- National Beer Wholesalers Association
Transcription
- National Beer Wholesalers Association
Special Convention & Trade Show Issue · September/October 2013 THE ROUTE Message from the Chairman and the President: Welcome to Las Vegas! W elcome to NBWA’s 76th Annual Convention and Trade Show! We hope you will enjoy this newsletter’s look at the activities of your association along with news from some of your fellow beer distributors across the country. NBWA is excited to bring you a program packed with great speakers, 23 education seminars and a Trade Show Floor filled with more than 280 exhibitors featuring innovative products and services to assist you in your business. Make sure to experience some of the many beers that will be offered on the Trade Show Floor and in the Craft Beer Pavilion! The all-star speaker lineup includes Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, co-hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, who will offer a dynamic and fast-paced perspective on the current political landscape and the headlines of the day. Demographer Jim Johnson will share his research on what the next generation of beer consumers might look like and how demographic changes in the U.S. could impact the future of the beer distribution industry. On Tuesday, the U.S. leaders of five brewers and importers will gather on one stage for a discussion of issues facing the beer industry and the strengths of the American beer distribution system, which works so well for so many. They also will answer some of the NBWA membership’s most burning questions, so don’t miss this candid conversation! You’ll hear from Walmart’s Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer Duncan Mac Naughton on how distributors can work with the retailer to grow the beer category. And Jason Ryan Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy®, will share his insights on how to lead and manage across generations. Great things can be achieved when our industry comes together, so we hope you take advantage of all this Convention and Trade Show has to offer. And be sure to stay connected and engaged by downloading NBWA’s Convention app, tuning into NBWA-TV and joining the conversation on Twitter using #NBWAVegas. Cheers! Bob ArcherCraig Purser 2012-2013 NBWA Chair NBWA President & CEO #NBWAVegas Meet NBWA’s Incoming Chairman Greg LaMantia Member/Manager L & F Distributors, LLC McAllen, TX A s NBWA’s incoming chairman, Greg LaMantia looks forward to helping guide the association’s efforts to strengthen grassroots relationships, increase support for state associations and enhance relationships between independent beer distributors and their trading partners. “The industry has changed significantly and is continuing to change,” LaMantia said. “It is not your father’s or grandfather’s industry anymore. The beer industry is different today than it was yesterday. And it’s up to us to prepare for tomorrow.” LaMantia is a member manager of L&F Distributors LLC, a family business founded in 1977 by LaMantia’s father, Joe Lamantia, Jr. After decades as a farming and ranching family, they entered the beer business with 11 employees. Since then, L&F has grown to employ more than 1,000 individuals. It now operates throughout 34 counties in Texas and New Mexico and covers nearly 200,000 square miles of land. With experience from Texas Christian University’s Ranch Management program, LaMantia began his career handling his family’s agriculture operation located in Texas’ Dimmit, Webb and Zavala Counties. Since leaving the agriculture business in the late 1980s, LaMantia has overseen the general operations of L & F Distributors, LLC. “Like many beer distributors, I have the privilege of working with many family members – my dad, three brothers, one sister and six members of the ‘next generation,’” he said. “Pride in our family businesses is the foundation of our beer distributorships.” Much of that pride in the family business stems from the LaMantia family’s deep commitment to their community and support for numerous non-profit organizations. One organization that is especially important to the LaMantia family is the Stars Scholarship Fund, which promotes access to and success in higher education for all students. Last year marked the 10-year anniversary of Stars, but its origin began decades before its founding. In 1974, Joe Lamantia, Jr. was appointed to the Board of the Texas Department of Corrections. He was reappointed in 1983 and served as the vice chairman for more than 10 years. During this tenure, he saw firsthand the problems facing the Texas border region, specifically poverty, crime and high unemployment. He recognized that education was the key to improving the community. Under Joe LaMantia, Jr.’s leadership, L&F Distributors partnered with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) in 1994 and in eight years raised more than $5 million and awarded more than 2,600 scholarships to students in South Texas. The success of HSF prompted efforts to create an organization that catered to South Texas and the communities which surrounded L&F Distributors. In 2002, Joe LaMantia, Jr. established the Stars Scholarship Fund, which raised more than $1 million its first year. Today Stars partners with hundreds of local and national businesses, organizations, colleges and universities. It has raised more than $18 million since its founding and helped more than 9,000 students from south Texas receive higher education. The cornerstone of the Stars organization is its devoted volunteers and sponsors. Unlike most non-profit organizations, Stars commits 100% of every dollar donated directly to scholarships for the students of South Texas to attend the college of their choice. All Stars expenses, including overhead and salaries, are generously underwritten by Anheuser-Busch and L&F Distributors. LaMantia is currently vice chairman of the Stars Scholarship Fund Board of Directors, serving alongside his father Joe LaMantia, Jr. and several other family members. LaMantia has applied that same spirit of giving and volunteerism to his work with NBWA. Since he was elected to the NBWA Board of Directors in 2007, he served as the chair of the Government Affairs Committee, and he broke all fundraising records as the chair