Charlie Merinoff is a principal founder of Breakthru Beverage Group (BBG), the innovative beverage wholesaler formed by Charmer Sunbelt Group (CSG) and Wirtz Beverage Group on January 1, 2016. He currently serves as Co-Chairman of BBG’s Board of Managers. The operations of the company and its affiliates span 16 markets throughout North America, and the company represents a portfolio of premier wine, spirits, and beer brands totaling more than $6 billion in annual sales.

Previously Charlie was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSG, one of the nation’s leading distributors of fine wines and spirits. Following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin in 1980, Charlie joined the family’s business, holding various positions in operations, purchasing, and sales. In 1991, Charlie was named President of Charmer Industries, the family’s Metro New York business. In 1994, the family acquired Sunbelt Beverage Corporation, then operating distributorships in several Eastern states. The Sunbelt Beverage Corporation continued to expand through acquisitions and partnerships, and in 1997 the wholesale companies in which the family had an interest became known as The Charmer Sunbelt Group. In 2011, he was named Chairman of the Board of The Charmer Sunbelt Group.

Charlie devotes a significant amount of time and resources to charitable organizations. He has served on the board of directors for Thurgood Marshall College Fund for 22 years, the last 5 years he served in the capacity of board chairman.   In his five years of distinguished service as Board Chair, Charlie oversaw the largest period of sustained revenue growth for TMCF, a significant expansion in corporate and public sector partnerships, and a marked increase in the annual average number of scholarships awarded and professional development opportunities offered to the students that TMCF serves.  Charlie’s tenure also saw the expansion of TMCF’s membership to include our nation’s Historically Black Community Colleges and the expansion of capacity-building opportunities provided to our member schools.

Charlie has also been a member of the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation since 1999 and is currently its Treasurer and an active member of its Board of Directors. Additionally, Charlie spent twelve years on the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America and is currently Trustee Emeritus.  Charlie has previously been on the Board of Trustees of Northwell Health – formerly North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and Make-A-Wish Foundation Metro New York. Charlie spearheaded the annual “Wine and Wishes” tasting and auction, which raised nearly $8.0 million over 13 years for Make-A-Wish.

Charlie has been honored over the years by the Boys Town of Italy, the Boy Scouts of America, the UJA-Federation of New York, The American Cancer Society, and received the George Washington Spirit Award at Mt. Vernon. He is a Past Chairman of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.