vino, a Phoenix-based importer and distributor focused on small, family-owned Mexican producers. Through mezcal, rum, wine, and liqueurs, he connects Arizona bars and restaurants with craft projects across Mexico, emphasizing fair partnerships, storytelling, and long-term growth for the communities behind the bottles.

Ismael Andrés Cruz Acevedo, known professionally as Andres Cruz, is a hospitality and craft spirits leader based in Oaxaca, with Mixtec heritage on his father’s side and roots in the Oaxaca Valley on his mother’s. With over 12 years in the food and beverage industry, he joined Mezcal Vago in 2018, where he now leads national sales and hospitality in Mexico while overseeing social media strategy and responsible brand initiatives. In partnership with Soulspirit Oaxaca, he co-founded an educational platform dedicated to artisanal craft spirits. His work bridges spirits, culture, and education, honoring the land, traditions, and producers who sustain Mexico’s heritage.

Bildo Saravia is the co-founder and producer of Origen Raíz Mezcal, a sustainably crafted, small-batch spirit rooted in the high desert of Durango, Mexico. Working in partnership with the Cortés family of Oaxaca, he oversees production at his family’s Rancho el Ojo, where wild Agave cenizo is harvested with care and regenerative grazing practices are maintained. His approach prioritizes environmental stewardship, community support, and respect for traditional methods. Through his work, Bildo honors the cultural heritage and ecological integrity that define mezcal, ensuring that each release reflects both the land and the legacy behind the spirit.

Chris Simmons is an agave spirits educator and hospitality professional with a background in restaurant and bar program development, whose work has been shaped by his time in San Diego and proximity to Mexico. He has built and led acclaimed beverage programs, including the All Agave Club at Rancho Valencia and the Agave Dinner Series, which brings together chefs and distillers from across the U.S. and Mexico. He co-founded Sipping Life to offer agave-focused educational experiences in Mexico, and now serves as National Agave Spirits Specialist for Samson & Surrey, representing Tequila Ocho and Mezcal Vago while leading education and advocacy nationwide.

Don Bienvenido Fernández is a maestro sotolero from the Sierra de Madera in Chihuahua who began learning the craft in childhood and now brings more than 63 years of experience producing sotol. A guardian of artisanal distillation techniques that form part of the historical and cultural heritage of his region, he received the first official permit to distill sotol in 1997. Throughout his career, Don Bienve has established vinatas across the state, trained numerous distillers, and helped solidify Ciudad Madera as a recognized sotol-producing territory. He is also the founder of the renowned “Burrito Sotolero,” a living tradition that celebrates the history, identity, and community of Chihuahua.

Edgar Ángeles Carreño is a fourth-generation mezcalero from Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca, a region renowned for its traditional clay pot distillation. Formerly of the celebrated Real Minero distillery, he now continues his family’s mezcal legacy through a new project alongside his two sons, “Los Dos Carnales,” who represent the fifth generation of mezcaleros in the Ángeles family. Deeply proud of his parents and the traditions they passed down, Edgar is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others and maintaining close connections with the rural communities where mezcal culture thrives. His work reflects a lifelong dedication to craft, heritage, and guiding the next generation forward.

Efraín Delgado is a sotol producer from Temósachic, Chihuahua, and the last member of a family lineage devoted to both artisanal sotol production and norteño band music. Rooted deeply in the traditions of his region, he preserves his cultural heritage by crafting Sotol “La Ciénega” while continuing the musical legacy passed down through generations. Through his dual dedication to distillation and song, Efraín embodies the living traditions of northern Mexico, honoring the identity, resilience, and spirit of his homeland with every bottle produced and every note played.

Fausto Romero is a chemical engineer and master distiller at Taberna Tres Gallos, a traditional raicilla distillery located near Mascota, Jalisco. Educated at CUCEI in Guadalajara, he brings a technical and science-driven perspective to the production of this historic regional spirit. By combining formal engineering training with traditional distillation practices, Fausto works to refine production methods while honoring the cultural heritage of raicilla in western Mexico. His approach bridges innovation and tradition, helping to elevate and preserve one of Jalisco’s most distinctive agave spirits.