of the NBWA Political Action Committee (PAC). Last year, NBWA awarded L&F Distributors, under LaMantia’s leadership, with the Whitey Littlefield Award in recognition of employee and next generation contributions to the NBWA PAC. “Greg is a tremendous motivator who knows how to lead by example, which makes him a very effective advocate for his fellow beer distributors,” said NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser. “I look forward to working closely with him to advance the association’s goals in the year ahead.” NBWA Hosts First-Ever Next Generation Success in Leadership Conference N BWA held its inaugural Next Generation S uccess in L eadership Conference August 4 – 5 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, Illinois. More than 60 members of NBWA’s Next Generation Group attended the conference. The NBWA Next Generation Group first came together at NBWA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show in 2011 and is chaired by Adam Vitale, NBWA Board member & president of G & M Distributors, Inc. The group was founded to bring together future leaders in the beer distribution industry and it focuses on helping members learn more about the beer business, get more involved with the association and network with other distributors from all areas of the country representing all brands. The conference kicked off with a beer pairing dinner and reception, offering future leaders the opportunity to network in a casual setting. The program featured Matt Dahlstrom, the founder of LearnBeer.com, and Craig Purser, NBWA President & CEO. Also in attendance at the conference was NBWA Chairman Bob Archer of Blue Ridge Beverage Co., who said, “You are the future for your family businesses and NBWA. They are both worth your commitment and support over the long term.” Dahlstrom, a 20-year veteran of the beer industry, works with distributors on sales training, management development and strategy execution to increase sales effectiveness and drive business results. His presentation, The Emerging NBWA Next Generation Group members take part in Matt Dahlstrom’s The Emerging Leader workshop. Leader workshop, was aimed at helping attendees lead better, inspire others, increase readiness and improve company performance. Topics included leadership skills, business readiness, maximizing your impact, strategy development and succession. The program gave attendees the opportunity to work together during group exercises in a round table format, and they received a talents assessment that was specifically tailored to each of their strengths and weaknesses. Purser closed the conference by giving an overview on the history of the beer industry and purpose of NBWA. The group was enthusiastic about learning more about the industry and was excited to talk to one another about their businesses. As Purser told attendees, “We’ve got a great story to tell.” In addition to a networking happy hour prior to the Welcome Reception at this year’s Convention & Trade Show, the group will reconvene at the upcoming NBWA Legislative Conference to be held April 27-30, 2014, in Washington, D.C. For more information or to get involved with the Next Generation Group, please contact NBWA Meetings and Membership Assistant Maggie Graham at mgraham@ nbwa.org. NBWA Recognizes Winners of “Share Your Story Contest” Highlighting Beer Distribution Employees J. J. Taylor Distributing Employees Receive Free Trip to NBWA’s 76th Annual Convention & Trade Show for Winning Video T his year NBWA launched the “Share Your Story Contest,” inviting beer distribution employees who have never attended the NBWA Annual Convention & Trade Show to submit written or video entries. The contest works to highlight many of the 130,000 men and women who make up the beer distribution industry, from truck drivers, inventory specialists and graphic artists to sales representatives, fork lift drivers and receptionists. NBWA congratulates Kristin Jones and Cristie Tiwari of J. J. Taylor Companies, Inc., in Jupiter, Florida, who submitted the winning video entry. Jones Tiwari “Kristin and Cristie submitted a creative and compelling video in which they discuss why they love working in the beer distribution industry, what they do and how J.J. Taylor provides value to the community,” s a i d N B WA Pr e s i d e n t & CEO Craig Purser. “The American beer distribution industry is strong because of the amazing people who work in it and the passion they h a ve f o r t h e work they do in communities across the country,” Purser continued. “This video exemplifies why we are all proud to be a part of this great industry.” “I’ve been working for the beer industry for about a year and I love it. The beer industry is just so fun and exciting and it’s always evolving,” said Jones, who is a supplier accounts payable clerk. Tiwari is an accounting assistant who has been with the company for nearly four years. “I started in HR and dabbled in IT and eventually in accounting, which is another great thing about this industry. There are a variety of job opportunities,” she said. “It’s not all just fun and beer though. J. J. Taylor and other companies do a lot for their communities,” Tiwari added. The employees discussed J. J. Taylor’s work with the Ronald McDonald House, where a group of employees served lunch to the children and families, and their work collecting more than 1,000 toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Drive. Jones also praised the company’s tuition reimbursement program, as she is considering going back to school to further her education. Jones and Tiwari will be recognized during the General Session on Monday, September 30. View their winning video entry on NBWA’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/NBWABeer. Congratulations to NBWA’s 2013 Life Service Award Recipients! T he NBWA Life Service Award is given to beer distributors who have dedicated a lifetime of service to the industry, community and fellow distributors. This year, NBWA honors two distinguished industry servants. Joseph “Joe” DeMarco was born in Philadelphia in 1935, and he served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and as a First Lieutenant in the New Jersey National Guard before joining his family’s beer distribution business. In 