Generations of Beverage Experience
Greg Kassanoff continues to leverage his 30-year career working for financial service firms, investment banks, and the alcohol industry.
Greg founded Pioneer Wine in 2007. Pioneer was a Texas-based startup whose mission was to be a distribution company focused on brand building in the premium wine and craft spirits category. Kassanoff grew Pioneer from Case 1 to $50 million and exited in 2019. Pioneer was an instrumental part in launching many brands with significant exits. Pioneer launched the Prisoner in Texas and was a top distributor partner for both exits. The first exit of $40 million to Huneeus and a $280 million second exit from Huneeus to Constellation. Pioneer was a top partner for many other brands contributing to the success of their exits including Charles Smith, High West Whiskey, Orin Swift, Locations, and many other brands with combined exits totaling over $1 billion.
Greg’s decision to form Prolifik is with the intention that it’s “his turn!”
Daniel Barnes grew up in West Texas with parents who owned a
restaurant and inn. Inspired by their work ethic, Barnes chose to follow suit and become an entrepreneur. While studying business at the University of Texas in Austin and working at the Four Seasons, he fed his passion for flavor by earning a level 2 sommelier certification. His drive and business mind led him to start and sell three medical cost containment companies. In 2006 he started Treaty Oak Distilling. Daniel began running rum off a hand-built copper pot still, creating the first fermented and distilled Texas spirit since prohibition. Treaty Oak Distilling was bootstrapped until 2015 when it expanded to the current facility in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Over the last 16 years, he has done award-winning flavor work on Mighty Swell Cocktails, Waterloo Sparkling Water, Starlite Vodka, Waterloo Gins, and Canteen Vodka Soda with a combination of creativity, science, hard work, and ambition. The success and popularity of these ventures have shown that Daniel Barnes has a Midas touch developing flavors that appeal to a wide range of palates.