Félix Monterrosa Hernandez comes from a family of mezcal producers and sellers in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, a region widely recognized as the “World Capital of Mezcal.” He studied Visual Arts at the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca and also earned a degree in Political Science from the José Vasconcelos University of Oaxaca. In 2008, Félix founded Mezcalería Cuish, one of the first spaces dedicated to promoting the biodiversity of agave and the diverse mezcal-producing regions of Oaxaca. He is also the founder of Cuish Productores de Mezcales Tradicionales and a founding member of the Maestros del Mezcal collective, working to preserve traditional practices and support small-scale mezcal producers.

Francisco Terrazas is a beverage professional and agave spirits educator with more than a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. His work has included managing one of the world’s premier agave bars, educating consumers internationally about agave spirits, and collaborating directly with producers while overseeing operations for Mexican spirits brands. He is the founder of Raíces Imports, a boutique import company dedicated to representing small, producer-owned brands in the United States. Francisco also serves as Executive Director of the Tequila Interchange Project, a nonprofit organization focused on preserving traditional practices, advancing responsible production, and promoting environmental and human health across the agave spirits industry.

Greg Rutkowski is a master distiller and documentary producer based in Jalisco, Mexico, and the co-founder of Finca 18, the only agave spirits distillery within the municipality of Puerto Vallarta. His work focuses on traditional raicilla production across the Sierra and coastal regions of Jalisco, where he collaborates with producers to preserve the spirit’s distinctive methods and regional character. In addition to distilling, Greg is the producer of Raicilla Smugglers, a feature-length documentary exploring the cultural survival of raicilla and the communities that protected the spirit through generations of secrecy, geography, and time.

Gregorio Torres and Tavi Torres are master distillers from Batopilas, Chihuahua, carrying forward a family tradition of producing lechuguilla that spans generations. Rooted in a practice as old as their town itself, they preserve and honor the artisanal methods that define this distinctive northern Mexican spirit. Through their work, they embody the legacy, pride, and cultural identity of Chihuahua’s traditional distillates, ensuring that each bottle reflects the heritage and craftsmanship passed down through their family line.

Ian Beger is the Farm Director at Castle Hot Springs, where he oversees a diversified farm producing more than 300 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers for the resort’s culinary program, along with over eight acres of agave cultivation.

His work is rooted in regenerative agriculture, with a focus on nutrient density, soil health, and long-term land stewardship in the Sonoran Desert. Through his approach, Ian integrates food production with ecological resilience, demonstrating how agriculture can support both environmental health and culinary excellence.

Jesús Alfredo Pérez Blanco is a beverage professional and mixology consultant with a background in Tourism Business Administration from the Universidad del Valle de México, where he specialized in Gastronomy before completing a Master’s degree in Marketing for Food and Beverage. After working as a chef in several venues across Mexico, he shifted his focus to the development and management of food and beverage programs. He is the founder of Fraio Unique Mixology, a consultancy that supports brands and hospitality venues through operational strategy, brand activations, and beverage program development. Through bar takeovers and collaborations across Mexico and the United States, he creates cocktail experiences that connect guests with culture, ingredients, and storytelling.

Jorge Arreola is the founder of Bacanora Cola Blanca, a Sonoran spirit rooted in tradition and regional identity. Born in Hermosillo and raised on a family cattle ranch in Mazatán, Arreola developed an early connection to the land and the native agave that grows across it.

After discovering the relationship between wild agave and the historic production of bacanora, Arreola began exploring the spirit’s process and cultural significance. This path led to the creation of Cola Blanca, a project grounded in honoring Sonora’s heritage while contributing to the continued recognition of bacanora as an essential expression of the region.

