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The American Beverage Licensees (ABL) will present Craig Wolf, President and CEO of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), with its 2O13 ABL Top Shelf Award at the ABL Annual Conference on June 1O in Alexandria, Virginia.  Wolf has been WSWA’s President and CEO since 2OO6.  He was... Read More

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky and US Sailing have named Donald Backe of Annapolis, Maryland, as the winner of the Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Award.  Backe was one of six “unsung hero” finalists of people who make significant contributions to their local sailing community.  Backe created the Chesapeake Region... Read More

  Ted O’Leary III AUGUST 1947 ~- JANUARY 2O13 In honor of one of the best beermenwho’s memory we will cherishfor many years to come.Merrimack Valley Distributing Company FamilyGo Irish!    

LOUIS A. FERREIRA 88 Longtime Horizon Beverage employee Louis A. Ferreira passed away January 29 at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.  A member of the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, he served overseas in Germany and Central Europe.  Upon his return he studied accounting at American International College –... Read More

GREG PIERCE has been named Vice President of Sales.  He he will be responsible for growing sales volume in current markets and opening new market areas for the Ivanabitch vodka, gin and brandy lines. Additionally, he will supervise and expand the existing national sales force.  Pierce most recently served as... Read More

BEVERLY STEVENS is retiring as Assistant to the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Package Stores Association.  She has been with the association for 2O years – with the last 18 years spent working with Executive Director Frank Anzalotti.  ROBYN SEYMOUR has been hired as the new Assistant to the Executive... Read More

ANDY GIBSON has been named Chief Marketing Officer of Bacardi and President of Bacardi Global Brands.  In these roles Gibson will be responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of Bacardi’s portfolio of spirits brands. He also will serve as a member of the Bacardi Leadership Team.  Most recently,... Read More

ADAM HARRIS has been promoted to the position of Bourbon Ambassador, North America.  In his new role, he will travel throughout the US and help educate and showcase the handcrafted aspect of Beam’s bourbons.  Harris served as Beam’s Distillery Specialist in Austin, Texas, and prior to that held the position... Read More

MEGAN KIRKPATRICK has been hired as Director of Communications and CHRISTINA HARTMAN has been hired as Senior Director of Beer Policy and External Affairs.  The trade association also promoted veteran staffer SUSAN HANEY to Senior Director of Industry Affairs and added SANDRA CASTRO to manage administrative duties. 

The owner of Stolichnaya vodka has appointed JOHN ESPOSITO as President of its US operations.  This follows SPI’s decision to establish its own importing company in the United States and manage its portfolio of brands directly, starting January 1, 2O14.  In his new role, Esposito will be setting up an... Read More