A New Partnership between SOMLYAY & Common Fuel Consulting

The US alcoholic beverage industry has over 1300 Importers, 5000 unique Distributors, state-by-state regulations, and a Federal 3-tier infrastructure. Our collective 60+ years of navigating this complex system, combined with extensive National relationships and knowledge of key markets, allows our team to effectively assist in finding partners that fit your specific needs. Our services include:

  • Guidance and recommendations for developing a distribution strategy

  • Tailored outreach to importers/distributors in your ideal markets

  • Regular reporting and updates on interested/potential partners

  • Explanations of necessary steps for brand registrations, licensing, sample shipments etc.

  • Coordination of deliverables through first purchase order

Our service is designed to simplify and accelerate your process of finding sales channels and long term partners. We allow your team to manage relationships and allocate your own future profits. We are flexible to each client’s needs and customize our activities to maximize returns. At our core, we value lasting partnerships over quick transactions, bringing you to the front of the line with our longtime industry contacts

Meet The Team

 
Amy TroutmillerCEO & Founder, Common Fuel Consulting Meet Amy Troutmiller, a career beverage professional with experience spanning 25 years and multiple facets of the industry. Beginning in hotels and restaurants, Amy worked in Operations Management and Senior Director roles with chef Eric Ripert, Kimpton Hotel Group and The Ritz Carlton. In 2012 she transitioned to import and distribution, founding a Mid-Atlantic Regional wholesale company and acting as sole-executive for a National importer and distributor. Now working full-time as the Founder and CEO of Common Fuel Consulting, she specializes in business development for the wine trade; helping wineries, distributors and brands with everything from early-phase guidance to market expansion and revenue growth. Amy resides in Washington, DC with her husband, an energetic little human, a small fluffy dog, and her wine collection.

Amy Troutmiller

CEO & Founder, Common Fuel Consulting

Meet Amy Troutmiller, a career beverage professional with experience spanning 25 years and multiple facets of the industry. Beginning in hotels and restaurants, Amy worked in Operations Management and Senior Director roles with chef Eric Ripert, Kimpton Hotel Group and The Ritz Carlton. In 2012 she transitioned to import and distribution, founding a Mid-Atlantic Regional wholesale company and acting as sole-executive for a National importer and distributor. Now working full-time as the Founder and CEO of Common Fuel Consulting, she specializes in business development for the wine trade; helping wineries, distributors and brands with everything from early-phase guidance to market expansion and revenue growth. Amy resides in Washington, DC with her husband, an energetic little human, a small fluffy dog, and her wine collection.

Alexandra CherniavskyBrokerage DirectorMeet Alexandra Cherniavsky, a hospitality veteran who joined the family business at age 13 working for her parents at their restaurant. She began her career in wine over 15 years ago at Stage Left, an upscale New Jersey steakhouse with a 900 bottle wine list. Next came leadership of the wine team at the legendary Le Bec-Fin, then wine director at now-shuttered Avance. While at Jose Garces' Amada, Alex's wine list earned a place on Wine Spectator's "10 Best Spanish Wine Lists in America." Cherniavsky was opening beverage manager at The Love, where she helped lead the restaurant to inclusion among Wine Enthusiast's "100 Best Wine Restaurants in America" in 2018 and 2019 and was named a 2019 "Rising Star Sommelier" by StarChefs. She served as an ambassador for Pennsylvania Wines in 2019 and 2020. She is an Advanced Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Specialist of Wine and a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist.

Alexandra Cherniavsky

Brokerage Director

Meet Alexandra Cherniavsky, a hospitality veteran who joined the family business at age 13 working for her parents at their restaurant. She began her career in wine over 15 years ago at Stage Left, an upscale New Jersey steakhouse with a 900 bottle wine list. Next came leadership of the wine team at the legendary Le Bec-Fin, then wine director at now-shuttered Avance. While at Jose Garces' Amada, Alex's wine list earned a place on Wine Spectator's "10 Best Spanish Wine Lists in America." Cherniavsky was opening beverage manager at The Love, where she helped lead the restaurant to inclusion among Wine Enthusiast's "100 Best Wine Restaurants in America" in 2018 and 2019 and was named a 2019 "Rising Star Sommelier" by StarChefs. She served as an ambassador for Pennsylvania Wines in 2019 and 2020. She is an Advanced Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Specialist of Wine and a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist.

Erik SegelbaumFounder, SOMLYAY Meet Erik Segelbaum, 2020 Wine Enthusiast 40 under 40 Tastemaker and Food + Wine Magazine 2019 Sommelier of the Year. With nearly 3 decades of industry experience, he has a proven track record of success in the hospitality industry. This includes creating and running highly profitable, award winning and operationally efficient beverage programs, delivering enlightening staff and management training, effective revenue maximizing strategies, operational improvements, profitability amplification and more. Prior to founding SOMLYAY, Segelbaum served as the corporate beverage director for Starr Restaurants wherein he oversaw $100+ million/year in beverage revenue for 39 unique concepts. Segelbaum has built and implemented more than 30 opening beverage programs. Additionally, Segelbaum serves as the Vice President of the United Sommeliers Foundation, a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to sommeliers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own (such as the global COVID-19 pandemic).

Erik Segelbaum

Founder, SOMLYAY

Meet Erik Segelbaum, 2020 Wine Enthusiast 40 under 40 Tastemaker and Food + Wine Magazine 2019 Sommelier of the Year. With nearly 3 decades of industry experience, he has a proven track record of success in the hospitality industry. This includes creating and running highly profitable, award winning and operationally efficient beverage programs, delivering enlightening staff and management training, effective revenue maximizing strategies, operational improvements, profitability amplification and more. Prior to founding SOMLYAY, Segelbaum served as the corporate beverage director for Starr Restaurants wherein he oversaw $100+ million/year in beverage revenue for 39 unique concepts. Segelbaum has built and implemented more than 30 opening beverage programs. Additionally, Segelbaum serves as the Vice President of the United Sommeliers Foundation, a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to sommeliers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own (such as the global COVID-19 pandemic).