Vision & Mission
Every event we host is designed with intention, from the atmosphere we create to the way each session flows.
Vision
To transform how communities celebrate and give back—by making every nonprofit event a stage for connection, craftsmanship, and shared purpose.
Mission
The Occasion connects nonprofits, spirits brands, and local bartenders through a smarter bar service model that replaces expensive, uninspired event beverages with elevated cocktail experiences. We help nonprofits redirect savings toward their mission, give brands authentic access to engaged audiences, and create meaningful opportunities for hospitality professionals.
The Story
The Occasion was founded by Roland Ng and Daniel Ronen, who share extensive experience across the nonprofit and spirits industries. Through years of involvement with charitable organizations and premium spirits brands, they identified a clear gap in the nonprofit event space: high costs paired with uninspired, low-quality beverage programs.
The Occasion was created to bridge that gap—elevating the quality of gala and fundraiser bar programs while delivering intentional, values-aligned exposure for spirits brands and meaningful work opportunities for local bartenders.
We're not here to follow trends—we're here to build something timeless. With a blend of creativity, strategy, and heart, we help ideas come to life.
The Team
Roland Ng
Co-Founder & Development Director
Roland bridges spirits expertise with a deep, lifelong commitment to nonprofit leadership. He serves as GM Americas for Kanosuke Distillery and is a respected voice in the global whisky community, co-founding the SF Whisky Society and judging several leading international spirits competitions. In 2025, Roland was named to Imbibe Magazine’s “75 for 2025” list.
Roland’s dedication to community service began at the Boys & Girls Club of Tracy and has continued through board and advisory roles spanning youth development, arts and culture, elementary education, and mental health initiatives across the Bay Area. He previously held senior executive leadership roles at HP Inc. and Procter & Gamble.
Daniel Ronen
Co-Founder & Creative Director
Over twenty years ago, Danny founded DC Spirits, a food, wine, and spirits education organization focused on small producers, sustainability, and craft. His career spans the globe—from food and beverage innovation to restaurant and hotel concept development and brand strategy. He has opened and revitalized venues ranging from neighborhood bars to internationally renowned luxury properties, including Fairmont and Raffles.
Danny is part of the leadership team at Shaker & Spoon, the award-winning national cocktail subscription service, and continues to pursue his lifelong passion for introducing new concepts and flavors to broader audiences.
Korey Lee
Chief Technology Officer
Korey brings over twenty years of experience scaling technology platforms, data systems, and growth operations across SaaS, media, and emerging technology startups. He has co-founded VC backed startups and held senior technology leadership roles at organizations including Alibaba Group's South China Morning Post, Google, and Squarespace.
Beyond the tech stack, Korey has deep roots in the nonprofit and social impact space — serving as board director for Migrasia, chairman of SCMP's Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, missions leader at Hope Unlimited, and co-directing SumAll.org's Data for Social Good initiative. That intersection of technology and purpose is what brought him to The Occasion — where he's building the infrastructure that connects nonprofits, brands, and bartenders into a smarter way to give back.
Contact us
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