Our Team
Jeff Hopmayer
An entrepreneur at heart, Jeff Hopmayer has firmly planted his roots in the food and adult beverage industry. Fresh out of the University of Denver’s business school in 1988, Jeff founded and operated a bakery in Chicago. Over the course of 11 years, this business would grow to become the largest preferred food supplier of Starbucks, as well as a major player in the international food industry at large. Jeff soon found himself on the cover of Inc., Forbes, and Fortune, and was deemed a rising star in the global food and beverage marketplace.
When the time came, Jeff sold this company in favor of returning to his entrepreneurial roots. He then founded a new company, based out of Nashville, which specialized in wine and spirits. This company gained success and grew very quickly. After finding success in over 44 countries, Jeff eventually took the company public on the London Stock Exchange.
After several years of success, Jeff bought back all the company’s U.S.-based assets and returned to the private sector. As years passed, Jeff began to narrow the scope of this enterprise to focus specifically on wine. This led him to purchase a large winery and vineyard in California. Finally, after several years at the helm, he hung up his CEO role to begin consulting.
With more than 30 years of experience as a Chief Executive in both the public and private sectors of the adult-beverage industry, Jeff has built companies from the ground up. Through that process, he has overseen mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, and much more. Jeff has gained extensive experience in the retail, consumer products, and adult beverage arenas through these companies, and is now sharing his knowledge with other entrepreneurs through Brindiamo Group.
Jeff sits on the board of several privately owned companies in the consumer products space, as well as a private equity firm and a Chicago-based foundation.
Jason McMurray
Having graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English, Jason McMurray came to Brindiamo Group with 24 years of experience in alcohol distribution, manufacturing, and brand development. Joining Brindiamo Group as a veteran in logistics, business development, and entrepreneurship, Jason has brought extensive knowledge to the Brindiamo team.
Starting out in management roles for large distributors of wine, beer, and spirits, Jason routinely worked with major manufacturers to develop new production facilities, gaining strong experience with the logistics that power the adult beverage industry.
As Jason’s career progressed, he began taking on lead roles in creating and launching new brands of adult beverages — many of which have become household names. Thanks to Jason’s expertise and leadership, these brands have been distributed throughout the United States, as well as within a number of key export markets abroad.
Currently residing in the Franklin, Tennessee area, Jason works with various charitable organizations to help causes that are close to his heart. Chiefly focusing on Nashville’s at-risk populations, and the historic preservation of the town of Franklin, Jason has been a great asset to the team.
James Hewlette
In the role as International Sales Director, James Hewlette is responsible expanding and managing sales globally at Brindiamo Group.
Prior to joining the team in 2022, James most recently served as the International Beverage Alcohol Sales Manager at MGP Ingredients, Inc. Before that, he was the Global Bulk Sales Director at Terresentia Corp (Green River Spirits Co.). James’ extensive background in the beverage alcohol industry includes more than 15 years of managing all facets of the bulk whiskey sales cycle, as well as domestic and international customer relations.
James received a Bachelor of Science in Human and Organizational Development, with a minor in Economics, from Vanderbilt University, and a master’s in Real Estate Development from Clemson University.
Chad Hilderbrand
Chad graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a degree in Accounting. He was also a member of the golf team earning All-American honors three times before graduating.
Over his career, Chad took on various roles in finance from investment management, credit analysis and tax prep for high-net-worth individuals before finally settling on accounting and operational roles in the single family office space. While working in the family office space, Chad experienced deal structures, cash flow management, trust administration, investment operations and accounting for $200M+ in real estate holdings.
Chad currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two rambunctious children. He enjoys playing competitive amateur golf at the state level and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs.
Dorothy White
After graduating with a degree in Accounting from the University of Tampa, Dorothy served on active duty with the Air Force, in various levels of command staff, logistics, and protocol roles, leaving the Air Force as a Captain to join Procter & Gamble, where she began her career in consumer packaged goods. Her CPG career included insights, sales, and marketing roles, and progressed to leading North American and global customer strategy teams at Pepsico, Kraft, Mars Petcare, and SC Johnson.
Following her CPG career, Dorothy returned to her roots in accounting, bringing with it the business strategy, sales, and marketing expertise gained in her CPG years, and joined the Brindiamo Group in 2018, where she helps manage all aspects of the end:end accounting cycle, business processes, and financial reporting.
Dorothy currently resides in Franklin, TN, and volunteers with several animal rescue groups, the Williamson County schools, and Saddle Up!