1961, DeMarco was appointed president and CEO of High Grade Beverage in South Brunswick, New Jersey, a company originally founded in New Brunswick by his father, Nicholas DeMarco, and Harry “Butch” Levine in 1940. Under the leadership of DeMarco and his wife Elizabeth, the company has experienced tremendous growth. Today High Grade Beverage serves a seven-plus county area from two warehouses. Its main storage facility has the capacity to warehouse 550,000 cases of beer in a controlled environmental warehouse (CEW) plus an additional 250,000 cases of inventory in the non-CEW warehouse section. The barrel cooler with a constant temperature of 36 degrees has room for 8,800 barrels of draught beer. In addition to the warehouse, the company has 10,000 square feet of office space at this facility. In order to manage the incremental sales in Northern Jersey, a facility in Randolph replicates the design and operation of the South Brunswick enterprise and accounts for approximately one-half of the entire volume of High Grade Beverage’s business. The family nature of the business continues today with the naming of Joe DeMarco’s son, Anthony DeMarco, as High Grade Beverage’s president & CEO in 2005, with Joe now serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In addition to decades of participation in the New York and New Jersey state beer distributor associations, DeMarco has devoted years of service as a valuable member of the NBWA Board of Directors. On top of his contributions to the beer distribution industry, he has served as a true example to others in his work with countless community organizations. From his work with St. Peter’s Medical Center to the American Cancer Society, Knights of Columbus and New Brunswick Elks, he is a true humanitarian and role model for other business leaders. William “Bill” Olson is a Chicago native and current president of the Associated Beer Distr ibutors of Illinois (ABDI). Before joining ABDI, Olson developed his experience in government affairs working for the Illinois Consumer Finance Association and the Association of Modern Banking in Illinois. He began his career with ABDI in January 1985 and, in the decades since then, Olson has been a staunch advocate for beer distributor interests and statebased alcohol regulation. He has served as president of the Wholesale Beer Association Executives and has been an active representative on the NBWA Industry Affairs Committee. Olson has advocated tirelessly for distributor independence, effective and reasonable regulatory control and sensible tax policies. He also has opposed efforts to deregulate alcohol and treat it like all other commercial goods and educated legislators and regulators on the history of alcohol as a unique product. Most notably, Olson has confronted head on an issue in Illinois involving ownership, vertical integration by beer suppliers and the rights of small brewers. Olson persevered through intense, and some might say unprecedented, opposition by building a coalition of large and small brewers, retailers and distributors to help clarify the separate and distinct roles of brewers and distributors. The compromise he helped achieve ensures that the state’s small brewers can still self-distribute, while at the same time provides strong three-tier protections for the state of Illinois. Tune in to NBWA-TV! T hat’s right, NBWA has its own exclusive news team! While in your room at Caesars, tune in to Ch. 22 and watch NBWA-TV newscasts featuring stories on distributors hiring veterans, NBWA’s Next Generation Group, beer pairing dinners and more! Distributors have great stories to tell and our reporters have been busy interviewing, filming and documenting unique stories and exciting industry developments. NBWA-TV reporters will be scouting the Convention and Trade Show covering all the excitement. If you see the team, stop and share your Convention experience – maybe YOU will be the next NBWA-TV star! 5 Ways to Become a Stronger Beer Distributor Advocate! A merica’s beer distributors have great stories to tell. You are small, independent business owners and employers who are active in your communities and champions of environmental sustainability – plus, you help brewers of all sizes grow and thousands of labels of beer get to market. By being an engaged and active member of NBWA, you can help ensure that distributor voices are heard on a wide range of issues – in the halls of Congress and across America! Here’s what you can do to become a stronger beer distributor advocate: • Schedule a warehouse visit with elected leaders and others: Let your representative see first-hand the jobs you provide and the work you do. Contact NBWA for help arranging these visits. • Keep NBWA informed of your relationships with members of Congress: Update your grassroots mobilization form to reflect your connections, especially for newly elected representatives. • Check the formula for member dues: It is important that NBWA has the necessary resources to continue Clockwise from top: advocating for beer distribution businesses and the stateBeer distributors host Rep. based regulatory system. Dave Reichert (WA-8), Sen. • Visit the NBWA Grassroots & Political Action Center: David Vitter (LA) and Rep. Ron Barber (AZ-2). View contributions made to the NBWA PAC and disbursements made to federal candidates in your state, along with other grassroots resources. • Attend the NBWA Legislative Conference: Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting, so follow up on a great warehouse visit by meeting with your members of Congress April 27- 30, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Download the NBWA Convention App! Personalize your schedule of seminars and events; plan your Trade Show experience with an interactive map and exhibitor listings; get the latest updates from NBWA; follow the #NBWAVegas conversation on social media; network with friends and share your event photos in the photo gallery! • For iPhone and Android: Visit the App Store or Play Store on your phone and search “NBWA.” • For All Web-Enabled Devices: Enter http://m.core-apps.com/ nbwa2013 into your mobile browser to be automatically directed to the proper download for your device. • Or scan the QR code in the image to the right! Tax