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Country Smooth’s Lori Carcich

I’m 100 percent admitting to being a brand geek. When I actually get a chance to meet the woman behind the brand, I’m totally the one fangirling in the corner. 

I had a chance to meet this impressive woman at a retreat this past July. Lori Carcich, Founder and CEO of Country Smooth Bourbon is the first female founder and CEO of an American Whiskey company! Lori started the brand in 2015 after being inspired by Country Music and the American Lifestyle. Her goal was to create a whiskey that could be enjoyed by anyone no matter their experience with the spirit by making it approachable and modern.

Lori dove head first into this male-dominated industry with no fear! Her father taught Lori at a young age that she had to work hard and fight for what she wanted and Lori has done just that! The beverage industry is a beast, and pursuing product placements requires you to be relentless, but that didn’t scare her away. 

Lori shared with me her love of hiking and how she’s been able to draw parallels to the uphill battle of the beverage industry.   To my amazement, I learned that this woman has hiked over 475 miles, and she spoke about doing a lot of those miles alone! There were stories that she recounted where she started hikes with friends who would later turn around and go home leaving her to the mountain alone. I was shocked to hear about bear encounters, gnarly storms, and strangers appearing while on these solo hikes.. This woman is a force to be reckoned with and I can’t wait to continue following her journey and witness the impact she makes through her brand! 

Country Smooth is bottled in Nashville Tennessee, and distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN and can be ordered directly from their website and many liquor stores and bars around the country. 

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Tracy Gafford

Graphic Extraordinaire

Tracy Gafford is a self-created graphic design artist and entrepreneur hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a focus on branding and growth, Tracy ventured into the world of design to not only support her children but also escape the monotonous sales industry where she thrived for over 15 years. Her passion for graphic design, art, branding, growth, and the reasons behind it drive her creative pursuits.

Outside of work, Tracy is a loving mother of two and finds joy in various activities. She has a green thumb and loves to spend time gardening. On top of that, she has an adventurous side you can often catch her driving her hot rod 42’ Ford or riding her BMX downtown, embracing the historical streets of Tulsa. Tracy is an avid fan of local live music shows, immersing herself in the vibrant music scene in Tulsa.

Tracy’s expertise lies in creating visually captivating designs that help businesses establish their unique identities and propel their growth. With her innovative approach and dedication to her craft, Tracy has become a respected figure in the field. Whether it’s designing compelling logos, eye-catching merchandise, or engaging marketing materials, Tracy Gafford transforms ideas into impactful visual solutions that leave a lasting impression.

Brandie Weaver

Founder and Head Strategist

Once upon a time, I was a 25-year-old driven, hungry female sitting behind a desk in an alcohol distributor office. I answered a craigslist ad (Yes! This was a way of life for us entrepreneurs at the time) for someone who needed an event coordinator and a sponsorship salesperson.

I had been planning parties since I was 15 years old and I had a marketing degree so I convinced him I was the woman for the job.  This is how my “side hustle” began. I had never sold a sponsorship in my life, but I knew I worked at the liquor company so I had an edge over most people. 

I dove in! I mean I really dove in and taught myself everything I could about sponsorships. At that time there really wasn’t a ton of information out there. I researched packages for hours on hours trying to come up with the most creative packages I could. 

Little did I know that creating the packages was just the beginning of my long uphill battle. I spent ten years independently selling sponsorships at the local and national level for a professional boxing and MMA company. I did this while working full-time in the alcohol industry, getting an MBA, and partying like a rockstar! 

In 2017 I saw a Facebook Post looking for an intern to work at a music festival. My first love has always been music so I responded to that post and continued to follow up until I got the meeting. I obtained the opportunity to work on my first music festival in Key West selling sponsorships.  I was working full time selling liquor at a liquor wholesaler, selling pro boxing and MMA sponsorships, and now I was finally selling something I was truly passionate about.

I left the liquor company and started my own consulting company in 2018. Fast forward to today my team and I have sold over 4 million dollars in sponsorships for events and individuals. We have produced over 40 events for brands, companies, festivals, and musicians.  I have built my brand on doing honest deals and creating intimate experiences that BUILD RELATIONSHIPS that LAST!