Venice Made is 100% committed to working with brands who need our help the most.
Brands whose focus is about not only delivering the cleanest, most sustainable products but brands who put everything on the line to shift the landscape toward what it means to be a responsible brand. Brands whose founders are less supported by the investment community and who are putting 150% into their customers and marketplace. That is who we serve. That is who we make sure succeeds. And in doing so, we make the world a better place.
Our Team
Erica Plastino
Chief Brand Accelerator
AKA: Power Pack
It all started with a relentless passion for hard work and 20 years of sales leadership roles in sustainability and green-tech and advertising. After 4 years running sales for a leading premium CPG brand I realized something had to change. The knowledge I gained was so critical to the success of brand leadership that it felt irresponsible not to share with brands who had the right to succeed.
A combination of deep expertise and heart plus the ability to inspire the masses is what I bring to Venice Made. I bring the customer relationships that form our practice and from that flows the ability to change the trajectory and lives of our customer brands and potentially, the world, for the better. And that feels really good.
Erica is based in two perfect worlds — Venice and Morro Bay, CA. She lives with her son and sweet dog. She is an avid gardener and lover of neighborly conversations.
Becca Winsell
Brand Development Director
AKA: Secret Sauce
Becca is RAD. Over the last 10 years she has helped launch leading brands from incubation to the shelf. As Chief of Staff to one of the most celebrated brand development companies in the plant based food space, Becca spearheaded 8 start ups.
Her responsibilities included managing strategic planning, development, and execution of 8 startups — from insights and brand creation, and operations through brand launch. Brands she’s worked with include Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs, Ugly Drinks, Reel Paper, Co Chocolate, and more!
Becca lives in Los Osos and Santa Monica, CA with her doggy Dobby, and horse Rye.
Brandon Schultz
Sales Operations Director
AKA: Crazy Glue
Brandon is a sort of miracle human. He spent the last 20 years working in design and retail. Over the span of 10 years he oversaw the in-store demo programs for Whole Foods nationwide. Following that he oversaw Western Regional Sales and Sales Operations for MALK Organics for nearly 5 years.
Brandon has a deep well of experience both with system design to support efficient sales operations and the nuts and bolts of the connection triad so critical to CPG sales: Distribution, Manufacturer and Retailer. Brandon bird dogs our promotional calendars, forecasts tight sales projections to production, tracks velocities and voids and ensures we don’t miss an upcoming review.
Brandon is based in Austin, Texas where he lives with his beautiful wife and two daughters. He works out of his trailer in his front yard, which makes him all the cooler, in our book.
Anne Owen
Forager + Brand Innovator
AKA: Hummingbird
Anne is kind of like a magic fairy but instead of spreading glitter her superpower is finding the latest and greatest, most amazing new innovation in a wellness category. Or better yet, white space for where one should be.
An experienced entrepreneur and innovative thought leader in the wellness industry, in 2020 Anne Owen founded Tomen, an evolved line of ancient botanical remedies.
Owen earned her reputation as an expert marketer over 15 years in publishing, having launched and served as publisher of Miami magazine, Modern Luxury Brides South Florida and the Caribbean, Interiors South Florida, and Chicago Social Brides.
Originally from Chicago, Anne now resides in Los Angeles, is an avid ashtanga yogi, nature lover, plant-based and plastic-less advocate.
Rachel Lodato
Retail Door Opener West
AKA: Locomotive
Rachel is a bit of a oxymoron — she is incredibly gentle but completely unstoppable. She has spent the last 20 years working with retail brands at both the store level and in sales functional roles. Most recently she ran demo programs for 3 leading non dairy beverage brands in New York City and the Northeast.
Rachel strives to serve the brands she loves as well as her community. Within any given week you will find her spending as much as 15 hours volunteering her time to people in need.
Rachel lives in South Carolina with her family.
Michelle Bagnatto
CSR + Sustainable Biz Programs
AKA Equalizer
Michelle is a force of nature and a force for nature. The health of our environment and the health of our communites are at the core of Michelle’s focus and mission.
Michelle specializes in designing custom programs and partnerships that enhance operational vitality and build a vibrant community presence based on shared values.
Working at the nexus of philanthropy, active citizenship, sustainability and entertainment for more than two decades, Michelle has partnered with clients such as Disney, Microsoft, Los Angeles Unified School District, Surfrider Foundation and TreePeople, to achieve real and meaningful change through collaboration. She is a renowned community organizer, presenter, and sought-after motivator.
Before devoting her work full time to corporate social responsibility and Good Culture, Michelle spent 20 years as an internationally-respected producer for the advertising and entertainment industries. Michelle lives in West Los Angeles, CA with her son.
Lindsey Dickson
Manager, Sales MidWest and South
AKA: Giddy Up and Go
Lindsey know a thing or two about CPG and retail! She has spend the last 15 years working in sales, merchandising and marketing. She began her journey with Whole Foods Market where she trained employees and taught nutrition classes. She as promoted to managing the demo program for the Southwest and relocated to Austin, TX where she stayed for 10 years. She also spent several years running her region for Dirty Hands where she oversaw merchandising for key brands such as RX Bar, Evolution, Milk Bar, La Columbe, Clean Cause and Harmless Harvest.
Lindsey, her fiancé, cat TigerLilly, and puppy Ellie all reside in the countryside of East Texas, where her backyard is 2 acres of oak trees. One day she will have goats and chickens. She makes woven sculptures, candles, and loves to dance.
Alexis Cox
Director, Marketing and Design
AKA: The Taste Maker
Alexis joins our team with a wealth of experience spanning projects that include rebranding efforts as well as logo and CPG packaging design.
At the SBDC, Lexi has worked with countless new business initiatives and start-ups. Her recent projects include brand and positioning strategy for the SBDC’s annual AngelCon (sbdc.calpoly.edu/angelcon), where early stage new businesses compete for Series A investment.
Lexi support Venice Made customers with all aspects of go to market collateral and positioning work. She is based in San Luis Obispo.
Eljay Canoy
Manager, Data Analytics
AKA The Silver Bullet
The Things That Drive Us
Product Relevance and Pricing Transparency
Process Design to Maximize Go-to-Market Strategy
Goal Attainment to Ensure Investment for Business Growth
Oceans, Mountains, Deserts and Sky — Because with these, out springs creativity, meaning and happiness. And that is what life is all about.
Working Ethos
Relevant Messaging
Communication Quality
Optimized Talent Economy