Meet The team
TTHR Investments empowers beverage brands to achieve nationwide success through strategic support and industry expertise.
Leadership Team
Nick Gagliardi
Founder and CEO
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Nick Gagliardi is the Founder and CEO of TTHR Investments and Diamare Holdings LLC, specializing in beverage brand development and market expansion. With over 25 years in the industry, he has led go-to-market strategies, distributor networks, and brand scaling efforts for emerging and established brands.
Nick began his career at Colgate-Palmolive, where he doubled revenue from $258M to $600M as Manager of National Accounts. He later served as VP & GM at Labatt USA, helping grow brands like Tecate, Dos Equis, and Stella Artois. As President of Liquid Investments, he led one of the top 10 U.S. beverage wholesalers, expanding into Mexico and Canada.
Nick has held leadership roles at Monster Beverage, Great Artisan Beverages, and Mesa Distributing, driving major brand growth and strategic partnerships. A Seattle native, he is deeply committed to Veteran initiatives, inspired by his father’s service as an Army Airborne Ranger and his family’s strong military ties. Outside of work, he enjoys golf, fishing, and hiking along the Carlsbad Coast.
Bruce Alexander
President and COO
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Bruce Alexander is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in alcoholic beverage sales, distribution, and production. He has held leadership roles at Diageo/LVMH, Young’s Market Company, and Standard Beverage Corporation, managing brands like Johnnie Walker, Dom Perignon, and Grand Marnier.
Bruce has worked closely with Brown-Forman, Bacardi, Constellation, Heineken, and Boston Beer, driving brand growth and category leadership. As President of Quality Brewer’s and Distillers, he shifted from operations to strategic leadership, securing supply contracts and acquiring Florida Distillers in 2024.
Alexie Apeles
CFO, General Counsel
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Alexie Apeles brings 25+ years of experience in finance, business development, and investment strategy. As Vice President at PrimeStar Capital, she has sourced over $5M+ in funding from hedge funds, direct lenders, and private investors, specializing in trade finance, commodities, and commercial real estate.
She co-founded Eco-Tech Funding™ at Team Capital, financing sustainability-driven retrofits for commercial properties. As CFO of Atlas Water & Electric, she led financial operations for clean-tech energy and water solutions. Alexie holds a Juris Doctor, along with degrees in Law and Communications, making her an expert in structured finance and strategic advisory.
Chris Desiderio
VP Diamare Holdings, LLC
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Chris Desiderio is a UC Davis graduate and U.S. Army Reserve Veteran with 25+ years of experience in sales, distribution, and beverage consulting. He has worked with PepsiCo, MillerCoors, Diageo-Guinness, and DBI Beverage Inc.
Chris specializes in beverage program development, brand management, and retail execution. Since joining TTHR Investments, he has played a key role in expanding distribution networks and optimizing operational efficiency.
Mark Herculson
VP HR & Compliance
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Mark Herculson is an accomplished leader in beverage industry operations with expertise in sales, finance, marketing, and distribution. He began his career at PepsiCo and Miller Brewing Co., later serving as President of Mesa Beverage, where he oversaw 4M+ annual case distributions.
As SVP at Columbia Distributing, Mark drove operational success. Now, as VP at TTHR, he focuses on growth strategy, compliance, and HR leadership.
Jaime Carrera
VP Marketing
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Jaime Carerra is a beverage industry veteran known for brand development and market expansion. As Founder of Compass, Inc., he has set new benchmarks for premium beverage innovations.
At DeLeón Tequila, he led it to become the fastest-growing brand in the U.S.. He has also held key leadership roles at Heineken USA, Miller Brewing Company, and Casa Herradura, where he successfully elevated brand equity and awareness in competitive markets.
Jayde Nicole
VP Public Relations
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Jayde Nicole is a successful entrepreneur and marketing strategist with 15+ years of experience in brand building and social media growth. She is the Founder & CEO of Sugar Taco, The Plant Butchers, and Azucar, an RTD margarita brand.
With a network of 250M+ social media followers, Jayde has leveraged partnerships and digital strategy to drive brand awareness and customer engagement. She founded the EDL Foundation, focusing on animal welfare and sustainability, and earned the Los Angeles County SEED Award for her sustainable business efforts.
John Stevko
CPA, Advisor
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A CPA with 40+ years of experience, John Stevko began his career at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. He co-owned and managed Gear Up Tax Seminars and Accountant-City, later selling both to Thomson Reuters.
John is now a national speaker and consultant on tax-related matters and business strategy.
Frank Chessman
VP Sales
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Frank is a proven leader in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, recognized for his strategic vision and ability to drive sustainable growth. With extensive experience in sales, marketing, and operations, he has built strong partnerships with major U.S. retailers.
As a founding leader at Alkaline88, Frank played a key role in scaling the brand to $70 million in sales. He previously served as VP of Sales & Advertising at Ralphs Grocery Company and spent 13 years as EVP at Simon Marketing, leading impactful brand initiatives.
With deep expertise in beverage manufacturing and branding, Frank’s leadership is instrumental in driving growth and market expansion for Diamare Beverages.
Boyd Young
Director Business Development
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Boyd Young is a U.S. Army Veteran, having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. After his military service, he transitioned to hospitality management, leading operations at Marriott, Starwood Hotels, and JC Resorts.
At TTHR Investments, Boyd specializes in systems design, IT project management, and distribution channel optimization. He holds a degree in Hospitality Management from Le Cordon Bleu and certifications in ServSafe®, HACCP, and Instructional Design. A Lifetime Member of the VFW, he remains dedicated to Veteran support initiatives.