Doors Open: Registration, Beers & Networking

Panel I: Exploring Experiential Marketing Strategies

• Adam Lambert

  , Chief Revenue Officer, BrewDog USA

  

  Adam Lambert

  Chief Revenue Officer, BrewDog USA

  Adam Lambert is the chief revenue officer at BrewDog USA. Throughout his 23-year career, Adam has learned just about every angle of the beverage industry, starting out as a grocery store liquor clerk to his current role at BrewDog. Prior to joining BrewDog, Adam served for two years as the COO for Storied Craft Breweries, participating and evaluating M&A in all beverage categories. Previous roles include vice president of Sales for Virtue Cider -- part of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s High End group -- VP of Sales for New Holland Brewery and Distillery, seven years’ as vice president of sales for Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, and six years as national sales and marketing manager for Rogue Ales. Past experiences include owning a wine distribution and brokerage company, managing the west coast as a brewery brand manager for SLO Brewing Company, and sales rep for Wine Warehouse. Adam has been a member of the Independent Council on 3-Tier Dynamics and long serving member of the Brewers Association Export Development Committee. He has been a featured presenter at the Craft Brewers Conference, Brewbound Live and Brew Talks events, Beverage Trade Network, and the Bar and Night Club Show. Adam is a proud graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

• Sam Calagione

  , CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

  

  Sam Calagione

  CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

  Sam Calagione is the founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware and Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He also owns the Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware. Sam is a 2016 James Beard Award recipient was named one of Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business. The Wall Street Journal has called Sam "a Pioneer of bizarre brews."

• Todd Ahsmann

  , President, Goose Island Beer Company

  

  Todd Ahsmann

  President, Goose Island Beer Company

  Todd is the president of Goose Island Beer Company, a Chicago-based brewery owned by Anheuser-Busch. He fell in love with craft beer culture in 1988 as a bartender at Goose Island’s Chicago brewpub. From there, he launched a 20-year career in music marketing, but beer was always his first passion; he never stopped offering Goose Island his help on the side (in exchange for beer, of course). Todd’s marketing career took off; he served as an executive for several of the biggest labels, working with artists from Pitbull to the Ramones, Beyonce to Blur. He developed a sixth sense for what people want to buy, and a penchant for disruptive marketing. As a bonus, he also worked mostly on the road, which allowed him to visit new breweries across the country just as craft brewing began to take off. Soon, he was back in the business, serving as Goose Island’s Consumer Experience Director. There he was responsible for the brewery’s long-term marketing strategy, leading to a national and finally, international footprint for Goose Island, all the while maintaining its authentic identity. After a two year stint running the Blue Point Brewery in New York, Todd returned home to Chicago, this time as the President of Goose Island. He’s more excited than ever to bring Goose Island into the future and give Chicago, and the rest of the world, the damn fine beer it deserves.

• Adam Lambert, Chief Revenue Officer, BrewDog USA
• Sam Calagione, CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Todd Ahsmann, President, Goose Island Beer Company

Beers & Networking

Panel Discussion II: State of the Industry and Legislative Affairs

• Craig Purser

  , CEO, National Beer Wholesalers Association

  

  Craig Purser

  CEO, National Beer Wholesalers Association

  Craig Purser serves as the leading advocate for America’s more than 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributors. In this role, Purser is responsible for the strategic development and tactical execution of the association’s mission in the areas of government, public, industry and political affairs. He has led the charge to strengthen the three-tier system of beer distribution and state-based alcohol regulation. During his tenure at NBWA, Purser has been a consensus builder among industry partners, control advocates, public health activists and elected leaders. Under Purser’s leadership, NBWA worked with a wide variety of stakeholders to help Congress pass the Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act. This meaningful legislation emphasizes the primary responsibility of the states to regulate alcohol as afforded them by the 21st Amendment, addresses health and safety issues related to underage drinking and authorizes grants to support innovative efforts. A veteran of Capitol Hill and numerous political campaigns, Purser served on the staff of former U.S. Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Don Nickles (OK) and managed the successful election of U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (OK). In 2009 and 2011, Purser was recognized by the leading association publication CEO Update as a Top Association CEO. A native of Oklahoma, Purser is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife, Gretchen, reside in Alexandria, Virginia, with their three children.

• Paul Gatza

  , Senior VP, Brewers Association

  

  Paul Gatza

  Senior VP, Brewers Association

  Paul Gatza is the senior vice president of the professional division of the Brewers Association (BA), a not-for-profit trade association whose purpose is to promote and protect American craft brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. Paul is a member of the association’s Taprooms, Technical, Market Development, PR & Marketing and Government Affairs Committees. Paul is a key leader in the development of the independent craft brewer seal and the “That’s Independence You’re Tasting” marketing campaign. Paul’s origin in the beer community started when he took up homebrewing in 1990. He worked on the bottling line at Boulder Beer and would sneak over to the brewhouse when opportunity allowed. He owned a pair of homebrew supply shops in Boulder and Longmont, Colorado in the 1990s. He served as director of the American Homebrewers Association for 7 years and is in his 18th year leading the professional side of the BA’s work. Paul is ranked as a National Beer Judge by the Beer Judge Certification Program. Paul is also a former judge director of both the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, before moving to the judge panels for these elite competitions. He lives at 7,200 feet in Sunshine, Colorado with his wife, daughter, cat, snowshoes, hot tub, bears, and mountain lions.

• Jim McGreevy

  , CEO, Beer Institute

  

  Jim McGreevy

  CEO, Beer Institute

  A 20-year veteran of policy and political work, Jim McGreevy serves as president and chief executive officer of the Beer Institute, the national trade association that represents America’s brewers, beer importers and supply-chain partners – a $350 billion industry that supports more than 2.2 million American jobs. As the national voice for the industry, Jim advocates on policy matters involving Congress, state legislatures, courts and regulatory agencies. He also serves as the official spokesman to the media and elsewhere on matters affecting the beer industry. Before joining the Beer Institute, Jim served as senior vice president for government affairs at the American Beverage Association (ABA). Jim joined ABA in November 2005 as its vice president for state and local affairs. Prior to ABA, Jim was a senior associate at the Larkin Hoffman Law Firm in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he represented client interests before the Minnesota Legislature and administrative agencies. Jim was honored by CEO Update as a 2014 Top Association Lobbyist. Jim received a B.A. from Seton Hall University and a J.D. from the University of Bridgeport School of Law, and he currently serves as a member of the Board of Overseers for the Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy and International Relations. He was also a Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs from 2003-2004. Jim lives in the District of Columbia with his wife, Rachel, and daughter, Lizzy.

• Craig Purser, CEO, National Beer Wholesalers Association
• Paul Gatza, Senior VP, Brewers Association
• Jim McGreevy, CEO, Beer Institute

Beers & Networking