Katie Herzog is an agave farmer based in Parkfield, California, where she cultivates agave at Reverie Ranch and supports regenerative agricultural practices. A sixth-generation farmer on the Rosenberg Family Ranch in the Salinas Valley, she brings deep agricultural heritage and hands-on experience to her work. Katie is also the co-owner of Giver Spirits and leads a monthly virtual gathering that connects and supports women agave growers. Through her farming, leadership, and advocacy, she advances sustainable agave cultivation while fostering collaboration and community within the emerging California agave movement.

Luis Carlos Vásquez and Luis Carlos Vásquez Jr. are mezcaleros from Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca, a village widely recognized as the cradle of mezcal due to its deep-rooted maguey culture dating back to the early Spanish colonial period. As father and son, they represent two generations dedicated to the demanding craft of cultivating agave and producing mezcal using ancestral clay pot distillation methods. Makers of the celebrated Del Maguey Santa Catarina Minas expressions including Minero, Arroqueño, Pechuga, and Ibérico, their mezcales reflect the character of their land and the traditions passed through generations. Their work embodies dedication, resilience, and a deep respect for the heritage of mezcal.

Luis Loya is a Chihuahua native whose work focuses on exploring and preserving the diverse traditions of agave distillation across Northern Mexico. Through extensive travel to remote communities, he has built close relationships with rural maestros who continue producing regional spirits rooted in local history and terroir. In 2011, he founded Nación de las Verdes Matas and Lamata, projects dedicated to bringing these underrepresented distillates to a broader audience. Because many of these regions and production styles fall outside the current Denomination of Origin for mezcal, Luis chooses not to certify them, instead focusing on preserving their “gusto histórico” while supporting equitable partnerships with producers and expanding consumer understanding of Mexico’s diverse agave spirits.

Miguel Ángel Partida Rivera is from Zapotitlán de Vadillo, Jalisco, and has served since 2013 as the legal representative of Mezcal Tradicional de Zapotitlán. In this role, he oversees sales and represents the company in legal matters, as well as at national and international fairs and industry events. In recent years, Miguel Ángel has focused on education and outreach within the hospitality industry, leading tastings and training programs that introduce professionals and consumers to traditional mezcal production. Through the brand CHACOLO, he shares the heritage, flavors, and cultural significance of mezcal from the southern region of Jalisco with audiences in Mexico and abroad.

Noah Schlager is a Mvskoke seed keeper and researcher whose work engages the intersections of Indigenous geography, environmental history, political ecology, and agroecology.

Their research centers on how Indigenous seed keepers and farmers sustain relational, kinship-based, and more-than-human worlds through practices of care, exchange, and resistance. Through this work, they highlight the enduring knowledge systems and cultural practices that support biodiversity, food sovereignty, and ecological resilience.

Salvador Derma, known as “Chalol,” is a fourth-generation sotol producer from Potrero del Llano, Chihuahua. He began distilling in 2003, working clandestinely before helping to formalize production through the creation of a cooperative and the registration of the brand Sotol Lazadores, representing his community for many years. He later founded his own label, Sotol Lazo de mi Vida, and established a distillery in Chorreras, fulfilling a vision he built alongside his family, who continue to work by his side. His journey reflects resilience, tradition, and a deep commitment to preserving Chihuahua’s sotol heritage.

Salvador Peribán develops strategies and processes that prioritize sustainability, fairness, and thoughtful design across diverse mediums, including agave spirits, blown-glass works, and adobe construction. He has served as Director of Research and Development at Xaquixe, the Oaxaca-based glassblowing studio, and as Head Distiller at Sombra, where he implemented initiatives to reduce the distillery’s ecological footprint. He currently serves as Creative Director for Maguey Melate, curating and showcasing exceptional agave spirits from across Mexico. Through his interdisciplinary work, Salvador bridges craft, environmental responsibility, and innovation within the evolving landscape of agave production.

