Building a High-Growth Brand with Purpose: A Conversation with Keith Weaver

Keith Weaver will discuss how Uncle Nearest became one of the fastest-growing spirits brands in the world by blending authentic storytelling, operational excellence, and strategic expansion. He will discuss the challenges of scaling a legacy-driven business, managing rapid growth while staying true to core values, and the role of partnerships, distribution strategy, and market positioning in achieving long-term success. Additionally, Keith will delve into his latest venture, Nashwood, Inc., a company dedicated to preserving and reimagining historic properties in southern middle Tennessee. He will discuss how Nashwood brings big ideas to small towns, reflecting his commitment to community enrichment and sustainable development.

Keith Weaver

Co-Founder and Board Member, Uncle Nearest, Inc., President and CEO, Nashwood, Inc.

Keith Weaver is experienced in developing business concepts into highly successful commercial enterprises. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and corporate executive with over 25 years of experience establishing and leading notable companies in the spirits, real estate, hospitality, and entertainment sectors.

Keith co-founded Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in 2016, which is the fastest-growing American whiskey or bourbon in U.S. history, and the most awarded of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The company has a valuation of over $1.5 billion with Keith and his wife, Fawn, as the majority shareholders. He serves on the board of Uncle Nearest and is the Chief Executive Officer of Nearest Green Distillery, home of the award-winning whiskey, which is a nearly 500-acre facility in Tennessee and the 7th most visited distillery in the world. Keith is currently leading a $100M development of the facility and is responsible for global production and retail sales.

Keith is also the founder and CEO of Nashwood, Inc., a real estate and hospitality company headquartered in Bedford County Tennessee. Nashwood’s first venture, Humble Baron, is a best-in-class entertainment venue and restaurant that has been certified by the Guiness Book of World Records as the longest bar in the World. Additionally, the Nashwood real estate portfolio is valued over $20M and includes ownership of the U.S. Bank and Times­Gazette buildings, which are both located in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

In September 2023, Keith concluded a more than 20-year career as a senior entertainment executive, most recently acting as Executive Vice President and Head of Global Policy for Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). During his time at SPE, Weaver served as chief lobbyist and helped the organization navigate complex public affairs challenges and investments or divestments from aspects of the global business. While there, Keith led a $100M social justice fund to respond to systemic racism and injustice around the world.

Keith leverages his expertise and experiences as a business leader, along with his deep interest in giving back to the community, serving on several boards and commissions. He was a former gubernatorial appointee and Chairman for the California State Film Commission. In addition, he serves on the boards of the RAND Asia Policy Council, the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, Community Coalition, and the Trust for Public Land.

Moderated by Alex McKindra

Managing Director Global Corporate Banking – Technology, J.P. Morgan Commercial & Investment Bank

Alex joined J.P. Morgan in 1999 as an investment banking associate within the Consumer & Retail Industry Coverage Group. As an investment banking associate, Alex executed numerous mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and debt capital markets transactions. Prior to Alex’s tenure at J.P. Morgan, he was an associate within Barclays Capital’s Financial Sponsors Group. Alex’s primary focus was the execution and structuring of leveraged buyout transactions for mid-cap private equity firms. He also served as a junior member on Barclays Capital’s Principal Investment Committee where he modeled and structured co-equity investments with private equity clients.

Alex is a graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and completed a tour of duty in the United States Air Force. Proudly descending from a long line of military veterans, Alex is committed to providing mentorship and “paying it forward” to support the next generation of veterans.

Leadership Through Transition: Navigating Growth, Acquisitions, and Change

Scaling through mergers, acquisitions, and rapid growth requires resilient leadership to align teams, navigate disruptions, and preserve company culture. Leveraging his expertise in multinational and cross-border M&A, Dennis Cail will explore proven strategies for building high-performing teams in exit-ready companies, managing stakeholder expectations, and leading through periods of uncertainty. This session offers a practical framework for executing growth strategies while keeping teams motivated and organizations thriving amid transition.

Dennis Cail II

Founder and CEO, Zirtue | Navy

Dennis Cail, a Navy Veteran and graduate of SMU, serves as the CEO & Founder of Zirtue, a hypergrowth FinTech company revolutionizing financial inclusion through streamlined loans among friends and family, coupled with automated repayment processes via direct bill payments to Zirtue’s expanding network of enterprise partners.  Under Dennis’s leadership, Zirtue has achieved rapid month-over-month growth, attracting the attention of major media outlets such as Forbes, Fortune, Inc Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Business Insider, Dallas Morning News, WFAA, and Fox Business News, where he is regarded as a financial expert and technology thought leader.

