Sales Team

John Wolgamot - Director of Sales - EAST

John joined Jones in July of 2010 and his 30 year of proven leadership in the Food and Beverage experience has helped guide the developments of established and start-up brands with Pepsi-Cola, SoBe Beverages, Cadbury Brands, and Campbell’s Soup. 

He lives in Southern New Jersey with his wife and four children. (three in college and one in the Military).  

John will tell you, “Jones is a fantastic brand that is growing every day, and we have phenomenal Sales and support teams in place that are building on the incredible momentum and success of Jones”.

Favorite quote -  “If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.” - Malcolm X

Pierre-Marc Laforest - Director of Sales - CANADA

PML was appointed Director of Sales for Canada in May 2011. He is a committed leader with substantial experience in sales and marketing with over 10 years in consumer packaged goods in both retail and foodservice. Prior to joining Jones Soda Co., Pierre-Marc has evolved gaining increased responsabilities in organizations such as InBev, PepsiCo, L’Oreal and Danone.

PML lives in Toronto, Ontario with wife Mary and son Alexander. He enjoys travelling, skiing and biking.

Favorite quote : Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthousiasm. – Sir Winston Churchill

Dan Ashby -  Director of Sales - WEST

Likes: Challenges, Cooking / BBQ's . and Especially Eating, Travelling, New Experiences

Dislikes: People that walk slow, Shopping

Hobbies: Spending time with my Family, Tennis, Travel, Cooking, Gardening

Favorite Jones flavor: Cream Soda and Black Cherry Zilch (it's a tie)

Hometown: Almonte, Ontario, Canada - Small town outside Ottawa

Pets: Dogs - love 'em all. cat's not so much. My Boy -> Golden Retriever / Pyrenees "Moose"

Favorite color: Blue

Places you have been: Australia (met my Bride there), New Zealand, South East Asia, Europe, Caribbean

Favorite Quote: If You're Not the Lead Dog, the View Stinks!

Absolute loves of life -> my Wife Kirsty and my 3 kids Lauren, Paige and Carter!!!

Chad Kennedy - Director of National Accounts - CENTRAL

I joined the company in March of 2004. I have been in the beverage industry since '95 spending a few years on the distributor side of the business. Home base is West Des Moines, IA with my beautiful wife Krista and our dog "Baby".I spend most of my work time travelingacross the country visiting our great retailers andbuyers. My free time is spent with family and friends andI like anything in the greatoutdoors.

Jones Soda Co. is truly the spirit of the beverage industry and I am very proud to be a part of it!!! From newflavors to new brands we are working to stay on the cutting edge for our consumers.Everyday we are moving closer and closer to becominga $100,000,000 company due to the great people we have working at Jones Soda Co. Also,don't forget to make you personalized myJones 12pack for your next party or get together.

FAVORITE QUOTE : They don’t care what you know………until they know you care!!

ACTIVITIES: Enjoy spending time with my new son Maxwell ,Family,friends, Boats,Mountain bikes, Motorcycles,Mini Bikes, Snowboards, Skateboards, Mountain Boards, Anything Water, Anything Snow, Anything dirt and Travel.

Guy Bartley - Director of National Accounts - EAST

Die Hard Steelers Fan, Jersey Guy,  Huge Jones believer,  Jones Soda: no doubt the coolest soda on the planet. You all know Jones rocks, go get yourself one and if the store says they don’t carry it or never heard of it, show your support, teach them something and demand they get it.  You are the consumers of the future, it’s your soda, your pictures, your brand. Also, remember we got some Whoop Ass for you to!!  “Go ahead and open up a can”

Loves: Family, Black &Gold

Dislikes: HFCS

David Epperson - Southeast Regional Manager

12 yr veteran of the Beverage Industry representing Jones Soda as South/Southeast Regional LA, MS, ALA, GA, FL, TN

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Favorite Jones: Strawberry Lime

Hobbies: Running, Cycling, Golf, Beach, Fine wines, Sports memorabilia

Alan Shank-Regional Sales Manager- South Central

Born and raised in Aberdeen, WA

 I currently reside in Scottsdale, AZ

 I have been in the beverage industry since 1984. I currently cover the following states for Jones: Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri.