Adrian Perez is an engineer at Raytheon Technologies, partner in Borderlands Taproom, and a local advocate for music education, arts and community. As a executive board member for the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, he aspires to create creative connections across the city of Tucson in order to elevate the city’s cultural identity.

Alex La Pierre is the director and co-founder of Borderlandia, a bi-national organization committed to building public understanding of the borderlands. A public historian, his experience spans the nonprofit sector in Nogales and government work with the National Park Service in New Mexico and Arizona, focusing on historic preservation and heritage interpretation. His studies and continued research center on the Hispanic cultural heritage of the American Southwest and northern Mexico.

Ayman Mostafa is Director of the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension and Director of the University of Arizona Center for Urban Smart Agriculture. His work focuses on water quality, irrigation, and agricultural water management, supporting resilient and efficient food production systems in arid environments.

César Iván Linares is a scholar with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where his work focuses on research, teaching, and the preservation of knowledge rooted in Mexico’s cultural and ecological landscapes. Through his academic work and participation in university initiatives, he explores the relationships between land, culture, and traditional agave practices. His efforts contribute to advancing UNAM’s mission of education and community engagement while highlighting the traditions and stories that connect people to agave, heritage, and the environments that sustain them.

Dan Collins developed a deep appreciation for desert landscapes during his childhood in Southern California, where family trips to the Mojave Desert sparked his lifelong fascination with arid environments. After retiring, he and his wife relocated to Tucson, Arizona, drawn by its rich desert ecology. He earned certification as a Sonoran Desert Naturalist in 2011 and became an Arizona Master Naturalist in 2018. Dan volunteers extensively at Saguaro National Park West, where he assists visitors in exploring the park and presents interpretive programs on native flora and fauna, including the many species of agave that define the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.

Deanna Moore is the founder of The Agave Lab and co-founder of Giver Spirits, with a background in ecology and hands-on product development in the natural food industry. Her work centers on cultivating a regenerative agave movement in California, grounded in sustainability, innovation, and agricultural stewardship. Drawing from her experience in ecological systems and consumer product development, she advocates for responsible agave cultivation beyond Mexico while honoring the plant’s cultural roots. Through her leadership, Deanna bridges science, entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility, advancing a thoughtful and regenerative future for agave spirits.

Doug and Lisa Richardson are the husband and wife team behind Drylands Farming Company, a consulting and agricultural venture focused on sustainable, low-water crops for arid regions of the American Southwest.

Doug Richardson has more than fifty years of experience in horticulture as a nurseryman, farmer, landscape designer, contractor, and educator. Formerly the chairman of the Environmental Horticulture Department at Santa Barbara City College, he taught courses in soils, irrigation, landscape construction, and water-efficient design. Throughout his career he has been a pioneer in sustainable land practices, working with California native plants, edible landscaping, organic banana farming, and the Vetiver System for soil conservation. His current work focuses on agave and prickly pear as climate-appropriate crops for dryland agriculture.

Lisa Richardson brings a background in natural foods, herbalism, and garden design. Trained as a massage therapist and nutritional consultant, she spent more than a decade working as a healer and bodyworker while cultivating a lifelong interest in medicinal herbs, home gardening, and plant-based wellness. She also owned and operated a restaurant and retail shop, where she developed her culinary creativity and talent for creating welcoming spaces.

Together they advocate for drylands farming as a resilient agricultural model, helping growers across California and the American Southwest explore agave, prickly pear, and other crops suited to water-conscious landscapes.

Doug Smith is an Arizona native and the owner of Exo Roast Co. in Tucson, where he integrates culinary innovation with agave education through the company’s mezcalería. Holding a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, his research has examined agricultural history across several Mexican states, informing his approach to agave spirits and regional foodways. Ongoing research trips to Sonora, Chihuahua, and Oaxaca keep him connected with mezcaleros and sotoleros while deepening his exploration of agave’s ecological and economic potential. Doug also serves on the Board of Directors of Native Seeds/SEARCH and Borderlands Restoration Network, supporting regenerative practices in the borderlands region.

