The King Street Marketing Group and Halls Chophouse are pleased to welcome Earl Hewlette, CEO of Terressentia Corporation, a distilled spirits technology company, as our guest speaker Thursday, May 5th. (And for the first time ever at this luncheon, there will be a bourbon tasting!)
Under his leadership, this Charleston area company's annual revenues have grown from $7,000 to $20 million in just eight years.
Terressentia created a process that produces great tasting distilled spirits in less time and, as compared to barrel-aged spirits, at a lower cost than traditional methods.
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Their proprietary process, TerrePURE, is applied to a wide range of distilled and flavored distilled spirits including whiskey (bourbon and rye), gin, vodka, tequila, and rum for the private label, private brand and bulk spirits markets.
The patented TerrePURE process improves the flavor of neutral spirits like vodka, which is not typically aged; and rapidly matures brown spirits like rum, brandy and bourbon, that are typically aged in barrels over years.
The process uses a patented combination of ultrasonic energy, oxidation, and filtration to remove harsh-tasting impurities, resulting in superior tasting products that have won dozens of awards in international spirit competitions.
In 2014, the company acquired a 25-acre distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky and named it after the technology's co-inventor, O.Z. Tyler III. The O.Z. Tyler Distillery is currently under renovation and will begin producing Kentucky Bourbon this summer. When fully operational, it will be turning out 32,000 barrels of Kentucky bourbon annually.
Earl Hewlette is a South Carolina native and a decorated marine officer whose diverse business background includes law, real estate development and hospitality management. He put himself through college, earning a BA in English at USC, served as an officer in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Bronze Star with Combat V. After the service he returned to USC and earned his law degree and MBA with honors on the same day in 1973.
Hewlette practiced law for 13 years, initially recruited by the Hull Law Firm in their Augusta office, and later dispatched to Hilton Head to open an office there. Later, he practiced with the firm Boyd, Knowlton, Tate & Finlay in Columbia and Hilton Head. Mr. Hewlette left the active practice of law in 1985 to become President and COO of Sea Pines Company and The Hilton Head Company.
He left Hilton Head in the late 80s and considered retiring when an opportunity to purchase Wild Dunes just after Hurricane Hugo presented itself. A year after purchasing Wild Dunes, Mr. Hewlette brought in capital partner Lowe Enterprises and became a principal in that company. For Lowe, he served as Regional CEO for Destination Hotels & Resorts, a position he held for 10 years.
He attempted to retire once again but was enticed by Ginn Clubs & Resorts to establish Ginn Hospitality, the resort management arm of Ginn Clubs & Resorts, for which he served as CEO. He tried retiring again in 2008, but shortly thereafter, he was asked to assume the CEO position at Terressentia. Over these 8+ years, he has been fascinated by having a front row seat at the intersection of technology and tradition.
Each month, Small Business Lunch at Halls features a distinguished speaker from the business, civic or political arenas upstairs at Halls Chophouse with an imaginative three-course meal prepared by Executive Chef Matthew Niessner. Of course, there is a full-service, cash bar for your enjoyment.
Tickets are $29 per person plus tax and processing fee for the luncheon. Doors open at 11:45 a.m. and lunch is served promptly at noon. Limited seating provides an intimate experience with each speaker. CLICK HERE FOR TICKET INFORMATION or call the 24/7 ticket hotline at 1-800-838-3006.
Halls Chophouse is located at 434 King Street in downtown Charleston. Parking is available at the Visitors Center Garage on Ann Street between King and Meeting Streets, the Camden Exchange Garage between John and Hutson Streets, or at meters on the street.