Talk: Congressional Outlook for Tax Reform By: Holly Lass NBWA Senior Director, Legislative Affairs A s this went to print, members of Congress, their staffs and lobbyists were gearing up for a very busy fall, starting with the return of Congress on September 9. The temperature in Washington is cooling, but the heat in the Capitol is sure to rise with a flurry of congressional activity throughout the fall months. Before breaking for the August recess, Congress focused on federal spending issues: the debt limit; the $1.2 trillion 10-year spending sequestration; appropriating funds for federal government operations; and approval in each chamber of a fiscal year 2014 budget. However, Congress did not achieve any long-term agreements and now faces difficult partisan negotiations with short deadlines. With fewer than 40 legislative days remaining in 2013, Congress must address federal spending for the fiscal year that begins October 1 and an extension of the federal borrowing limit that is expected to be reached by mid-October. The congressional tax-writing committees will continue their work on tax reform. The answers to questions of when, what, how and if tax reform discussions become legislative action remain uncertain. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) both have said they intend to move tax reform measures through their committees in the fall. In fact, Chairman Camp plans to mark up legislation in his committee in October, and his staff is actively working to prepare the legislation. The two parties have differing goals for tax reform. Republicans favor revenue-neutral reform, while Democrats see reform as an opportunity to raise significant additional tax revenue. Republicans currently are resistant to raising additional taxes, but it is conceivable that they eventually could agree to some small measure of tax increases as the price for reforming the tax code. The partisan disagreement over whether or not tax reform should raise revenue is one of the largest obstacles to enactment. Chairman Camp is committed to advancing comprehensive (corporate and individual) tax reform through his committee this year. However, despite Camp’s intention to mark up the legislation in October, the timing of committee action (and House floor consideration) is uncertain in light of the other crucial matters that Congress must address – such as Syria, appropriations and the debt limit. Republican leaders in the House continue to be nervous about floating individual tax reform proposals that would raise the needed offsetting revenue by cutting back on popular individual tax benefits. House Republicans are aware that House Democrats, who have been less than supportive of tax reform, are likely to seek to score political points off of any concrete Republican tax proposal. Accordingly, it is possible that the timing of tax reform in the House of Representatives will slip beyond this year. The House and Senate tax-writing committees have engaged in significant preparatory work for tax reform, including holding hearings, releasing broad options papers and issue-specific discussion drafts, engaging in internal discussions and requesting comments from members of Congress and the public. Since tax reform is not expected to be completed this year, the two tax-writing Committees will likely continue their tax reform efforts into next year. NBWA continues to work closely with members of Congress and key staff to work to ensure that tax reform does not adversely impact closely-held businesses. Specifically, NBWA is advocating that tax reform should: be comprehensive, encompassing both businesses and individuals; eliminate the economic distortions caused by the double taxation of corporate income; maintain the ability for businesses to use the last-in-first-out (LIFO) method of inventory accounting; preserve the current rules that allow businesses to recover their significant capital investments by claiming depreciation or amortization deductions; and avoid the inclusion of any provisions that would have the effect of increasing the estate or gift taxes. Regardless of what unfolds with Congress’ attempt to tackle tax reform this fall, rest assured that NBWA is closely monitoring these negotiations and advocating for your business interests in Washington, D.C. Record Number of Nominees for 2013 Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award W ith craft beer’s tremendous growth and independent beer distributors’ excitement for picking up new craft brands, it is no surprise there was a record number of nominees for the Seventh Annual Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award. Consumers continue to demonstrate their passion for craft beer and appreciation of the wide variety of flavors beer has to offer, and America’s more than 3,300 beer distributors take great pride in serving as the vehicle to market for these brands and providing choice and variety to the consumer. Congratulations to the following companies who were nominated by fellow distributors, brewers and licensed retail partners for going above and beyond in their efforts to market, sell and promote craft beer: • 7G Distributing, LLC Cedar Rapids, IA • Ace Distributing York, PA • Beechwood Sales & Service New Berlin, WI • BountyBev Nashville, TN Brewers Association proudly presents: World Beer Cup 2014 ® The most prestigious beer competition in the world WorldBeerCup.org National Beer Wholesalers Association is a proud Endorser of World Beer Cup 2014 World Beer Cup Gala Reception & Awards Ceremony Winners Announced Saturday, April 11, 2014 Craft Brewers Conference Denver, Colorado, USA Registration Information: WorldBeerCup.org [email protected] The World Beer Cup is presented by the Brewers Association www.BrewersAssociation.org • Central States Beverage Co. Kansas City, MO • DBI Beverage Sacramento West Sacramento, CA • DBI Beverage San Francisco South San Francisco, CA • DeCrescente Distributing Co. Mechanicville, NY • Euclid Beverage LLC North Aurora, IL • Heart of America Beverage Company Springfield, MO • High Country Beverage Corp. Loveland, CO • J.J. Taylor Distributing Florida, Inc. Tampa, FL • J.J. Taylor Distributing Minnesota, Inc. Minneapolis, MN • Kohler Distributing Co. Hawthorne, NJ • Manhattan Beer