About Us
Mark Mahoney
Co-founder & CEO
Mark is the definition of a serial beverage entrepreneur. Over the last four decades, he has served in various roles for CPG brands: Mixerz Napa Valley Cocktails, Powell & Mahoney Craft Cocktails, Atomic Coffee Roasters, Atomic Black Coffee Liqueurs; and for his own Food Service brands: Aloha Frozen Drinks, Maui Smoothies, Fruit Pure’ Purees as well as National Private Label customers including Sysco Sahara Burst, Caribou Coffee Smoothies, Loblaws Cocktail Mixers, Sur La Table, and Williams Sonoma. Through his ownership in Vermont Bottling, a contract bottling company, he has helped entrepreneurs launch and scale countless others as well.
Mark’s curiosity in cannabis beverages began as an early advisor to LEVIA, the first to market cannabis beverage line in Massachusetts. Mark resigned from his role at LEVIA in early 2021 to support Al Williams, a former business partner and close friend, through his final months of terminal cancer. As a 30 year veteran of Alcoholics Anonymous, Al encouraged Mark to consider the health impact of alcohol consumption in comparison to cannabis which, in turn, inspired Mark to launch his own line of cannabis beverages in 2022: The Drinkable Company.
Mark serves on the board of multiple private companies, Board of Directors of Bishop Fenwick High School, Executive Board Member of the Cole Strange Foundation and Membership Committee of the Corinthian Yacht Club.
Lee Brody
Partner & Chief Strategist
Lee has been the force behind brands like Steaz, Marley Beverages and Sweet Leaf Tea for more than a decade, leading each to record-breaking revenue and brand value. A believer in innovation in all its forms - product, marketing and customer experience – Lee has been recognized by BevNet, The Wall Street Journal and Advertising Age for creativity and sharp brand strategy. Prior to moving into CPG, Lee spent more than a decade managing brands and counseling clients at many of the world’s most respected advertising and public relations agencies, including Weber Shandwick, Ketchum and H+K Strategies.
John Mahoney
VP of Operations
John Mahoney is an accomplished food and beverage founder in both retail and wholesale sectors of specialty coffee for the past 27 years. He has designed and built award winning retail concepts, Coffee Roasteries, and commercial Cold Brew facilities inclusive of beverage manufacturing.
As VP of Operations for The Drinkable Company, John manages equipment selection and commercialization of facilities in Massachusetts and Maine. Additionally, he is involved in beverage formulation, helping to manage key relationships, and strategic planning for new markets.
As a food safety lead, John is skilled in process planning, equipment selection/implementation, FSMA compliance, GMP’s, SOP’s. He is HACCP/HARPC certified, PCQI Certified and FDA Food Defense certified.
Kate Butler Thomas
Chief Marketing Officer
Kate began her creative marketing career in New York, NY where she produced commercials for Sprint, NYNEX, Aflac, Lowe’s, TJ Maxx, Sesame Street, Famous Footwear, CVS, and Southwest Airlines.
Kate then made the move to the agency side and spent a decade working as associate creative director at Swardlick Marketing in Portland, Maine. In that role, she led creative development for White Rock Distilleries, Gorham Savings Bank, the University of Maine System, and several others.
In 2006, Kate became creative director at White Rock Distilleries, where she led the team that positioned the company’s biggest brand, Three Olives Vodka, for breakthrough success. The strength of Three Olives led to its acquisition by Proximo Spirits. Following on that success, Kate led the team that positioned a second brand, Pinnacle Vodka, for acquisition by Beam, Inc. with many of White Rock’s other brands and manufacturing facility being acquired by leading distilled spirits companies like Sazerac.
In pursuit of the next challenge, Kate launched Rhizome Marketing in 2012 to serve emerging food and beverage brands.
Kate’s work has been widely recognized throughout her career with countless awards and other professional accolades. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Falmouth Land Trust and is a mentor for the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs.
Christopher Silva
Sales & Service
Chris Silva is a seasoned small business owner with an impressive 26-year track record in the coffee and food industry. With a passion for innovation and a knack for asking the important questions, he’s successfully navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship.
In addition to his extensive experience in the coffee and food industry, he has spent four years in the highly regulated cannabis space. He was involved with Seagrass Salem and Innovative Liquid Solutions during their startup phases, contributing to their growth and long term success. Silva’s ability to bring innovative ideas to the table has been a driving force in his professional journey.
Outside of his professional life, he finds great joy in spending time outdoors, particularly camping. It's in nature that he finds inspiration and relaxation. He believes that collaboration and networking are essential in both business and life.
Stashia Thomson
Sales Support / Marketing Coordinator
After graduating in 2023 from Tulane University with a BA in Communications and minors in Spanish and Design, Stashia joined The Drinkable Company as a dynamic and young professional in September.
With a passion for writing, design, and language, she has quickly become an indispensable asset to the team. From building the blog posts, to curating Instagram content, she is able to wear many hats across the company. She has previously worked on the marketing team for Tulane’s School of Liberal Arts, writing copy and creating designs for all emails, social posts, and even an article in their annual magazine. Throughout her academic and professional career, Stashia has demonstrated a keen eye for design, an adept understanding of marketing strategies, and a proficiency in Spanish that allows her to connect with diverse audiences.
Her ability to blend creativity with strategic thinking makes her a key contributor to The Drinkable Company’s marketing initiatives.
Tom Villa
Head Brewer
With a remarkable 25-year career as a head brewer, Tom Villa has left an indelible mark on the brewing industry, having worked with esteemed establishments such as Brooklyn Brewerly, Ipswich Ale Brewery, and Old Planters Brewery. He has since transitioned to a new and exciting role in the cannabis industry, contributing his expertise to the production of THC-infused beverages with The Drinkable Company.
During his tenure at Brooklyn Brewery, Villa undertook various significant responsibilities, including numerous international ventures in Europe and Scandinavia, where he worked closely with their sister breweries. These experiences were not only valuable learning opportunities but also a source of immense enjoyment, adding a dynamic dimension to his career.
John Aiken
Production manager/Lead canning line operator
John Aiken is originally from Beverly Massachusetts, and graduated from UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in food science. Aiken embarked on his career in the brewing shortly after graduating in 2013, starting as a packaging line worker at Ipswich Ale Brewing Company.
Over the course of a six-year tenure (2013-2019) at Ipswich Ale, Aiken progressively assumed diverse roles— including lab technician, head cellar man, and ultimately, head brewer. During this time, he demonstrated exceptional proficiency in overseeing all facets of brewing operations, packaging, and managing taproom staff.
In 2019, Aiken made a significant transition to Old Planters Brewing Company, where he serves as co-head brewer until 2023. He maintained a comprehensive role, diligently managing and executing brewing operations and packaging while also assuming responsibility for the management of the taproom staff.