 Hobbies: Riding my Harley, golf and traveling

 I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends

 Favorite Jones Flavor-Berry Lemonade

Pat Fox- Regional Sales Manager - Midwest

I have almost 20 years in the Beverage business. Before that I spent 6 years in the Military, where I flew Huey helicopters and spent a great 3 years in Germany with my wife and my son, who was born there. My Daughter came along later(no, she was planned) and spends most of her time on one of her sports teams or on her most prized possession, her cell phone.

Likes: All sports, games, or anything that I can win at.

Dislikes: losing & cucumber salad

 Lynn Boxtart- Area Manager - Western Canada

 Likes:Sunshine, happy people, all inclusive resorts

Dislikes:4 way stops, overcooked steak

Favorite Jones flavor:Green Apple!!!!!!

Hometown:Surrey, BC

Pets:Nikko, the Bishon

Favorite color:Pink

Places you have been:

Canada:  Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto

USA:  Seattle, Portland, New York, Colorado, Palm Springs

Worldwide:  England, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Congo

Francesca Costa-Area Manager - Eastern Canada

I am one of six employees of Jones Soda in Canada. I live in a small town called Cambridge, Ontario...I don't live in an igloo but the weather does go down to -40 degrees in the winter months. I come from an Italian heritage so I have inherited the stubborn gene and the love of red wine....oh and pasta!

Likes:My husband Mike, travelling and watchingThe Young& the Restless and Dr.Phil.

Dislikes: When my husband tells me I watch too much Dr.Phil.

PROUD TO BE CANADIAN EH!

 Carolina Catalino - NY Area Manager

Likes: Shopping, eating, traveling, dancing, my daughter.

Dislikes: people I can’t trust and cooking.

Hobbies: Modeling

Favorite Jones flavor: Berry Lemonade and Pom zilch

Hometown: Bronx, NY

Favorite color: Pink

 Robert Rosas - Area Sales Manager - Texas

 Likes: I like to fish and spend time with my kids.

 Dislikes: I hate traffic

 Hobbies: Fishing, basketball, mountain biking and sales.

 Favorite flavor: berry lemonade

 Hometown: born and raised in Houston, TX

 No pets

 Favorite color: black

 Places been: England, Canada, Mexico, Seattle and every national park in the western states.

 Hidden talents: Always catch fish, History knowledge, I have a collection of books that shaped or present day.

Aron Levi - Area Manager - Ontario

Originally from South Africa, our family found our way around the world before finally settling in Toronto, Canada. BRRrrr! I often get asked if I had a pet lion growing up, so it only seemed fitting that my picture shows me playing with a lion cub (I didn't have a lion btw).

 From a professional standpoint, I have done everything from Life-Guarding, to Day-trading, to Sales. Sales, however, has taken up the majority of my professional career, the last four years of which, I was responsible for developing the Ontario and Western Canada markets in the beverage and consumer packaged goods industry.

 I Currently live in Toronto with the cutest dog in the world - Simba, A.K.A - Little Monster, A.K.A - Mr. Happy (as his tail is always wagging - even when he's dreaming). Together, we enjoy the outdoors, and always find new interesting friends along the way.

Pet Peeves -Traffic, and Public displays of affection
Favorite sports - Surfing, swimming, white water rafting, and anything else in the water.
Favorite foods - Pizza, hamburgers, poutine (you'll have to come to Canada and try it).
Favorite drink - Jones Root Beer!
Favorite quote - "I have not failed 1000 times. I have successfully discovered 1000 ways to NOT make a light bulb"  - Thomas Edison

Chris Burleson – Southwest Regional Sales Manager

Hello Everyone. I am a proud member of the Southwest Jones Sales team based in Los Angeles. I grew up on a steady diet of snowboarding, wakeboarding, and punk rock music. I am a self-proclaimed foodie and enjoy everything Zagat rated.

Loves: My fiancée, my dog, Burton snowboards, Dodger hats, birds, poker, Pennywise and Sushi.