Distributors LLC Bronx, NY • Massachusetts Beverage Alliance LLC Randolph, MA • Mims Distributing Co., Inc. Raleigh, NC • Morris Distributing Co., Inc. Petaluma, CA • Muller, Inc. Philadelphia, PA • Mussetter Distributing Inc. Auburn, CA • Oak Beverage Inc. Blauvelt, NY • Origlio Beverage Philadelphia, PA • Pepin Distributing Co. Tampa, FL • Powers Distributing Co., Inc. Orion, MI • Shore Point Distributing Co., Inc. Adelphia, NJ • Town & Country Distributors Inc. Itasca, IL The Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award will be presented jointly by NBWA and the Brewers Association (BA) on October 12, 2013, at the Great American Beer Festival, hosted by the BA, in Denver, Colorado. In addition to the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award, a Craft Beer Achievement Award (first runner-up) and Craft Beer Distributor Recognition Award (second runner-up) also will be presented. NBWA Participates in 2013 Beer Bloggers Conference T he National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) was proud to serve as one of the sponsors for the 2013 Beer Bloggers Conference which took place July 26 – 28 in Boston, Massachusetts. The fourth annual conference was an opportunity for beer bloggers, beer writers, industry bloggers and other beer and social media professionals to gather from across the country to meet, learn, taste and share. NBWA Communications Director Kathleen Joyce attended the conference to interact with the bloggers in attendance and learn more about how beer industry issues are being discussed online using social media. “The Beer Bloggers Conference is a great opportunity for those who write about various aspects of the beer industry to meet face-to-face with industry members and other beer lovers with whom they regularly communicate online,” said Joyce. NBWA sponsored a beer pairing lunch where the conference’s 150 attendees heard from Ray Laning, a Certified Cicerone® and specialty portfolio area sales manager for Craft Brewers Guild of Boston, part of the L. Knife family of distributors. By guiding attendees through a fourcourse food and beer pairing, Laning demonstrated one way that distributors work to educate consumers about new beers and work to promote each beer label they sell. A special feature of this year’s conference included a “live beer blogging” session at Burke Distributing, organized by the company’s specialty craft division World Class Beer Massachusetts, which was among the conference sponsors. Bloggers tasted and live blogged after Beer bloggers attend a beer and food pairing lunch hosted by NBWA and a live beer blogging event held at Burke Distributing during the 2013 Beer Bloggers Conference. sampling beers poured by 10 different breweries. Many of the bloggers had never seen the inside of a beer distribution warehouse before their visit to Burke. “The live beer blogging session inside the Burke Distributing warehouse gave the bloggers a firsthand look at the role that beer distributors play and how they support choice and value by helping thousands of labels of beer get to market for consumers to enjoy,” Joyce added. “They also heard from President Bill Burke, who spoke about the industry from the perspective of a family-run business.” Photos from the conference are available online on the NBWA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ NBWABeer. Virginia Beer Distributors Sponsor Alcohol Awareness Class for Fort Lee Army Officers B rown Distributing Company of Richmond, Virginia, and Pecht Distributors Inc. of Lawrenceville, Virginia, recently joined together to co-sponsor an alcohol education course for new Army officers at Fort Lee, Virginia. The course instructor was Rocco “Rocky” Caponigro, a 90-year-old World War II veteran who volunteers his time sharing his expertise and instructing a substance abuse class for the Basic Officer Course at the U.S. Army Logistics University. With great energy and charisma, Caponigro delivered a fact-based, non-judgmental lesson on the dangers of alcohol abuse. Robbie Pecht of Pecht Distributors attended the class and noted, “Rocky provides a great example of the type of fact-based alcohol education called for by Rocky Caponigro with U.S. Army officers the authors of Toward Liquor Control, the post-Prohibition book of his very impressive service record,” re-published by the Center for Alcohol Pecht added. “Rocky acknowledges to Policy.” the officers that he drinks, but with a “Rocky has extremely high credibility full understanding of how alcohol affects with the officers, and not just because him and knowledge of the potential for alcohol abuse; therefore, the officers know up front that they are not going to Center for Alcohol Policy’s Sixth Annual hear a self-righteous exhortation about the evils of alcohol.” On Caponigro’s 90th birthday last November, Maj. Gen. Larry D. Wyche, Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee Commanding General, presented him with the General Brehon B. Somervell Medallion of Excellence October 23-25, 2013 • Washington, D.C. recognizing Caponigro’s 70 years of service to the Army. His service began Be part of this authoritative program on as a soldier in World War II when important issues surrounding alcohol law, Caponigro was a radio operator and forregulation and litigation. ward observer. After separating from Featuring: active service, he continued to support • Keynote speaker Nevada Attorney the Army as a civilian employee as the General Catherine Cortez Masto installation alcohol and drug control • Education sessions led by prominent officer at forts Monmouth, New Jersey attorneys, current and former and Lee, Virginia. regulators, academic thought leaders, After his retirement, Caponigro conpublic health advocates and more tinues to be an institution at Fort Lee. • Continuing Legal Education credits He is dedicated to his service and conpending, including an ethics credit tinues to educate, mentor and counsel soldiers and civilians. Even years later, Caponigro receives messages from former student officers thanking him for R E teaching them about alcohol use and T S I REG AY! abuse and sharing stories of how he D www.CenterforAlcoholPolicy.org O T greatly impacted them as troops, as well #CAPLaw as personally. Alcohol Law Symposium