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The not-for-profit trade association has announced the retirement of president and CEO BOB PEASE. After 32 years with the Brewers Association, Pease will step down in early 2025 once his successor is in place. Pease joined the Brewers Association in 1993 as a customer service manager and worked his way... Read More

ROBERT GALLO, 89 The former co-president of Gallo and a Modesto philanthropist passed away on June 22 at the age of 89 years old. Robert Gallo oversaw the expansion of the company’s 50/50 give back program, which sets aside an acre of property for every acre planted in the North... Read More

MICHAEL MCHENRY, 58 Colonial Wholesale Beverage General Manager Michael McHenry passed away on June 7 after a brief battle with cancer. Born in Fall River, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and an MBA from Johnson & Wales University. Michael began his career at Fall River Gas Company... Read More

The drinks company has promoted DIANE NGUYEN to the position of chief people, places and communications officer. She will take over for KIRSTEN HAWLEY who is retiring. Nguyen is currently the senior vice-president, human resources director, global commercial and corporate teams. In her new role, Nguyen will make and implement... Read More

CLAUDIA SCHUBERT, president and chief operating officer at Diageo North America, will step from her position in September after 22 years with the company and will transition to corporate board service and advisory work. Claudia joined Diageo in 2002 as part of its wine business in California, before moving to... Read More

The Board of Directors for DISCUS has elected DAN LEESE, Hotaling & Co. President & CEO, as chair of the national trade association. Leese brings to the role of chair more than 40 years in the beverage alcohol industry. Prior to joining Hotaling & Co., he served as CEO and... Read More

THE UNITED STATES BARTENDERS’ GUILD (USBG) Presents World Class Sponsored By Diageo crowned JONATHAN STANYARD of Seattle, Washington as the 2024 U.S. Bartender of the Year in its twelfth season. Hosted in Denver, Colorado, Stanyard was named champion following three days and five bartending challenges and craft cocktail showmanship. The... Read More

HARVEY R. CHAPLIN, 95 Harvey R. Chaplin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits passed away on June 9 at the age 95. He also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shaw-Ross International Importers, Inc. and served on the WSWA Board of Directors for... Read More

John Franzia, the co-founder of one of the largest wine companies in the world, died peacefully in his Modesto home on March 25. His legacy focused on high-quality wines at an affordable rate for buyers. In 1973, John co-founded Bronco Wine Co. with his cousins, Fred T. and Joseph S. Franzia,... Read More

AGATHE BOINOT has been appointed cellar master of D’Ussé Cognac which is co-owned by Bacardi and Jay-Z. She will take over for Michel Casavecchia’s following his recent retirement. The appointment makes her the youngest woman to hold the cellar master position of the major houses in Cognac. Boinot is the... Read More