Jon McDaniel

Jon McDaniel serves as the Vice President of Sales at VinConnect Inc., where responsibilities include connecting over 80 prestigious European wineries to the U.S. market. As the Founder of Second City Soil, Jon leads a prominent wine and hospitality consulting group focused on enhancing wine programs for restaurants through improved menu development and staff training. Jon also held the role of Director of Product, Education + Subscriptions at Scout & Cellar, emphasizing education on Clean-Crafted™ wine. An experienced educator, Jon taught Beverage Management at Roosevelt University, equipping future hospitality leaders with industry knowledge. Previous roles include Beverage Director for Gage Hospitality Group, overseeing beverage programs at multiple acclaimed Chicago restaurants, and General Manager/Partner at OON Restaurant. Jon’s education includes a Master's degree in International Policy from Stanford University and dual bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice from The George Washington University.