Cheers to Beer Distributors Celebrating Business Anniversaries! General Distributors, Inc. of Oregon City, Oregon, was founded by Charles A. Fick, Sr. and his brother George Fick, Sr. in 1933. During Years Prohibition, they ran “Fick Cigar Co.” and distributed candy, cigarettes and cigars. After Prohibition’s repeal, they began selling the Olympia beer brand. The company rented a warehouse in downtown Portland and had three trucks, three delivery drivers, one office person and Charles and George Fick as management and sales. According to current Vice President James Fick, his grandfather, Charles A. Fick, Sr., and his grandmother sold their house and moved in with their parents to raise the capital needed to start the company. Today, the company employs more than 120 team members, has 25 daily delivery routes and sells more than 600 brands of beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages from more than 90 suppliers. In addition to MillerCoors, Crown Imports and Mike’s Hard Lemonade products, the company distributes beer from more than 25 craft breweries, including Sierra Nevada, Green Flash, Fish Brewing, No-Li and Alameda Brewing. Third- and fourth-generation family members are now involved in the company, which plans a picnic to celebrate this milestone. 80 Durdach Bros., Inc. was founded in 1938 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, by Richard Durdach’s father and uncle. In 1965, they moved the company to Paxinos, where its Years headquarters are today. In 1981, Richard took over the family business, which had 12 employees. Since then, the business has expanded to 70 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. Durdach Bros. services a 12-country area and serves more than 100 retailers and more than 1,000 on-premise customers. In addition to supporting other local businesses, the company contributes to its community by supporting a variety of organizations, including raising more than $140,000 for St. Jude and an additional $110,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Research. Durdach attributes the company’s growth and success to great employees and their passion for what they do. 75 Heidelberg Distributing marked 75 years in business with a series of galas to thank the company’s 1,600 associates. What began with “one man and one truck” by Albert Vontz in Dayton, Ohio, in 1938, has grown to include nine locations in both Ohio and Kentucky. Years Vontz started the family-owned company driving a truck between Dayton and the Heidelberg Brewery in Covington, Kentucky, delivering Student Prince and Heirloom Beer from 1938 to 1946. After the brewery was sold in 1946, Vontz stayed in business keeping the Heidelberg name to save on stationary and the cost of painting his trucks. Heidelberg now carries close to 1,000 different brands of beer and has facilities in Cincinnati, Dayton, Evendale, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Lorain, Youngstown and Hebron, Kentucky. 75 Premium Beverage Sales was founded in 1973 by Richard E. Gelner to service Southwest Missouri. The company began with just three drivers and a part-time warehouseman and distributed Miller High Life and Hamm’s beer brands. Today, it employs Years 60 team members selling more than 200 brands from 20 suppliers. Second generation leaders, brothers Brian and Mark Gelner, are both very active in the industry. Brian represents the state of Missouri on the NBWA Board of Directors and participates in Missouri Beer Wholesaler Association’s legislative efforts, while Mark is a Certified Cicerone® who specializes in craft beer. The company strives to be an asset in the community and has longstanding relationships with numerous charities. Premium Beverage Sales will celebrate this milestone with a party for team members and close associates in October. 40 Distributors Promote Fan Responsibility A t sporting venues and concert facilities across the country, NBWA and beer distributors are teaming up with the TEAM Coalition to encourage responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages. TEAM stands for Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management. The coalition is an alliance of 21 groups working together to keep fans safe, while having fun. In addition to NBWA, the members include professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the licensed beverage industry, broadcasters and governmental traffic safety experts. While distributors participate in a wide range of responsibility programs, here are a few examples of their work with the TEAM Coalition: a designated driver.” Amoskeag also secured 345 fans to make the pledge to be a designated driver a few weeks later at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Amoskeag Beverages LLC in New Hampshire participated with TEAM at the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to reward responsible NASCAR fans. At a recent race, 357 fans made the pledge to be a designated driver for their group. All of them had the opportunity to receive a free souvenir photo, instant prizes and a chance to be selected as the Designated Driver of the Race. “We are very proud of the great beers we sell for all of the NASCAR fans to consume,” said Ed Murphy, general manager and vice president of sales for Amoskeag Beverages LLC. “However, along with that comes great responsibility. We thank all of you for choosing Silver Eagle Distributors promoted responsibility at the 2013 NBA All Star Game and Jam Session in Houston, Texas. Nearly 5,000 fans made the Responsibility Has Its Rewards pledge. Fans who pledged autographed a larger-than-life basketball and received a souvenir photo with a branded frame including the campaign partners’ logos J.J. Taylor Companies worked with TEAM to promote safety at Futbol 5 stadium in Tampa, Florida. Soccer fans attending 2013 Copa Univision were invited to make a pledge never to drive drunk and always have a designated driver. Those who signed up received a souvenir photo, and their names were included in a large display. Beer Distributors Who Have Partnered with the Team Coalition for 2012-2013: Amoskeag Beverages, LLC Ben E. Keith Company Bob Hall LLC Capital Eagle, Inc. County Beverage Co., Inc. Hensley Beverage Company The House of LaRose J.J. Taylor