LEADERSHIP TEAM

Phusion Projects was founded with a Small Business Administration loan in 2005.
Today it is a thriving international company with more than 90 employees.

As Co-Founder and CEO of Phusion Projects USA, Jaisen Freeman works with the executive team to manage the business and its growth, focusing on domestic corporate strategy and product innovation. As part of his work at Phusion, he oversees the development and introduction of all Phusion Projects brands into the market place and the development of the sales and distribution networks in the USA. Mr. Freeman graduated with a business degree in marketing and has an M.B.A from The Ohio State University, where he was a four-year letter winner and captain of The Ohio State University’s varsity hockey team. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program.

As Co-founder of Phusion Projects and CEO of Phusion International, Jeff Wright is a member of the executive team that manages the business and its growth mission. Jeff developed and manages the international business unit, which currently extends across five continents and more than 40 countries. Over the past 10 years, Jeff has built close working relationships across the global beverage industry. He has leveraged his passion for the industry, coupled with his service to the Company, to help position Phusion as a recognized and accomplished innovator and disruptor in the highly competitive international alcoholic beverage market. Jeff is a community leader and donates considerable time and resources to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he also sits on the Board of Directors. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Mr. Wright graduated with an economics degree from The Ohio State University and also is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program (OPM) for Owners and Presidents. Jeff is also a member of the Forbes Counsel. Jeff, his wife, and two children reside in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to family activities, Jeff enjoys playing sports, traveling, focusing on fitness, and volunteering.
As Chief Operating Officer for Phusion Projects, Ted McElroy is responsible for the Company’s Finance, Data Visualization and Analytics, and Supply Chain functions. He also serves as a member of the Company’s executive leadership team where he partners to drive strategic and business decisions that enable growth while helping to guide the organization through change. His primary areas of focus include forward looking Sales and Operations Planning, Financial forecasting and driving operational efficiencies. Prior to becoming Chief Operations Officer for Phusion Projects in 2019, Ted spent more than 10 years in various Financial leadership roles within the CPG industry and was most recently Chief Financial Officer for Lavazza Professional, where he partnered with the leadership team on the successful divestiture, acquisition and subsequent integration of the business within the Lavazza portfolio. Mr. McElroy received his MBA, with Distinction, from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and his B.S in Accounting from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Ted has received recognition from Diversity MBA Magazine as one of the 2018 50 Under 50 Executive Leaders. Outside of his work at Phusion, Ted serves as a member of both the Business Opportunities Program Leadership Council and of the Alumni Advisory Council for Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life at Purdue University. He, along with his wife, have also endowed a scholarship at Purdue that is rewarded annually to a student within the Business Opportunity Program. Ted and his wife reside in Chicago. In addition to spending time with friends and family, Ted enjoys traveling, attending sports events and driving connections within his community.

As Chief Marketing Officer for Phusion Projects, Sam is responsible for all things under the marketing umbrella. Her team’s responsibilities range from product branding and innovation, social & paid media buys, influencer relationships, in-store programming & all brand activations and sponsorships. Sam has spent 15 years in the CPG industry, and previously worked at Anheuser Busch, Pabst Brewing, Acosta Sales & Marketing and Twitter.

As Chief Sales Officer for Phusion Projects, Brian Sedra is responsible for company sales across all classes of trade for our Malt and Spirits businesses. He also serves as a member of the company’s executive leadership team where he partners to drive meaningful collaboration across commercial and operating functions of the business. Brian joined Phusion Projects in 2022 and brings over 20yrs of leadership experience in Beer, Wine, Spirits, and traditional CPG categories. Functionally, his experience includes Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Innovation, and M&A with companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bacardi USA, Treasury Wine Estates, and most recently, XED Beverages, a disruptive startup backed by the Bronfman and Zuckerberg families. Brian holds degrees in Business, Spanish, and Political Science from the University of Arizona. Brian volunteers his time through youth athletics and the Knights of Columbus; he resides outside Cincinnati, Ohio with his children. Outside of work and family, his interests include travel, entertaining, and connecting with the local community.

JAISEN FREEMAN

MANAGING PARTNER

As Co-Founder and CEO of Phusion Projects USA, Jaisen Freeman works with the executive team to manage the business and its growth, focusing on domestic corporate strategy and product innovation. As part of his work at Phusion, he oversees the development and introduction of all Phusion Projects brands into the market place and the development of the sales and distribution networks in the USA. Mr. Freeman graduated with a business degree in marketing and has an M.B.A from The Ohio State University, where he was a four-year letter winner and captain of The Ohio State University’s varsity hockey team. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program.

