TEMN BOARD OLD "INFO BOX" --Archived-- Related to "Emperial

Ever since the company's debut back in 2008 as a marketing and Importer company, Mr. Pierce has not only been credited as the founder of Emperial Americas, but he has solely been responsible for running all facets of the business including managing all day-to-day operations, product quality and control, front office to back-end operations, client reputation management, sales and marketing solutions and overseeing the sales and executive management teams.

Dating back to his tenure as Texas State Manager for Blavod Extreme Spirits, Mr. Pierce gained product positioning for Players Extreme Vodka's, Cielo Tequila and Blavod Vodka and increased sales for the company in the state of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, by doubling the sales efforts for the brands. When Sapphire Brands acquired Blavod Extreme Spirits he was promoted to Regional Director of Spirits and the company's new acquisition, EOS winery from Paso Robles, California.

In this role he handled the development of marketing and sales strategies designed to promote vertical sales in the ad and internet marketplace. Leveraging established relationships with distributors , he was solely responsible for managing and maintaining accurate inventory with verification of vendor reports and client relationships with all levels of the trade in the following markets: Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Mr. Pierce served as Executive Director for Big Cat foundation, a non-profit organization. Also served as a private banker with Star Bank in Cincinnati Ohio. Mr. Pierce received a B.A. from Baylor University in Waco ,Texas in Telecommunications in 1992.

Mr. Klein has served as a member of the Board of Directors since April 2010. From March 2005 until January 2009, Mr. Klein served as the Chairman of the Board of Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd. and was Vice Chairman of the Board from September 2002 to March 2005.

From February 1999 to present, Mr. Klein has served as the Managing Partner of Victory Partners LLC, a company created to fund private businesses in their early stages. In the last six years, Victory has funded six businesses in technology, vitamins and internet services areas, of which three have become public companies.

From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Klein was a registered representative of the Equitable Companies, responsible for sales and services to high income clients, acting as an investment advisor and estate planner to an exclusive client base. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Klein served as President of Transatlantic Exports Corp., where his duties included the purchasing and exporting of finished and contract goods throughout Europe and Africa.

From 1980 through 1991, Mr. Klein owned several retail businesses in lumber, hardware home centers and decorating. Mr. Klein received a B.S. in Finance and an M.B.A in Marketing from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Born and raised in the Chicago metropolitan area, Tom Geoghegan attended local schools, and graduated from Loyola University with a B.A. degree in 1971.

Tom then worked a variety of food and beverage operations in Chicago, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Nashville and Houston, before moving to San Antonio, Texas in the early 1980s.

For the next 30 plus years, Tom has worked both the on- and off-premise, and the wholesale side of the alcohol distribution business, working for companies that included HEB, Gabriel's, and Glazer's, among others. Tom has extensive vendor and customer contacts in the South Texas market, and has worked with key wine, spirit, malt and non-alcoholic suppliers.

Tom is accredited by the Society of Wine Educators as a CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine), and also as a Level I Master Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers. He is currently preparing for his CSS (Certified Specialist of Sprits), and the Level II certification.

Tom has also worked as a judge and member of the steering committees for the San Antonio Livestock and Rodeo wine competition, the San Antonio Express-News wine competition, and the KLRN Public Television Fine Wine and Cuisine Tasting, in addition to his work with the St. Phillip's culinary program, and the new San Antonio branch of the Culinary Institute of America. His charity work includes fund raising for the United Way, the American Cancer society, and the Susan B. Komen fund.

Tom and his wife Kathy, and son Brody live just outside Boerne, in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas.

Mr. Waggoner leads Emperial Americas financial and accounting operations on a global basis. While maximizing profits, his experience and insights in corporate strategy will guide the Company through business growth, accounting and reporting, treasury activities, acquisitions, tax planning, internal audits, and investor relations.

He is equipped with tough entrepreneurial skills and strong qualifications in financial (GAAP and non-GAAP) accounting.

Before joining Emperial Americas, Waggoner was the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for CK Home Products Inc., a position he held since 2008. During his tenure at CK Home Products Inc., he was instrumental in developing their core business plans, creating sound audit and internal controls, served as a liaison with the SEC and was responsible for audits with CPA Firms.

Waggoner has diverse experience including holding various Senior Executive Management positions such as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Corporate Controller, Secretary and Staff Account with a variety of manufacturing, retail and distribution companies. Mr. Waggoner has over 20 years of directing general accounting, cash management, financial and tax reporting, acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, banking relations, credit and collections, insurance, audits, and forecasting.

Mr. Wagoner, a Certified Public Accountant received his Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies from Louisiana State University and an Accounting degree and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Florida.

Waggoner is married with three children and reside in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

As a member of Emperial America's Board of Directors, Mr. Contreras is responsible for Quality Control for the US and Mexico Operations. Mr. Contreras is highly focused in this position to ensure that all of Emperial America's products fit both quality and legal compliance both domestically and internationally. He is also responsible for inventory control, product design, research and development.

Since 1990, Contreras has owned the largest potato wholesaler in Mexico; Papas Mexicanas, which spreads through out 20 states in the region. In 2003 he and his family engineered Tequila Distinguido and several other premium tequilas in which he is responsible for production and CRT compliances for Emperial Americas.  

Previously he has held various Executive Leadership roles with Companies such as Casa Wong Papas, Avicola Jaguar and Club Social Y Deportivo Jalisco AC.

A Native of Jalisco Mexico, Contreras holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from Facultad de Contaduría Pública de la Universidad de Guadalajara. He and his wife Maria reside in Jalisco Mexico and have four children.