Companies, Inc. Schatz Distributing Co., Inc. Silver Eagle Distributors, LP Zink Distributing Co., LLC and the campaign’s responsibility message. Keep Up With NBWA at NBWA.org! N BWA’s website – www.nbwa.org – highlights the economic, commercial and regulatory value of America’s 3,300 licensed, independent beer distributors. The site offers a wide range of content including: • • • • Daily News Scroll Educational Videos Informational Brochures Industry Studies • • • • Event Details Press Releases Beer Pairing Tips Photo Galleries Visit www.nbwa.org today and check out these features and more! NBWA Earns Association and Staff Honors D ay in and day out, NBWA staff works tirelessly to advocate for the three-tier system and to promote the value of independent beer distributors. The staff takes great pride in working for – and with – NBWA’s distributor members. The team also enjoys working for America’s beer distributors. So, it was an extra honor when NBWA’s work and staff members received national recognition this year from policy leaders and others in the association community. Top Association Recognition NBWA was named the most effective trade association for speaking with a “unified voice” and for representing the voices and views of the members and the entire industry. NBWA was among nine associations that made the top-tier list, which included large associations like PhRMA, the U.S. Chamber, U.S. Travel Association, Business Roundtable, America’s Health Insurance Plans and Consumer Electronics Association. Consulting giant APCO Worldwide conducted the survey, asking 450 policy leaders about 50 major trade associations, which was narrowed from a larger list of nominees. NBWA’s ranking was covered by several publications in Washington, D.C. – including Politico and The Hill – which are read by members of Congress and other influential leaders in the nation’s capital. Without engaged members who are dedicated to speaking with a unified voice and working toward a unified goal, NBWA could not have received this distinction! Rising Star Award The American Society of Association Executives presented the Rising Star Award to NBWA Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs Rebecca Spicer. The award recognizes a young professional in the association sphere who is “one to watch” because of her contributions to the association profession and promise of future leadership. “ We at NBWA have known of Rebecca’s leadership and service for several years. It is great to see her recognized by colleagues and the association community as well,” said NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser. “She makes the association industry stronger through her hard work, dedication and promise for the future. She gives back to the community in countless ways, always working to advance her organization’s interest while helping others.” Before joining NBWA in 2007, Spicer served in the White House as Associate Director of Communications. She also spent 12 years in television news, most recently at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., where she received several awards including an Emmy Award nomination for coverage on September 11, 2001. Spicer worked in several other markets, including Houston; Hartford; Birmingham; and Atlanta. She began her career as a high school intern helping with “Snow Bird” school cancellations at WSMV-TV in her hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. Spicer is a graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where she has served on the Board of Trustees and as reunion chair. Spicer also holds a degree in Telecommunications from Indiana University in Bloomington. Additionally, she serves on the National Advisory Council for the Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, Tennessee, and on the Salvation Army Advisory Board of the National Capital Region. Young & Aspiring Professional Award Association TRENDS recognized NBWA Senior Director of State & Industry Affairs David Christman as a 2013 Young & Aspiring Association Professional. Association TRENDS is the national newspaper for association e x e c u t i ve s a n d suppliers, spotlighting the latest news, information and trends in association management for the professional staff of international, national, state, regional and local voluntary organizations. The TRENDS Young & Aspiring Association Professionals represent the present and future of association management. They are nominated by senior executives and peers, who have noticed their contributions and leadership. Since joining NBWA in 2001, Christman has worked in several roles, including government affairs and political affairs before state and industry affairs. He also has served in a number of professional leadership roles. Christman has served as the executive director of the Beer Industry Electronic Commerce Coalition since 2007; he is a board member for the State Government Affairs Council as well as the Responsible Hospitality Institute; and he is a member of the Washington Area State Relations Group. As a result of Christman’s efforts, NBWA holds leadership positions in multiple national organizations of state legislators, governors, attorneys generals and others. As part of these groups, NBWA has been successful in complimenting the work of state beer distributor associations by fostering relationships and achieving support for state laws within these national groups. Member Services Take Advantage of Valuable NBWA Member Services! C heck out NBWA’s member programs, along with information on existing services and products that can help grow your distribution business, compare your company’s productivity to others in the industry or save money on energy: NBWA’s Go-toGuide for Beer Distributors Looking for products and services to meet your business needs? NBWA helps beer distributors cut through the clutter of traditional search engine results with the Go-toGuide for Beer Distributors. The Go-to-Guide offers targeted searches using either a keyword or a directory search by product category. The user-friendly format of the guide makes it an efficient resource for beer distributors to find the products and services they need as quickly as possible. Visit www.nbwa.org today to see how the Go-to-Guide can