Steve DeBretto is Executive Director of the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, founding partner company of The Hatchery Chicago. The Hatchery is a food incubator that will provide dedicated production facilities to growth-stage food and beverage companies, as well as advising, mentorship, and connections to capital and corporate partnerships.

Ryan Alberts is the Finance Director at Bias and Blind Spots, a venture capital group that nurtures dominant independent food & beverage brands. By aligning capital, resources, and leverage via equity line sponsorship, founders earn out investors as risk profiles and capital is reallocated over time.