Rick Margaritov

About Rick Margaritov

I’ve built my career on a simple belief: exceptional experiences build exceptional brands. Rooted in hospitality and expanded through 15+ years across wine, spirits, beer, and restaurant entrepreneurship, my work centers on turning vision into traction - translating craft, story, and strategy into brands that win hearts and grow markets. My foundation was forged working alongside some of the world’s most respected chefs and winemakers - from opening Bar Bouchon in Beverly Hills with Chef Thomas Keller to developing guest experience programs for James Beard Award–winning leaders like Tom Colicchio, Jonathan Waxman, Suzanne Goin, and Caroline Styne. Those years taught me the power of service, precision, and storytelling as core business strategy.Across my ventures - The Drinkery, Thirsty Craft Beer Shop, Vinified Wines, Present Tense, Hippo Bodega, and Pure Land Sake - I’ve led market launches, built distribution networks, architected digital commerce platforms, and scaled premium beverage brands across 20+ international markets. My focus has always been consistent: align product excellence with hospitality-led execution to create lifelong customers.Today, I serve as National Director of Sales & Brand Partnerships at Hines Family Collection, leading national wholesale strategy, distributor development, and brand activation for The Set Wines, William Hines Wines, and Brouillard Wines. Blending entrepreneurial scrappiness with structured sales architecture, I build systems, markets, and partnerships that convert production into meaningful, sustained demand.I thrive where experience, craft, and commerce intersect - helping brands grow through human connection, thoughtful strategy, and standout execution. If you’re building something remarkable and believe hospitality isn’t just service but a competitive advantage, let’s connect.

Experience

1. Mentor

   The Wond\'ry

   Nov 2024 — Present

   Providing mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs and students, guiding them through their startup journeys while sharing insights on scaling businesses, innovative strategies, and operational excellence.Responsibilities & Achievements:*Offer strategic guidance to early-stage startups in areas such as business development, sales strategy, marketing, and fundraising, helping students navigate the challenges of growing a company from concept to launch.*Lead one-on-one sessions on building scalable business models, financial management, and market entry strategies, with a focus on global expansion and operational efficiency.*Share insights on industry trends, including F&B, alcoholic beverage, and hospitality, while encouraging innovation and cross-industry collaboration in emerging sectors like technology, finance, and healthcare.*Act as a trusted advisor to student teams, helping them refine their product offerings, improve customer acquisition strategies, and effectively pitch to potential investors.*Support the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems, helping foster a culture of innovation within Vanderbilt’s student body and connecting students with key industry leaders and networks.

Education

• Cornell University

  BS, Human Development, Dean’s List

• Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Global Immersion Track

Skills

• Entrepreneurship
• Start-Up Ventures
• Marketing Strategy
• Brand Developement
• Distribution Strategies
• Sales Management
• Strategic Planning
• Import Export
• Wine & Spirits Industry
• Hospitality Industry
• Marketing
• Brand Development
• Wine
• Strategy
• Start-Ups
• Hospitality
• Business Development
• Management
• Restaurants
• Craft Beer
• Venture Capital
• Wineries
• Brand Management
• Sales
• New Business Development
• Business Strategy
• International Sales
• International Business Development
• Restaurant Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Food & Beverage
• Hospitality Management
• Social Media
• Social Media Marketing
• Digital Marketing