MileStone Brands

David McCallen
CEO, Director
David McCallen has over 20 years of experience in marketing and finance. He was a product marketing consultant at Bell Atlantic, NYNEX and Pacific Telesis' broadband interactive services joint venture, TELE-TV; the Director of Marketing at a NASDAQ-listed wearable computer company; and the Director of Marketing at a Silicon Valley data networking company. He worked at an investment banking firm, where he focused on capital raising and strategic consulting. He began his Wall Street career in the marketing department of EF Hutton before moving to Investment Dealers Digest as a Research Analyst. He then was a founding partner of a successful NY-based financial investor relations firm. For the past 3 years, he was the Executive Vice President and a Director of a Wall Street public company providing proprietary equity research and registered investment advice.

Vincent Viola
President and Director
Vincent Viola has been the principal of Rappin Brands Imports for the past 12 years. He has created several branded products that are being sold, including Sizzurp, Goldenbarr Chocolate Vodka and the first colored tequilas on the market, Gecko Blue and Gecko Black. He is an equity partner in a subsidiary of Roc-a-Fella Records, Diplomat Records, and created Hoodlife records in affiliation with Damon Dash, the CEO of Roc-a-Fella Records. Mr. Viola is an equity partner of VLIMSA, an importing and distribution company with offices in Mexico, as well as a retail liquor and wine shop in New York. Previously, he worked for Gallo Wine Distributors as their New York sales representative and for Kadem Wine and Spirits, where he created and marketed several new wine products and flavored rums.

Philip J. Paonessa
Vice President, National Sales Manager
Phil Paonessa has over 25 years of experience in the sales and marketing of beverages with the global corporations PepsiCo Wines & Spirits International, San Pellegrino USA/Nestle Waters of America and Allied Domecq among others. He has managed businesses throughout the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Phil has taken several brands to a national level with his industry training and was the original driving force behind developing non-alcoholic beverage divisions within wine and spirits distributorships throughout the US. His experience in opening new markets and territories for branded products and gaining brand authorization and presence in high-end distributions chains reflects a broad and energetic industry intelligence, network and expertise.

Joe DePietto
CFO/Controller
Joseph DePietto has twenty years of accounting and tax experience. He has conducted and managed many different aspects in the financial industry in both the consumer and business categories. Joe is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPAs. He was a CFO responsible for all financial and operational aspects for a wholesale and retail business with sales in excess of $60 million. In 1997, he started DePietto Blum & Co. as a partner. In 1999, he became Partner and President of Laurel Lake Vineyards overseeing the marketing and financial decisions necessary to maintain and grow sales.

The Advisory Board

Bert Padell
Senior Partner, Padell, Nadell, Fine, Weinberger & Co.
An accounting and business management services firm to the film, music and entertainment industry. They work with people in music, sports, movies and theater. Bert Padell is a major player in the entertainment industry. His roster includes over 1000 clients, from the likes of Russell Simmons, Leyor Cohen (Def Jam-Universal), Madonna, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Oprah, Alicia Keys, Brittany Spears, Eric B. and Rakim, Run DMC, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Pink Floyd, Joe DiMaggio, Foxxy Brown, Biggie Smalls, Lou Panella, Alice Cooper, Blondie, Talking Heads, Lorraine Bracco, Robert DeNiro, Vera Wang, Queens of the Stone Age, to Carl Banks and many more.

John Atanasio
Interim President of Media
John Atanasio will lead Milestone’s Internet strategy and shall be responsible for developing its online brand and to drive e-commerce revenues. Mr. Atanasio was an early pioneer in the Internet industry and was the founder of a leading interactive agency and technology development firm. He has been involved in several media and technology companies in various capacities, including founder, member of the board of directors, advisory board, investor and consultant in a number of venture capital funded Internet and technology startups.