Prior to Zirtue, Dennis led the M&A Delivery Team at PwC as Managing Director and Co-Head of Technology Integration. He also served as Co-Founder and CEO of Uptown Financial Group, overseeing the launch and scale of three technology business applications before successfully exiting. With over 20 years of experience, Dennis possesses a distinguished track record in multinational, capital markets, and cross-border M&A advisory roles across various sectors, including FinTech, SaaS, BaaS, Enterprise Applications, and Technology-Enabled Companies.

Beginning his career as a Systems Engineer in the U.S. Navy, Dennis utilized his top-secret clearance and technical skills to establish critical communications between Naval Fleets, NAVAIR/NAVSEA Communications Centers, and the U.S. Pentagon. Subsequently, he transitioned to corporate roles, including a senior leadership position at IBM as Director of Corporate Development, where he spearheaded strategic technology M&A initiatives, leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, fund-raising, and growth equity recapitalizations for numerous domestic and international transactions.

Moderated by Andrew Oshman

Executive Director, Senior Advisor, Private Business Advisory, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Andrew Oshman is an Executive Director and member of J.P. Morgan Private Advisory, a cross-disciplinary group of over 100 global specialists who collaborate to deliver innovative and forward-thinking strategies, working closely with Private Bank Advisors to help clients make well-informed decisions and achieve their goals.

Andrew is part of the Private Business Advisory team, where he works developing content and strategies for business owners on issues such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, pre-transaction planning and maintaining a legacy business over multiple generations.

Andrew joined J.P. Morgan in 2018 with 13 years of investment banking experience at Duff & Phelps and Growth Capital Partners, where he was responsible for the origination, coordination and execution of company sales, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and private placements of privately held middle-market companies.  Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Andrew focused on building relationships with private equity firms and family offices as part of the Financial Sponsors Group at Duff & Phelps.

Andrew received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin.  He is a FINRA Series 7 and 63 registered representative.

M&A Mastery: Smarter Deals, Due Diligence, and Growth Strategies

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) offer significant opportunities for business expansion. However, successfully navigating the complexities of due diligence, deal structuring, and risk mitigation is essential for long-term success. This interactive session will provide you with the tools and insights needed to approach acquisitions, partnerships, and investments with confidence.

• Yolanda Clarke, CEO of Powder River Industries
• Derren Burrell, Founder and Managing Partner of Veteran Ventures Capital

Capturing Corporate Clients Through Procurement Strategy

Large corporations with large supply chains present an opportunity to make use of procurement programs at scale. In this panel, you’ll learn more about the certifications and processes that help local and underrepresented businesses grow in this space, from JPMorganChase bankers experienced in this area.

• Marvin Clark, Executive Director, Southeast Head of Diverse Businesses, J.P. Morgan Commercial & Investment Bank
• Danielle Davis , Executive Director, Southwest Head of Diverse Businesses, J.P. Morgan Commercial & Investment Bank
• Shaunté Robinson, Executive Director, Midwest Head of Diverse Businesses, J.P. Morgan Commercial & Investment Bank

CALL SIGN HUDDLE FORMAT (90 MINUTES)

Important: This format is specific to Call Sign huddles, which focus on peer problem-solving. For cohort-wide Topic Dives and Industry Connects, your Call Sign will have brief check-ins before and after the main presentation or networking activity.

1. Welcome (2 Min)

• Assign roles:
  • Timekeeper (sets phone alarms for transitions)
  • Facilitator (guides discussion)
  • Notetaker (captures key points in chat)

2. Check-ins (25 Min) Tag-team style, 3 min each:

• Personal best
• Business best
• Cohort shout out
• Last month’s commitment status
• Recent learning
• “If I’m honest…”
• “What I need today”

3. Critical Questions Exercise (40 Min) Submit Questions (5 min)

• Enter prepared questions in chat
• Group selects 2 questions

For Each Question (15 min):

• Present situation/question (2 min)
• Clarifying questions only (2 min)
• Group brainstorm – presenter turns around to listen (8 min)
• Presenter reaction and commitments (3 min)

4. Wrap-Up (12 Min)

• Next month’s commitments
• Rate meeting quality (1-10)
• Rate individual participation (1-10)
• Preview next session

Time Management: The Timekeeper will:

• Set alarms for each transition
• Give 1-minute warnings
• Signal transitions to keep Critical Questions Exercise on track

Note: Your facilitator will help maintain this structure, but the Timekeeper role (rotating among members) ensures we maximize our peer learning time together.