Shawn is the Managing Member of PKGD Group, running the company HQ in Holland, Michigan
where he ensures that the back end of the business is as sound and accountable as the front
end.

6 years ago, Shawn and his partner Jeff Ernst experienced the happy accident of taking over the
U.S. operations of G4 Tequila, which is the highest quality tequila in the world but who’s U.S.
operation was in total disarray after being run into the ground by an actual criminal. Since that
time, they’ve built PKGD into a profitable and nationwide entity and to drive the sales of G4 to
the point that the distillery struggles to make it fast enough to meet market demand.

In this work, Shawn visits Mexico about monthly, spending time with the famous producers of
the best quality tequilas, 4 th Generation, family-owned, distilleries like El Pandillo and El Viejito
in Jalisco and Del Buen Agave in Oaxaca. “I am well aware of how ridiculously blessed I have
been to learn about tequila from the masters of the craft and I’m happy to share their lessons
with Americans who want to learn about high-quality tequilas.”

Shawn has been assembling a nice list of Certifications and formal studies in agave spirits and soon hopes to complete a formal Catador, Tequila Tasting Expert certification, in Spanish, in Mexico.

Most recently, Shawn and his partners have invested in a small agave plantation in Michoacan,
with a local partner, establishing PKGD Mexico in the process. While many American
businesspeople import tequila, few have this level of connection to the land and the process to
be digging in the dirt and planting agave.