SERVING THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

(HE / HIM)

Director

Andrew is one of the most encouraging and nurturing bar flies you’d ever have the good fortune to have visit your bar. A medical doctor and psychotherapist by day, Andrew can be found hosting Toplack Tuesdays by night; a series professional talks that give bartenders a platform to teach each other. He is also able to boast to being the first to import the then niche — now global — brands El Tesoro Tequila and Del Maguey Mezcal into Canada. His passion for sharing incredible new spirits with bartenders, and his impulse to engage with and develop the hospitality community is what led him here: as the co-founder of the Bartenders Benevolent Fund alongside Jonathan Humphrey back in 2013.

(SHE / HER)

Director

Dani has over a decade of experience working in restaurants and bars, including starting her own cocktail consulting agency. Her passion for social progress fuels her work in the spirits marketing industry — using her brands as a platform to help support positive change. During the pandemic, she created 'A Toast from Coast to Coast', a cocktail book raising funds in part for the Bartenders Benevolent Fund and to promote local restaurants and bars across Canada. She loves exploring new cultures through flavours and appreciating the diversity of spirits, wine, food and people; and she hopes to bring that perspective to the fund. you can find her @dani.drinks on social media.

(HE/HIM)

Director

For more than two decades, Donnie has worked in some great and fun cocktail bars and restaurants across Canada and been an boozy educator and national brand ambassador in previous roles. You’ll find that he is a continual student with certifications in Wine and Spirits anxious from WSET & Bar 5 Day. For over a decade now, Donnie has been hosting an industry holiday celebration for restaurant industry workers that can’t get a holiday meal or be home for the holidays. These days you’ll find him working as a spirits specialist for Dandurand Wine & Spirits.

(He/Him)

Chair, Director

With close to three decades of hospitality industry under his belt, Hugo has run everything from 5 star hotels to nightclubs and large international events. Hugo believes that hospitality is about empathy, compassion and inclusion, as there is no one that doesn’t like to be heard and understood. Hugo likes being able to listen to others, be it guests or industry colleagues. His believe is that everything in life is about perspective and solutions, and there definitely is strength in numbers.

(HE / HIM)

Executive Director

Mat joined us after having worked with several notable not-for-profits focusing on workforce development programs, such as Dixon Hall Neighbourhood Services, The Career Foundation, and most recently at Rise, a national organization that empowers Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges to achieve greater economic and social inclusion. Mat’s experience in the not-for-profit world and managing programs supporting racialized youth, newcomers to Canada, Aboriginal, homeless, LGBTTIQQ2SA+; as well as his compassion and enthusiasm has made him an excellent addition to our team at the BBF.