David Howitt is an accomplished entrepreneur with 20 years of experience providing business strategy and legal counsel to global Fortune 100 companies, launching and developing successful startups, and funding the next wave of innovative consumer-oriented businesses.  He is the founder and president of the Meriwether Group, a brand consulting, venture capital, and marketing firm that has fostered the success of numerous next-generation outdoor and natural and healthy lifestyle companies. His accomplishments include investing in, securing funding for, and helping to develop a business vision for several successful brands including adidas, Stumptown Coffee, HotChalk, Living Harvest, Naturally Advanced Technologies, and Organic Style. He has also provided financial expertise, operational guidance, and strategic vision to a wide range of companies including Nike, Under Armour, Stumptown Coffee, Citizen, adidas, Salomon, Li Ning, Nautilus, TaylorMade, Coty, Stelux, Silhouette, and Burgerville.  David earned his BA from Denison University and his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Butch Bannon, Partner, Meriwether Group

Butch is an entrepreneur and marketing executive with 15 years of experience in the sports, entertainment and technology industries.  Butch has founded, built and successfully exited two companies. He has played key roles in strategic marketing and innovation programs for leading global brands including; Red Bull, P&G, Nike, adidas, Columbia Sportswear, as well as, many start up organizations.  Butch has worked in 18 countries, prides himself on being extremely resourceful and is motivated by working with inspiring people to build amazing products and businesses.  He has a degree from the University of Montana where he regularly speaks to marketing and entrepreneurship classes.

Michael Barber is a seasoned business development, strategy and M&A executive with over 14 years of experience leading successful entrepreneurial ventures for leading fortune 500 companies and startups.  Michael most recently led business and corporate development initiatives for Nordstrom, including its investment in kid¹s wear company, Peek Aren¹t You Curious, and a $250 Million home furnishings business to position Nordstrom for entry into the $19 Billion gift registry market.   Prior to Nordstrom, Michael served as a consultant to Sony, and led a highly successful entertainment law practice, representing artists and  producers with all major label groups and publishers. Michael began his career as a corporate/securities lawyer with the prestigious firms of Thompson & Knight (Dallas) and Cairncross & Hempelmann (Seattle), then in 1998 launched his first company,  Visomark, offering trademark and copyright services via an innovative flat-fee platform, growing it quickly over three years and selling to a larger IP firm.  Michael's vast network includes the world's largest media, entertainment and technology companies and leaders in fashion, retail and consumer products.

Michael has partnered and worked within the natural foods and organic markets for 20 years.  He has assisted in the development of products like Tazo Tea and helped take it to market and was the Director of Operations for Kombucha Wonder Drink.  Michael has experience working with supply chain, formulation, raw materials, production processes, quality control, and the costs associated with building a brand.  Most recently, Michael had his own consulting business and worked with numerous reputable brands, including Sweetleaf Tea, Whole Foods, Brew Mecca, The Ginger People, Rooster Brands, Guayaki Yerba Mate, Sol Pops, LoLo Outdoor Dogware and Bikrams.  In addition to his experience working in the natural foods industry, Michael is partner in an Award winning successful Sustainable focused Music Festival. Michael has also worked in the real estate business. Michael attended Portland State.

Jeff is a 19 year sales and marketing executive who has built and lead high performing sales teams in both the sports and fitness industry, as well as the supply chain technology vertical. He has worked with various large softgood retailers that include the GAP, Nordstrom, Victoria Secret and NIKE. He has held various leadership positions at adidas America in both sales and product marketing.  Jeff has extensive background in negotiating and selling in complex environments. He specializes in sales and distribution strategy, development of high performing sales teams, sales compensation plans, as well as sales training. He is keenly focused on the alignment of marketing, sales and product teams that deliver an exceptional consumer experience for the brand.  Jeff earned his BA from the University of Portland.

