Bio

Ralph Faulkner

CEO / OWNER

Ralph Faulkner is the Founder & CEO of Col Bleu Vodka. He has blue-collar running through his veins, and was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Ralph played sports throughout his entire life which instilled values that are priceless! He used this platform as a vessel to develop discipline, leadership skills, and a winning attitude. Ralph has been able to develop the CBV brand that was inspired not only by his life, but many others before him and the challenges that we are often confronted by in today’s society. He is a visionary who continuously makes sacrifices for the greater good, and also a firm believer in pushing his team members to the limit and unlocking hidden potentials that lie dormant.

Dan Cooper

CHEIF OPERATING OFFICER

Elliot Robertson

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Elliott Robertson has a very strong passion and expertise in working with new start-up companies. He was born and raised in a thriving family whom are mostly all entrepreneurs. With an abundance of generational success, the Robertson family currently owns seven different businesses and are rapidly expanding their portfolio. Elliott currently holds a position as Senior Business Consultant with First Data Clover, and Senior Principal with Pangea Consulting Services based in Cleveland, Ohio. Elliott provides education services and financial guidance to families in the Greater Cleveland area, surrounding cities, and states. Elliott has twenty-three years of experience in finance and overall business consulting. He achieved his BA from Baldwin Wallace University and his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. Robertson truly enjoys working with startup companies in assisting and helping them navigate through challenges during the initial phases, so that they can be better positioned for long term success! Robertson also serves as Chief Financial Officer for Col Bleu Vodka.

Aswan Harris

V.P. SALES / MARKETING

Aswan Harris is an American actor and model. Harris is a former Marine Corps Veteran who began his acting career in his hometown Cleveland, Ohio.

Harris has established a comprehensive resume over the years that has embedded his stamp across the film industry. He has had leading roles in several theatrical productions and has had the ability to showcase his versatility. Harris was also cast as Ben in the rebirth of the critically acclaimed classic film Night of the Living Dead. He is known as the War Room Intern in Draft Day starring Kevin Costner and was also featured in the 2015 Lifetime Film With This Ring starring Regina Hall.

Harris continues to perfect his craft while scoring new roles. He has hopes to one day win an Academy Award just as his two idols Denzel Washington and Will Smith have done.

Jason Teal

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Jason Teal is an American businessman who was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 28, 1979. He is the youngest son of four and his parents are retired blue collared workers. After graduating high school he attended Kent State University. At the age of twenty five he started his very own building maintenance company. The company has completed substantial projects in the Mid- West, South, and East Coast.

More recently Jason has managed portfolios at Pepsico, Marriott International, and Volkswagen Group of America. He has also launched numerous PR campaigns for corporations over the years and now oversees Public Relations at Col Bleu Vodka.

Shon Burks

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Shon Burks is a strong design professional and entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in the design field with multiple design awards, including Addy and IABC awards. He’s skilled in many facets of design including; print design, logo & visual branding, web design, package design, illustration advertising, the Adobe Creative Suite and woodworking.

Shon has been into the arts since the tender age of 3. As a youth, he excelled in art classes and attended classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Institute of Art. He later continued his art education at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Kent State University.

Upon completing his Bachelor of Arts in Advertising at Kent State University, he was hired on as a full-time designer for the university. He has also worked as a package designer for Photoco, a graphic designer for Hotcards.com.

He currently runs his own design studio, Frozen Creative LLC.

Dexter Hammett

BRAND AMBASSADOR CLEVELAND, OH

Dexter Hammett is an American businessman, professional actor, and model. He climbed through the ranks of Corporate America at an early age and eventually transitioned to the sliver-screen. Hammett is a student of film writing and producing theatrical plays. He also starred in the motion picture Shawshank Redemption.

Hammett’s versatility has awarded him success as an Entrepreneur, as well as his current role as an Insurance Executive at Taylor-Oswald.

Hammett is also committed to keynote speaking and bringing awareness to Organ Donation from personal experience.

He firmly believes in the value and power of networking, and is now Brand Ambassador of Cleveland, OH at Col Bleu Vodka.

Al Aponte’

BRAND AMBASSADOR NEW YORK, NY

Al Aponte’ is an energetic Brand Ambassador with the ability to engage large crowds and allow a product to stand out an any situation. Born and raised in New York City, Aponte’ was influenced by some of hip-hops greats such as DJ Smalls. Aponte’ worked for the CIROC campaign gaining experience in Branding and Marketing.

He served as an offshoot of the marketing team and also had dual roles as trouble shooter and marketer. Aponte’ is a student of the alcohol industry and relates to the blue-collar experience.

With the will to succeed and a growing industry at his heels, Aponte’ is now the Brand Ambassador of NYC at

Col Bleu Vodka.