Our Ambition
Leadership
Richard Betts
Richard is the master craftsman behind everything CKBG produces. Richard has extensive international experience in developing established and emerging brands in high growth markets. He previously founded, created, and exited spirits brands Sombra Mezcal and Astral Tequila, and the wine companies Betts & Scholl and Scarpetta. In the spring of 2003, Richard passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Masters Exam on the first attempt, the ninth person ever to do so. He recently Resigned From The Court Of Master Sommeliers.
Richard started his journey in food and wine as the wine director at The Little Nell in Aspen from 2000-2008, after receiving both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Science. Richard is the New York Times best-selling author of “The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert” and “The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All.” In addition to CKBG, he is co-developing a wine project with his wife Carla Rza Betts called “An Approach to Relaxation”.
Joe Marchese
Multiple-time founder and sometimes media executive, Joe Marchese is Executive Chairman and Founding Partner at Human Ventures. A leader in the media and technology industries, Joe was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Achievement in 2016.
Joe is a member of the Board of Directors for Human Ventures, Team Rubicon, Tribeca Film Institute, Cox Media Group and Clear Channel Outdoor. Joe founded true[X] which sold to 21st Century Fox in 2015 and served as President of Advertising for Fox Broadcast, Fox Sports, National Geographic, and FX.
Board of Directors