JEFF WRIGHT

MANAGING PARTNER

As Co-founder of Phusion Projects and CEO of Phusion International, Jeff Wright is a member of the executive team that manages the business and its growth mission. Jeff developed and manages the international business unit, which currently extends across five continents and more than 40 countries. Over the past 10 years, Jeff has built close working relationships across the global beverage industry. He has leveraged his passion for the industry, coupled with his service to the Company, to help position Phusion as a recognized and accomplished innovator and disruptor in the highly competitive international alcoholic beverage market. Jeff is a community leader and donates considerable time and resources to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, where he also sits on the Board of Directors. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Mr. Wright graduated with an economics degree from The Ohio State University and also is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program (OPM) for Owners and Presidents. Jeff is also a member of the Forbes Counsel. Jeff, his wife, and two children reside in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to family activities, Jeff enjoys playing sports, traveling, focusing on fitness, and volunteering.

TED MCELROY

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

As Chief Operating Officer for Phusion Projects, Ted McElroy is responsible for the Company’s Finance, Data Visualization and Analytics, and Supply Chain functions. He also serves as a member of the Company’s executive leadership team where he partners to drive strategic and business decisions that enable growth while helping to guide the organization through change. His primary areas of focus include forward looking Sales and Operations Planning, Financial forecasting and driving operational efficiencies. Prior to becoming Chief Operations Officer for Phusion Projects in 2019, Ted spent more than 10 years in various Financial leadership roles within the CPG industry and was most recently Chief Financial Officer for Lavazza Professional, where he partnered with the leadership team on the successful divestiture, acquisition and subsequent integration of the business within the Lavazza portfolio. Mr. McElroy received his MBA, with Distinction, from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and his B.S in Accounting from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Ted has received recognition from Diversity MBA Magazine as one of the 2018 50 Under 50 Executive Leaders. Outside of his work at Phusion, Ted serves as a member of both the Business Opportunities Program Leadership Council and of the Alumni Advisory Council for Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life at Purdue University. He, along with his wife, have also endowed a scholarship at Purdue that is rewarded annually to a student within the Business Opportunity Program. Ted and his wife reside in Chicago. In addition to spending time with friends and family, Ted enjoys traveling, attending sports events and driving connections within his community.

MICHELLE AUGER

HEAD OF HR

As Head of HR, Michelle is responsible for the talent attraction, onboarding, training, development, succession planning, and benefit management of the Phusion team. With a Masters in IO Psychology, Michelle has built HR Departments that reflect the culture, priorities, and future movement of the organization. Michelle has spent over 22 years in the advertising and marketing space and has previously worked at Leo Burnett, Trisect, and DDB Worldwide. In her free time, Michelle enjoys motorcycle riding, crocheting, sailing, and the Peloton bike.

SAMANTHA CATALINA

Chief Marketing Officer

As CMO for Phusion Projects, Sam is responsible for all things under the marketing umbrella. Her team’s responsibilities range from product branding and innovation, social & paid media buys, influencer relationships, in-store programming & all brand activations and sponsorships. Sam has spent 15 years in the CPG industry, and previously worked at Anheuser Busch, Pabst Brewing, Acosta Sales & Marketing and Twitter.

BRIAN SEDRA

Chief Sales Officer

As Chief Sales Officer for Phusion Projects, Brian Sedra is responsible for company sales across all classes of trade for our Malt and Spirits businesses. He also serves as a member of the company’s executive leadership team where he partners to drive meaningful collaboration across commercial and operating functions of the business. Brian joined Phusion Projects in 2022 and brings over 20yrs of leadership experience in Beer, Wine, Spirits, and traditional CPG categories. Functionally, his experience includes Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Innovation, and M&A with companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bacardi USA, Treasury Wine Estates, and most recently, XED Beverages, a disruptive startup backed by the Bronfman and Zuckerberg families. Brian holds degrees in Business, Spanish, and Political Science from the University of Arizona. Brian volunteers his time through youth athletics and the Knights of Columbus; he resides outside Cincinnati, Ohio with his children. Outside of work and family, his interests include travel, entertaining, and connecting with the local community.