Tim is a 25 years Senior Sports Marketing Executive with Reebok and adidas. He was most recently senior Director of Licensed Properties at adidas where he managed the North America Licensed Property Division. At adidas, Tim oversaw and negotiated all North America Sports Marketing Contracts, which included NBA, MLB, NFL, MLS, and NCAA Properties. Tim has extensive background in negotiating deals with all major professional sports leagues in the United States. Tim also managed adidas North America Licensed property division that consisted of over 100 Million in annual sales. Tim has managed all sports-licensed related product development, integration, branding, sales programs, marketing and distribution.

Heather Howitt, Partner, Meriwether Group

Heather was the founder and CEO of Oregon Chai. Heather discovered Chai while trekking in the Himalayas and brewed the first batch of Oregon Chai in her kitchen in 1994. With a team of 35 people and distribution in all 50 states, Canada and Europe, Heather grew Oregon Chai to over $35 million in sales then successfully sold the brand for $75 million in 2004. Heather has been featured in numerous national business publications, including Forbes and Inc. Oregon Chai was consistently featured as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the U.S., capturing over 80 percent of the Chai category and topping the list as the fastest growing company in the tea category. Heather currently sits on the Board of Advisors of several natural product companies and investment funds.

Simon Littler, Partner, Meriwether Group – Bay Area

Simon Littler is the founder and CEO of winefrends, the Pandora for wine.  An Englishman born and bred, he has been working with wine from an early age in between a busy rugby calendar. He was the founder and CEO of the Global Wine Company.  Global Wine Company operates wine clubs for business partners that include Williams-Sonoma, Food and Wine Magazine, The New York Times and Michael Chiarello's NapaStyle.    He was chef/owner at the restaurant Café Renoir in England.  He then went on to become International Marketing Director for the Antique Wine Company, one the top fine and rare wine traders in the world.  He founded and was CEO of The World Wine Exchange, an online stock exchange for wine.  He was Managing Director of Premier Pacific Vineyards, a large-scale developer of vineyards in California, Oregon and Washington.   With business partners in Australia, Simon created and launched the Tiger's Tale wine brand from Margaret River. Simon has also made multiple appearances on the Emmy award-winning Easy Entertaining television show on the Food Network with celebrity chef Michael Chiarello and is a recognized wine and food expert throughout the world.

Scott Marsh, Partner, Meriwether Group

Scott is a 19-year veteran of the sport and lifestyle industries. His experience includes global leadership positions commercializing ideas and go-to-market tactics in footwear, apparel and hardgoods. He received his start launching a technical outerwear line for Sun Mountain Sports, a leading global brand in golf bags and outerwear, and went on to spend time in cross-functional roles across the product lifecycle at Oakley, Salomon and adidas. Prior to Meriwether, Scott led a high-performance team at a medical startup from concept to commercialization and successfully spun it into two businesses.  Scott also benefits from two years working in financial analysis and bond trading at Edward Jones Brokerage Firm. Scott earned his B.S. in Finance & Economics from the University of Missouri and his MBA from the University of Montana.

Bill Nootenboom, Managing Partner, Meriwether Group

Bill has been the founder, co-founder, CEO or COO of twelve separate businesses in such diverse industries as sporting goods, franchising, bio-mass energy, real estate development, construction and advertising. He leads Meriwether's business accelerator practice, helping businesses conceive, refine and implement strategy and execute in all areas of the business.  As an attorney, Bill had an active practice in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and business litigation.  Bill is also an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at The University of Portland and Portland State University.  Bill holds a B.A., with honors, In Biology, Geology and History from Carleton College and his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School. 

Todd Seidel, Managing Partner, Meriwether Group

Todd is a 16 year veteran of the sports and fitness industry.  His experience includes leadership positions both in the US and abroad in the key consumer touch point areas of product marketing and merchandising, brand strategy, licensing and retail.  He has successfully led both fledgling and well established businesses by always staying focused on the intersection of the consumer's needs and a brand's  core values. Most recently, Todd led the US launch of NEO, a new fashion athletic brand mark from adidas targeting the high school teen. Todd earned a B.A. from Bates College in Maine.