work for you! Who’s Who in Beer Distributing NBWA publishes its official membership directory annually, providing the industry with comprehensive information about distributorships across the United States, NBWA associate members, state associations and more. The directory lists more than 3,000 beer distributors and suppliers to the industry. To order an additional copy, please contact Sr. Manager of Membership Development Meghan Cassidy at [email protected]. other year, is currently available for purchase. Order your 2012 copy today by downloading an order form at www.nbwa.org or by contacting Membership and Meetings Assistant Maggie Graham at mgraham@nbwa. org. Distributor Productivity Report NBWA offers members the Distributor Productivity Report, an industry-wide research effort designed to serve as an actionable tool for firms to evaluate their company’s operating results in order to pinpoint strengths, weaknesses and improvement opportunities. The 2013 Distributor Productivity Report survey was completed this year. Stay turned for the new report available this fall. Please contact Membership and Meetings Assistant Maggie Graham at [email protected] with any questions. Hiring Solutions NBWA partner Global HR Research is a leader in integrated hiring, pre-employment screening and substance abuse testing technology, in addition to mitigating overall risk. Global HR Research offers NBWA members with discounted pricing to help distributors hire the best employees, while adhering to the highest security standards in the industry maintained through the most advanced, secure technology practices available. Global HR Research also offers complimentary webinars highlighting all aspects of hiring solutions for NBWA members. Compensation and Benefits Study The Compensation and Benefits Study allows NBWA members to easily compare their compensation levels and benefits policies with similar distributors. The study, published every Energy Buyers Program The Affiliated Power Purchasers International (APPI) Saving Solutions Program continues to assist beer distributors with identifying and implementing business options that reduce energy and utility costs. To learn more, please contact APPI at (800) 520-6685 or [email protected]. NBWA Continues to Expand Member Insurance Program Offerings New BevCap Health Program Provides High-Value Benefits Solution for Employers T he Casualty Insurance Program underwritten by Sparta Insurance exclusively for NBWA members continues to grow and flourish with new members joining the program. NBWA Insurance Program provider BevCap Management hosted its Sixth Annual Safety Summit in Orlando, Florida, which was open to NBWA members. More than 15 safety and loss control professionals presented on topics ranging from distracted driving to health care and Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspections. NBWA members also will be invited to attend the BevCap Best Practices Workshop to be held in April 2014. “Though we were not customers of BevCap when we started attending the annual safety summit, we came away with so many safety innovations that we entered into a business relationship with Lance and his team at BevCap,” said Jack Gant of Kramer Beverage Co. in New Jersey. “We expect to continue our relationship for years to come and are excited about being on the forefront of creating and maintain a safe work environment for all of our employees.” With the success of the Casualty Insurance Program and the current health insurance climate, NBWA is pleased to announce the addition of BevCap Health as an option for NBWA members. BevCap Health is a member-driven strategy to provide a high-value, transparent health benefits solution for employers based on the desire to gain better control and reduce the costs associated with employee health care benefits, one of the largest expenditures of your business. BevCap Health is an opportunity for employers to aggregate, share best practices, mitigate risk and bend the trend to reduce the long-term cost of healthcare benefits. BevCap Health is a selffunded health plan with group risk sharing. Its benefits strategy allows members to achieve the transition to individual employer self-funded health plans, if not already self-funded. Once self-funded, members implement separate and distinct health plan designs, yet administer the plans as a group – leveraging the buying power of economies of scale. This precise, data-driven health benefit and risk management solution would not otherwise be available to you on an individual plan basis. The standard market simply does not provide for this high value strategy. BevCap’s strategy is designed to correct the deficiencies driving dramatic year-over-year cost increases in the fully-insured market and to help optimize current self-funded plans. These leading tools were previously only available for the largest employers who could afford to opt out of the fully-insured marketplace by adopting a self-funded health plan. Without self-funding, employers have few other options that can deliver this opportunity to bend the trend and gain control of your long-term risk financing. “The BevCap Group Health program provides Andrews with a toolbox of individual benefits that will not only allow us to actively manage claims costs but also provide the highest degree of wellness Attendees learn from safety and loss control professionals at BevCap’s Sixth Annual Safety Summit. for our employees,” said John Coy of Andrews Distributing Co. in Texas. Steven Busch of Krey Distributing Co. in Missouri added, “We are happy to be part of a health care captive that provides control and transparency when it comes to health insurance. The BevCap Health Captive allows us to provide our employees with excellent health insurance at an affordable price and mitigate health insurance cost increases.” For more information on NBWA Insurance Program offerings and the upcoming BevCap Best Practices Workshop, stop by Booth #245 in the Forum Ballroom during the Trade Show on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Mark your calendars for NBWA’s 2014 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., April 27-30, 2014. Be a part of NBWA’s 77th Annual Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2014!