Favorite Jones: Vanilla Bean Zilch

 Brian McIrvin - Area Manager - Oregon

I have been in the beverage industry for approximately 12 plus years.  I was in management with Columbia Distributing from 1992 thru 2002.  Took an 8 year break and dabbled in the mortgage/construction industry.  In 2010 got back into the beverage industry but not with a distributor  but with a supplier.  Now here with Jones and extremely excited!!!

I spend most of my time with my daughter (Hailey) and son (Zachary), doing everything under the sun.  They are my pride and Joy!!! 

Fun for me consists of:  riding my motorcycle, playing golf, working out and hanging out with friends/family.   This being my first year back playing golf after 3 years because of multiple surgeries.  I am excited to see if I can get back to a 4 handicap. 

To wrap it up, if you are ever in Oregon, give me a call. Let’s play a round of 18!

 Ryan Shanks - Area Manager - Ontario

Born in the beaches of Toronto’s east side, Ryan grew up in your normal nuclear household, but what he has become over the past 25 years is far from normal.  The son of Cindy and Bob Shanks, he has taken their entrepreneurial ways to become a successful marketer and salesman, working for the likes of Audi, Red Bull and Fortune 500 companies such as Coke and Proctor and Gamble.  His many hobbies include Snowboarding the mountains of Whistler, teeing it up on the greens of Augusta and playing video games with 12 year olds.  His engaging personality and ability to interact and become fast friends with anyone will allow him to strive in the Jones Soda Team.

“Just cause your living dosen’t mean your alive”

Chris Sanders - Area Manager - Midwest

Ahhhh, my ski bum days in Vail, Colorado!  I miss them.  Now I’m a flat-lander living in Chicago where I grew up.  A little older but still love the outdoors, my fiancée Catie, three cats, and our newest addition Mollie, (nope, no kids yet but a loveable shepherd none the less).  

I came from Arizona Ice Tea to join Jones Soda in November 2011.  Tea Schmee, Soda is where it’s at! Prior to working in the beverage business with AriZona, I was a self-employed mortgage broker, and we all know how that turned out ;(  

I am very excited to be on board at Jones Soda Co.  A fantastic company with an equally fantastic loyal customer base, and that is AWESOME!!!!

Keep those pictures coming and don’t let us slack.  Let us know what YOU want this company to be and we’ll make it happen!

Likes:  Snowboarding (even on what they call mountains in the Midwest) fly fishing, and GOLF, GOLF, GOLF!

Dislikes:  Stinky Cheese and olives….yuck!

Favorite Quote:  “We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking. And out of it we get an aggregation which we consider a boon. Its name is Public Opinion. It is held in reverence. It settles everything. Some think it the Voice of God.”  Mark Twain

Loic Tomei - Area Manager - Quebec

Born in Montreal, Quebec, I live with my Girlfriend Myriam and my dog Mya.

I like :Travelling, Cooking, Playing, Camping, Golfing, BBQing, Dancing, Cirque duSoleil, Mojitos, Cashew, Ping Pong, Mad Men, Fringe, Rocky, Die Hard, Atila the Hun, Gengis Khan, Dreaming, Any Playa, Montreal Canadiens, Expresso, Jones Soda.

I am: Epicurean, Positive, Curious, Calm

Twin Brother : Maxim            Sister: Michelle

Favorite Jones: Strawberry Lime

Gregg Shore - Area Manager - Florida

I’m a twenty-three year veteran of the beverage industry, but my proudest moment was becoming a part of the JONES Soda team for the great state of Florida. Yeah, I know, we’ve had trouble with elections and stuff, but one thing is for sure; the people of Florida have spoken loud and clear, and they want their JONES Soda! 

My career began as a delivery driver in 1989 for a beer distributor. I wasn’t even old enough to drink beer, but I could drive a big truck full of it. The beverage industry got in my blood, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I live in Central Florida with my wife, Laura, and our two boys, Carter and Carson. Most “free time” is spent with them doing either school or Scout activities. Other things that interest me include politics, golfing, mountain biking (yep, even in FL) and going on cruises (I’ve been on around 10 or so). 

Some things that annoy me include a bad meal, personalized NFL jerseys, loud motorcycles, over-zealous sports fans and Top 10 Lists.

Some things I admire include my family, the men and women of the military and a good meal.   

Awesome quote; “Don’t knock Florida. You’re going to live here when you retire.”