Francesca leads the Native Plant Program at the Borderlands Restoration Network and comes from a family forage crop farm in Calexico, California, with deep roots on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border. She began working with native plants at the UC Davis Arboretum while earning degrees in Native American Studies and International Agricultural Development, later managing propagation research and plant sales. In 2013, she moved to Patagonia, Arizona, where she founded and now manages the nursery for Borderlands Restoration Network. Passionate about expanding access to native plants, she fosters cross-border partnerships and serves in leadership roles within regional conservation organizations and her local community.

Francisca Siza is a Portuguese audiovisual director with a background in English Literature and a Master’s degree in Documentary Film. After living and working in Buenos Aires and Bogotá, she returned to Portugal, where she now works as a director, cinematographer, and editor through her own production company. She has directed and produced multiple documentary shorts and series, and her photography and experimental video installations have been exhibited internationally. In 2023, she directed her first feature documentary, Las Hijas del Maguey, which received awards in Germany, Mexico, the United States, and Sweden. She is currently in preproduction for her second feature film in Brazil.

Gary Paul Nabhan is an internationally celebrated nature writer, agrarian activist, and ethnobiologist dedicated to conserving the vital connections between biodiversity and cultural diversity. Through decades of research, writing, and advocacy, he has advanced the protection of traditional foodways, seed saving, and desert agriculture. His pioneering contributions to the local food movement have earned recognition from national publications and organizations, including Utne Reader, Mother Earth News, The New York Times, Bioneers, and Time magazine. Gary’s work continues to inspire collaborative efforts that bridge ecological conservation, cultural resilience, and sustainable agriculture across arid landscapes.

José Jiménez is the owner of Petroglyphs – A Tucson Emporium, located in Tucson’s Mercado District, and serves on the Executive Board of the Tucson International Mariachi Conference. A dedicated advocate for cultural preservation and community engagement, he supports initiatives that celebrate the artistic and historical traditions of the region. Through his leadership and involvement with the Agave Heritage Festival, José contributes to advancing awareness of the Southwest’s rich cultural legacy, fostering connections between art, music, and agave heritage.

Katherine Gaia Barbaree (she/her) is the Education Program Director at Borderlands Restoration Network, where she leads place-based and culturally responsive programs that engage youth, students, and environmental professionals across the Arizona–Sonora borderlands. She directs initiatives such as Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY), a paid internship program that has supported more than 200 young people from southern Arizona communities in ecosystem, watershed, and community restoration. Borderlands Restoration Network also offers the Sonoran Field Course in northern Mexico, providing field-based training in Spanish for early-career restoration professionals. Katherine holds graduate degrees in Sustainability Education from the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University and has more than two decades of experience as an environmental educator in arid lands around the world.

Laura Espinoza Alonso is the president of the Association of Women of Bacanora and Mexican Maguey in the state of Sonora, Mexico, where she leads a network of more than 30 women representing diverse roles across the bacanora industry. Educated in both the United States and Mexico, she returned to her hometown with a commitment to preserving and revitalizing its nearly lost cultural heritage. Through her leadership, she supports the professional growth of women producers while strengthening the visibility and future of Sonora’s bacanora tradition. Her work advances equity, cultural preservation, and sustainable development within Mexico’s agave spirits landscape.

Laurel Bellante, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies in SGDE at the University of Arizona, and Assistant Director of the Center for Regional Food Studies. A human-environment geographer, her work advances food justice and sustainable food systems through political ecology, applied research, and community-engaged teaching across the U.S.–Mexico borderlands.

Lou Bank is the founder of SACRED (Saving Agave for Culture, Recreation, Education, and Development), a nonprofit and 1% for the Planet Environmental Partner dedicated to supporting rural Mexican communities where heritage agave spirits are produced. Through SACRED, he helps fund locally driven initiatives such as agave replanting, water systems, wells, and greenhouses that strengthen community resilience and environmental stewardship. Lou is also the cohost of Agave Road Trip, an award-winning weekly podcast launched in 2020 that explores agave, agave spirits, and the cultural landscapes of rural Mexico, helping industry professionals and enthusiasts better understand the people and traditions behind these spirits.

