Carl Forrest Walker

About Carl Forrest Walker

I\'m a sales and marketing executive with more than three decades of beverage alcohol industry knowledge and expertise. What I enjoy most is mentoring and building high-performance teams. IMPACT: Held management positions in the three tiers of the beverage alcohol industry Built a distributor Fine Wine Team leading both Indy Retail and On-Premise sales growth Ran Wine Divisions for two premier companies representing luxury brands with over 200 items Developed new international markets including Brazil, the Caribbean, and Latin America ADDING VALUE: I am a generous mentor. I build genuine and long-term relationships. I have a positive impact on revenue and gross profit running major spirits & wine portfolios. I am creative and formulate/execute brand strategies. I build trust and cultivate high performance, diverse teams through coaching and empowerment. I enjoy working and perceive this industry as a lifestyle.AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Relationship Building Sales and Marketing Strategy and Budget Attainment Strategic Long/Short Term Planning High-Performance Teams National Product/Promotion Launches Wine Knowledge (MS1 and CSW) Key Account DevelopmentABOUT ME PERSONALLY:Proudly raised and educated in the Midwest, I have been in Tampa, Florida for over three decades and have made this area of the country my home.I have entered a new chapter of my journey and married an amazing woman, Christy, in April 2023. She keeps me balanced, healthy and increasingly spiritual, I look forward to our continued growth together. Between Christy and myself, we have 10 adult kids & 8 grandkids which keep Papa C and Coco relevant and engaged. Christy and I enjoy a healthy lifestyle and like to travel encountering new experiences.I am blessed to have a life group of friends in Tampa. I personally enjoy golf, biking, paddleboard, Tampa Sports, the beach, adventure, food & wine, pickleball, and volunteer work. I will get a \"hole in one\" before my story ends! LEADERSHIP MANTRAS:\"It\'s not what happens to you, it\'s how you react that matters\"-EPICTETUS\"Good judgement comes from experience; and experience, well that comes from bad judgement\"-Dean Martin

Experience

1. Director of Sales Southeast & Caribbean

   Distinguished Vineyards

   Jan 2025 — Present

Education

• Ohio University

  Bachelor's degree, Marketing and Human Resources