The Leadership Behind Paragon Pacific
Paragon Pacific Imports was founded by leaders who believe brands deserve more than distribution. Our team combines retail expertise, brand development experience, and strategic partnerships to help emerging companies grow with structure, clarity, and long-term vision.
Keith Barton, CFO
Co-Founder & President
Keith Barton co-founded Paragon Pacific Imports to build a distribution platform grounded in financial discipline, operational precision, and long-term brand partnership.
With more than 25 years of experience in executive finance leadership, Keith has served as CFO for multiple companies across regulated and inventory-driven industries. He is also the owner of MVAP Medical Supplies, where he oversees complex supply chains, vendor relationships, and large-scale operational systems.
His expertise spans financial architecture, regulatory compliance, inventory management, vendor negotiations, cash flow strategy, and margin optimization, skills that are critical to building a disciplined and scalable distribution business.
While his foundation is rooted in strategy and finance, Keith’s passion lies in creating real opportunities for independent and emerging beverage brands. He believes small producers deserve more than promises; they deserve transparent economics, disciplined execution, and a distribution partner committed to long-term growth.
At Paragon, Keith leads corporate finance, capital allocation, operational infrastructure, and strategic planning, ensuring that portfolio expansion and market execution are supported by sustainable margins and intelligent scale.
In an industry often driven purely by volume, Keith’s focus is clear: protect the structure, empower the brands, and build a company designed to last.
With more than 25 years of experience in executive finance leadership, Keith has served as CFO for multiple companies across regulated and inventory-driven industries. He is also the owner of MVAP Medical Supplies, where he oversees complex supply chains, vendor relationships, and large-scale operational systems.
His expertise spans financial architecture, regulatory compliance, inventory management, vendor negotiations, cash flow strategy, and margin optimization, skills that are critical to building a disciplined and scalable distribution business.
While his foundation is rooted in strategy and finance, Keith’s passion lies in creating real opportunities for independent and emerging beverage brands. He believes small producers deserve more than promises; they deserve transparent economics, disciplined execution, and a distribution partner committed to long-term growth.
At Paragon, Keith leads corporate finance, capital allocation, operational infrastructure, and strategic planning, ensuring that portfolio expansion and market execution are supported by sustainable margins and intelligent scale.
In an industry often driven purely by volume, Keith’s focus is clear: protect the structure, empower the brands, and build a company designed to last.
Joseph LoBue
Co-Founder & Chief Market & Creative Officer
Joseph LoBue co-founded Paragon Pacific Imports to rethink how brands enter and grow within modern market, combining disciplined distribution infrastructure with cultural strategy and creative positioning.
His work sits at the intersection of hospitality, commerce, and brand identity. Over the past decade he has helped develop revenue platforms, reposition supplier portfolios, and build high-performance commercial ecosystems where pricing, narrative, and market velocity must move together.
Joseph previously held executive leadership roles within the Luxury Cocktail Collective at The Venetian and Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas, helping oversee premium beverage programs inside one of the most demanding hospitality environments in the United States.
Today at Paragon, Joseph leads portfolio strategy, pricing philosophy, and market positioning, working alongside producers, founders, and creative partners to bring emerging brands to market with clarity, conviction, and cultural relevance.
He is also the founder of Nobles x Nomads, a creative strategy studio focused on helping hospitality and lifestyle brands define who they are and how they show up in the world. His philosophy is simple:
Build brands with conviction, respect the trade, and create markets that last.
Destroy not decorate.
His work sits at the intersection of hospitality, commerce, and brand identity. Over the past decade he has helped develop revenue platforms, reposition supplier portfolios, and build high-performance commercial ecosystems where pricing, narrative, and market velocity must move together.
Joseph previously held executive leadership roles within the Luxury Cocktail Collective at The Venetian and Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas, helping oversee premium beverage programs inside one of the most demanding hospitality environments in the United States.
Today at Paragon, Joseph leads portfolio strategy, pricing philosophy, and market positioning, working alongside producers, founders, and creative partners to bring emerging brands to market with clarity, conviction, and cultural relevance.
He is also the founder of Nobles x Nomads, a creative strategy studio focused on helping hospitality and lifestyle brands define who they are and how they show up in the world. His philosophy is simple:
Build brands with conviction, respect the trade, and create markets that last.
Destroy not decorate.
Hayden Stewart
Director of Wine Portfolio & Trade Strategy
Paragon Pacific Imports has joined forces with The Angry Somm, best known for injecting a much-needed shot of coarse humor into the wine industry. Behind the snark, however, is a deep foundation of real-world experience across nearly every layer of the wine business.
Hayden began his career on the production side, tending Sangiovese in the Ramona Valley AVA while managing the tasting room and wine club at Milagro Winery. From there he moved into the realities of the market, working sales and distribution across broad market and corporate retail accounts before joining Winebow, where he managed the Southern Hemisphere portfolio throughout Southern California and served as an educator for chain sales teams, translating terroir into sell-through.
Most recently, he brought his palate and leadership to the private club world, serving as Sommelier and Food & Beverage Director for institutions such as Pauma Valley Country Club and The Farms.
Broker. Consultant. Account executive. Educator. Creator. And yes, professional antagonist of boring culture.
At Paragon Pacific Imports, Hayden focuses on wine sales, account development, and trade education along with strategy, helping bring emerging producers to market while supporting key retail and on-premise partners throughout California. Along with that, all of Paragon’s brands will have meaningful publicity and engagement in the online world to develop a stronger presence to help connect with new audiences.
Because great wine deserves more than safe adjectives, and great brands deserve people willing to champion them.
Hayden began his career on the production side, tending Sangiovese in the Ramona Valley AVA while managing the tasting room and wine club at Milagro Winery. From there he moved into the realities of the market, working sales and distribution across broad market and corporate retail accounts before joining Winebow, where he managed the Southern Hemisphere portfolio throughout Southern California and served as an educator for chain sales teams, translating terroir into sell-through.
Most recently, he brought his palate and leadership to the private club world, serving as Sommelier and Food & Beverage Director for institutions such as Pauma Valley Country Club and The Farms.
Broker. Consultant. Account executive. Educator. Creator. And yes, professional antagonist of boring culture.
At Paragon Pacific Imports, Hayden focuses on wine sales, account development, and trade education along with strategy, helping bring emerging producers to market while supporting key retail and on-premise partners throughout California. Along with that, all of Paragon’s brands will have meaningful publicity and engagement in the online world to develop a stronger presence to help connect with new audiences.
Because great wine deserves more than safe adjectives, and great brands deserve people willing to champion them.