Dr. Luis Eguiarte is one of Mexico’s leading experts on agave diversity, genetics, and conservation. A professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), he has conducted extensive field and laboratory research on wild and domesticated agaves and their relatives for more than four decades. His work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of agave evolution, biodiversity, and ecological relationships. In collaboration with his wife, Dr. Valeria Sosa, he has also compiled important ecological and taxonomic research on Cuatro Ciénegas, home to the largest desert oasis ecosystem in North America. Through his research and teaching, Dr. Eguiarte continues to contribute to the conservation of agave and desert biodiversity.

Misty Kalkofen is a pioneering bartender, educator, and cultural advocate for agave spirits. She began her hospitality career in Boston while studying theology at Harvard Divinity School and went on to help launch the influential B-Side Lounge, one of the city’s first bars dedicated to classic cocktails and vintage spirits. Misty later worked at renowned establishments including Green Street, Brick & Mortar, and Barbara Lynch’s award-winning Drink. In 2007, she founded the Boston chapter of Ladies United for the Preservation of the Endangered Cocktail (LUPEC), raising more than $40,000 for local women’s charities. Since 2013, she has served as a cultural liaison and brand representative for Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, helping share the traditions, people, and culture behind the spirit with audiences around the world.

Noah Schlager is a researcher with the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance at the University of Arizona, where his work focuses on Indigenous data governance and community-centered research. His work centers on supporting Indigenous sovereignty in environmental data, with applications to land, water, and resource stewardship

Ofelia Lichtenheld is an agronomist, agave farmer, and nursery owner based in San Diego County, where her farm serves as a demonstration site for agroecological and regenerative farming practices. Guided by a deep commitment to soil health, plant diversity, water conservation, invertebrate protection, and wildlife preservation, she integrates ecological stewardship into every aspect of her work. Ofelia collaborates with researchers, experts, and organizations to advance sustainable agriculture and strengthen responsible agave cultivation. Through her leadership and advocacy, she promotes resilient farming systems that honor both environmental integrity and the future of agave production.

Randy is a land steward based in Sahuaripa, Sonora, with experience in landscape restoration, permaculture, water harvesting, and natural building. A former manager of the Northern Jaguar Reserve, he now supports regenerative practices and rural development through local committees and the Sembrando Vida program.

Rodrigo Sierra Corona is a conservation scientist and the Executive Director of the Borderlands Restoration Network, where he leads cross-border initiatives to restore landscapes and strengthen the communities that depend on them. With more than two decades of experience in ecological conservation, his work has supported the protection and recovery of iconic species including jaguars, prairie dogs, bison, and black-footed ferrets. Rodrigo holds a doctorate in Ecosystem Management from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and brings a deep commitment to ecological balance, cultural traditions, and the stewardship of the borderlands where agave and people have thrived together for generations.

Susan Coss is a marketing and communications strategist with a long career in the sustainable food and beverage world. She is the co-founder and director of Mezcalistas, a media, events, and marketing platform dedicated to sharing the culture and traditions of mezcal. Previously, she served as Director of Marketing and PR for CUESA, the organization behind San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, and co-founded the Eat Real Festival in Oakland and Los Angeles. Susan was also part of the marketing team for Slow Food Nation in 2008, a landmark gathering of farmers, chefs, and food activists from around the world. She was named a 2019 Drink Innovator by SevenFifty Daily and holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

J.Eduardo Lemmen Meyer Baranzini is a business leader from Sonora, Mexico, known for advancing regional economic development, strengthening the private sector, and promoting emblematic local products. He currently serves as Director General of the Sonora Bacanora Regulatory Council, where he oversees certification and quality standards while positioning bacanora as a nationally and internationally recognized symbol of Sonoran identity