Cat Pearce
Brew & Moo: A Beer & Cheese Pairing, co-presented by Cat Pearce and Aaron Gore
"Brew & Moo" is a lively, flavor-packed presentation that explores the art (and joy) of pairing craft beers with artisan cheeses. Equal parts educational and entertaining, this event brings together suds and curds in perfect harmony — with a few laughs and lactose along the way.
Crafting Talent on a Pint-Sized Budget, co-presented by Cat Pearce and Aaron Gore
In an industry driven by grassroots grit, passion, and what at times feels like flying by the seat of your pants, professional development often takes a backseat to production schedules and tight budgets. But staying competitive and keeping your staff inspired doesn’t require expensive conferences or high-ticket programs. This session explores how breweries of all sizes—especially small and independent operations—can embrace professional growth on a shoestring budget.
We’ll dive into practical, scalable strategies for skill-building, staff retention, and team morale that don’t break the bank. From peer-to-peer learning and free resources to low-cost certifications and mentorship models, attendees will walk away with actionable tools to grow their teams and invest in better informed staff. Because in beer, just like in brewing, better outcomes come from continuous refinement—and you don’t need a million-dollar system to make a damn good pint.
Cat Pearce, Events Coordinator, Raleigh Brewing
With nine years of experience in the fermented beverage industry, Cat Pearce brings a well-rounded background in sales, e-commerce and retail management, event coordination, and education. She is a Certified Cicerone® and a Certified BJCP Beer Judge, and currently serves on the leadership team of the Raleigh Pink Boots Chapter. Drawing on her background in education, Cat is passionate about creating professional development opportunities and facilitating meaningful networking for industry professionals. Her work is driven by a commitment to equity and inclusion within the North Carolina beer community, using education and community engagement as tools for positive change.
