Teamwork

At NOVA, we are proud of our reputation as a highly specialized agency. Our success rests in the capable hands of a team that brings their considerable experience, creative talents, integrity, and dedication to each project – large or small. Moreover, to keep your costs within budget, NOVA spotlights individual talents and resources efficiently to manage every aspect of your project from start to finish.

The NOVA Team

Jeff Grindrod

Jeff focuses his time on strategy issues including business and marketing plans as well as managing approx. $1,500,000 in trade communications for the company’s spirit, beer and wine clients. He is also responsible for the company’s market research initiatives and has been an annual speaker at the on-premise industry’s foremost event – The Cheers Conference, since 2006, as well as many other industry functions.

Jeff began his career in marketing at Procter & Gamble and Nestlé, and moved to Heublein/Diageo in 1992 where he served as Director of Marketing and Sales Manager in National Accounts working on the company’s full portfolio of spirit and wine brands including Smirnoff Vodka, Jose Cuervo Tequilas, Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey, Beaulieu Vineyards and Mouton Cadet wines.

Jeff moved to brand management on Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey and then Smirnoff Vodka. After Diageo, Jeff started NOVA Marketing, a full service marketing and communications agency and worked with many beverage alcohol companies including Warsteiner USA, Heineken, Diageo, Allied Domecq, Banfi, Sutter Home and Pernod Ricard as well as a range of restaurant chains including Brinker, Darden, Applebee’s and BWW.

Jeff worked with Warsteiner USA where he managed marketing planning and execution, and Allied Domecq’s trade marketing and corporate communications.

Jeff is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

- NOVA Marketing Services: Owner and new business manager

Meg Casey

Meg brings two decades of wine and spirits marketing expertise to work for NOVA’s clients. At Heublein Meg gained experience in market research, brand management and promotions for brands including Inglenook, Lancer’s, Black Velvet, TGI Fridays, Yukon Jack and Jose Cuervo Tequilas.

Meg manages accounts directly and also functions as our market research guru. She has particular expertise in online research methodologies that allows us to deliver quantitative results in a fraction of the time compared to traditional tools. Meg grew up in upstate NY and graduated from Syracuse University. – NOVA Marketing Services: Account Executive on current business

Liz Benyon

Liz came to NOVA from Schieffelin & Somerset where she managing portfolios and brands including Moët & Chandon, Ruffino, and Casa Lapostolle. She traces her roots back to Heublein as well where she worked on Lancer’s, Torresella and Croft Port. An excellent writer, Liz authors many of the newsletters that NOVA produces, handles trade PR and also manages client relations for our wine and spirit clients. Liz got her bachelor’s degree at Villanova and earned her MBA from UConn. – NOVA Marketing Services: Account Executive on existing business

Stephanie Jerzy

Stephanie is the Public Relations Manager for NOVA Marketing focusing on social media initiatives in the spirits business.

A graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Stephanie worked diligently throughout her undergraduate career as a sports reporter at Tucson’s largest daily newspaper and as a Public Relations Assistant for a creative advertising and marketing agency. Steph boasts a family history in the hospitality and restaurant industries. We were pleased to learn that her great-grandfather was a wine shop owner in New York City and was the original US importer of Canei, an Italian sparkling wine that NOVA Marketing is helping to rebuild here.

At NOVA Marketing, Stephanie has quickly established herself as a credible member of the online spirits and cocktail community. She is responsible for blogger outreach and is also the author of two industry blogs that have gained wide recognition as valuable resources. She is monitoring and participating daily in a plethora of social media outlets and implements innovative SMM programs through a variety of cutting edge online tools. Stephanie is continually expanding her knowledge of spirits, wine, and beer and marketing communications in the alcohol industry through educational programs and seminars. She is a graduate of Pernod-Ricard USA/Beverage Alcohol Resource Bar Smarts Advanced program and is also earning her chops having taken on the mantle of resident NOVA Marketing office bartender.

Constance Chamberlain

Reporting from New York City, Constance is the Public Relations Manager for NOVA Marketing wine accounts, responsible for blogger outreach, social media marketing and other public relations efforts within the wine and beverage alcohol community.

Constance is an active participant in many wine trade and consumer events held throughout the country and is always looking for new and innovative ways to showcase her clients while bringing the wine community together.

Constance was first drawn to wine through her interest in all things cultural which explains why you can often find her exploring first-hand the terroir of vineyards around the world including those in Australia, Austria and Greece. Constance also participated in the American Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla, WA and plans to attend many social media related events throughout the coming years.

Constance joined the company in the fall of 2009 after working as the Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator for a boutique wine distributor in New York City and acting as a freelance tasting consultant for multiple wine, beer and spirits brands for several years. At NOVA Marketing, she manages PR for the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, Wines from Santorini and Santa Carolina Winery.

Constance earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Connecticut and is currently working on a Master’s in the Science of Management with a focus on Public Relations and her Masters of Business Administration through the University of Maryland. Additionally, she has earned her Intermediate and Advanced Certificates from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and is currently working toward her Diploma.

Anthony King

Anthony is our digital technology guru responsible for NOVA Marketing initiatives in online advertising. He’s developed particular expertise planning, buying and optimizing campaigns with Pay Per Click (PPC) programs including Google AdWords, Yahoo Search, and Facebook Advertising.

And while he’s doing a great job in online media, his heart lies in sales, and he’s pioneered development of innovative programs working with ecommerce retailers of spirits and wines enabling us to dramatically increase direct-to-consumer sales on behalf of our clients. Additionally he manages the Facebook consumer engagement campaigns for several clients including Canei, Hotel California Tequila and Akvinta Vodka. Anthony carries a degree in Political Science from Central Connecticut State University – we recomend you avoid political conversation around him at all costs.