Clayton is passionate about entrepreneurship and loves helping small food and beverage companies scale. Based in Austin, Texas, he is strategically positioned at the epicenter of a growing culture of consumer innovation. He is the Founder and former CEO of Sweet Leaf Tea, a company he started in 1998 with $12K in savings and a recipe from his grandmother. Sweet Leaf grew to a nationally recognized brand, and was sold to Nestle in 2011. Following his success at Sweet Leaf, Clayton co-founded and was Chairman of the Board of Deep Eddy Vodka. Deep Eddy became the fastest growing spirits brand in the United States and was sold to Heaven Hill Distilleries in August of 2015. He is also the Co-founder/Chairman of Rhythm Super Foods, Chairman of SKU, an incubator/accelerator for consumer brands. In 2006 he was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year for Central Texas, and is a recipient of Austin Under 40 Austinite of the Year Award.