no proof joshua gandee

Laura Silverman is an alcohol-free trailblazer. She’s been sober since 2007 and is the founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC, two platforms focused on highlighting non-alcoholic beverages and the culture driving their growth. She serves in advisory roles to for and non-profits in the wider industry, bringing her expertise and lived experience to the table. 



Laura has given university lectures on non-alcoholic beverages and inclusivity in hospitality, two areas of deep passion and advocacy. She is a two-time judge at the World Alcohol Free Awards in London, tasting over 200 unique non-alcoholic beverages in two days. 



In 2023, Laura received a “Leader and Innovator of the Year” award from Sans Bar Academy, a non-alc small business incubator. When not on the karaoke stage, she is frequently sought after as an industry subject matter expert by publications such as Wine Enthusiast, NPR, Forbes, America’s Test Kitchen, and the BBC.
Laura is co-host of NA Dossier, a video podcast exploring the intersection between branding, design, taste, and community for non-alc beverages. She and her co-host, brand designer Haylee Jordan, have interviewed the founders of growing  brands (e.g. Starla Wines) and multi-million dollar brands (e.g. Athletic Brewing) alike. 

Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart.



⁠⁠⁠⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

Gabriel + Cliff:



Gabriel Rucker, Executive Chef and Co-Owner, Le Pigeon and Canard

Two-time James Beard Award winning Chef Gabriel Rucker is Executive Chef and Co-owner of

Le Pigeon and Canard in Portland, Oregon. Over the years, his highly original, off the cuff

creativity and recipe-free approach to cooking has gained him national acclaim. A native of

Napa, California, when school no longer piqued his interest, Rucker moved to the kitchen. In

2003 he moved to Portland and landed a coveted job at Chef Vitaly Paley’s home to Northwest cooking, Paley’s Place. In June of 2006, Rucker opened Le Pigeon, which quickly went on to win The Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year. 

One of Portland’s most respected and decorated chefs, Rucker has earned two James Beard

awards for Rising Star Chef in 2011 and Best Chef Northwest in 2013. He has been named a

Food & Wine Best New Chef and a recipient of StarChefs Mentor Award.

Beyond the kitchen, Rucker has become a leading advocate within the restaurant industry for

recovery, health and fitness. In 2019 he helped to open the Portland chapter of Ben’s Friends, a restaurant industry recovery group. He also leads a weekly running and walking club

@birddogrunclub. Follow Rucker on Instagram @ruckergabriel.





Meet Worry Not!’s creator, Cliffton. Cliff’s intentional mission in the development and implementation of Worry Not! is to craft menus that are far more inclusive, giving the option for everyone to enjoy the communal drinking & dining experience.



Before moving to Portland in 2017 Cliff managed the Los Angeles mainstay, Wurstkuche. From there, he served as the General Manager at the iconic Baco Mercat under the guidance of James Beard nominated & Michelin Star awarded chef, Josef Cenento. He began his Portland industry journey as the General Manager of the legendary Pok Pok, and has proudly run the bar programs at both Jacqueline & Coopers Hall. He currently spends his working hours “putting things into cups” at Canard while heading the NA program at Le Pigeon.



Cliff’s alcohol-free journey began April 1st, 2023, initially as a “Sober April” to re-evaluate his relationship with alcohol. It quickly became clear that alcohol was no longer part of his life plan – the benefits of living alcohol free far outweighed the indulgence of imbibing. With products such as Wilderon, All the Bitters, and Joyus emerging in the market, Cliff envisions a future where ordering a NA modern classic will be commonplace.



Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠⁠⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠⁠⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart.



⁠⁠⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

Kristen Bear is an actor, writer, and sobriety hype girl based in Nashville, TN. After years of bouncing from coast to coast Kristen found herself back in her home state in February 2020, disillusioned, and desperate for change. Now, at over four years sober, one of her biggest passions is sharing her sobriety journey and helping others find their own way to freedom. Find Kristen on IG and Substack @creativesobriety and join her in Costa Rica this fall for a booze-free vacation! https://trovatrip.com/trip/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-with-kristen-bear-oct-2024



Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠⁠⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠⁠⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart.



⁠⁠⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

Drawing on 15+ years of experience managing bar programs in San Francisco, Phoenix, Oakland, and San Diego, Karl Goranowski is the Fenton Family Restaurants’ tenured Beverage Director across all five of the brand’s restaurant/bar concepts in Tucson, AZ. On a weekly basis, Karl can be found curating five distinct cocktail lists, a 250+ bottle wine program, and four craft beer programs –– across BATA, barbata, Tough Luck Club, Reilly Craft Pizza + Drink, and Fentonelli’s Pizzeria + Bar –– using local makers and seasonally available ingredients.As a sober bartender, Karl taps into his decades of expertise and skilled team of over 20 bar professionals to bring his ethos to life: curated spirits in creative cocktails. Sobriety has broadened his focus to encompass the overall guest experience beyond drinks and service, which gives him a more thoughtful approach to inclusive options for everyone. Professionally, he has developed a solution-oriented mindset, emphasizing continuous improvement, fostering collaboration, and trusting his team's creativity.A firm believer that the best drink a person can have is the drink in their hand, he focuses on creating flavorful, well-balanced cocktails that enhance the overall guest experience. He attributes all that he has to hard work, sobriety, camaraderie, and a little bit of luck.



Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart.



⁠⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠⁠is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

Chef Ricky Bella is a Portland native who's been cooking since the age of 17. Trained on the job and without culinary school, he has worked in some of the best kitchens in Portland for 16 years. He's been sober for 4 1/2 years now and has been pushing for the subject of addiction and mental health to be more openly talked about in his community ever since.



Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart.



⁠⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠⁠is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.

"Sean is an aging midwesterner with no intention of being an old man. He loves service and cultivating social vibes for everyone."



Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart.



⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.