Your bar went under, your brand team got canned, your partner broke things off, you received a diagnosis, and a dear friend passed. We all deal with grief privately, but how do we process it? How can we help each other? What do we do next? Join Chris Elford of Navy Strength & Here Today for a dive into the waters we all swim in and rarely discuss.

Chris Elford, Co-Founder, Here Today Brewery and Navy Strength Seattle
Chris Elford is a Seattle-based bar owner and bartender. He is a Certified Cicerone beer expert, a graduate of the Bar 5 Day program in cocktails and spirits with the Bar Ready distinction, and holds the Level 2 Award in Wines from WSET.

Though he grew up in the States, he is originally a son of Windsor, Ontario. He cut his teeth at New York's Amor Y Amargo before opening the famed NYC beer bar Proletariat in 2012. In Seattle, he worked as a brand ambassador and educator for spirits brands like Beefeater & Tequila Ocho, and he tended bar at Canon and Rob Roy.

In 2016, he and business partner Anu opened No Anchor, which was named Seattle's Best Restaurant and garnered a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant in America. In 2017, the pair opened Navy Strength, which won Best New US Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail. The following year, they opened the natural wine and oyster bar Vinnie's, and in 2022, Chris opened the waterfront brewery Here Today Brewery & Kitchen, where he currently bartends. He is also a proud dog dad to an adorable one-eyed Shih Tzu named Blooper.

Leftbank Annex Class/Seminar/Experience for pre-assigned Student Pass holders and Bartender Pass Auditing.
Location: Leftbank Annex, 101 N Weidler St, Portland, OR 97227
Sponsored by: Lush Life Productions