Los Angeles, Calif. — The Los Angeles County Brewers Guild (LABG) is proud to announce the hiring of Frances Michelle Lopez as the first Executive Director of the nearly three year old organization.
“Franny” Lopez brings nearly a decade of marketing, public relations, and event planning experience to the new staff position, and is well known in the Los Angeles craft beer community. In addition to five years working in the craft beer industry as a social media marketing specialist and national beer writer for The Full Pint, Lopez has been actively involved with the LABG’s marketing committee since its 2014 inception.
Lopez has also served as a key member of the L.A. Beer Week Events Committee, where she helped make the annual Los Angeles Beer Week a vibrant celebration of the thriving craft beer culture in Los Angeles.
“Frances has no equals when it comes to local industry knowledge, contacts, and relationships,” LABG President and El Segundo Brewing Company Owner and Brewer Rob Croxall said. “The quality of her work over the past couple of years promoting our guild has been exceptional.”
The LABG was formally organized in January, 2013 to promote and protect the growing number of craft breweries in the county, and to provide a support with the often daunting bureaucratic and regulatory challenges that the industry faces in Los Angeles. The Guild’s mission also encompasses education and advocacy aimed at the growing number of devoted craft beer drinkers in the region.
“It’s a very exciting time to be a beer lover in Los Angeles and I couldn’t be more thrilled to continue my involvement with the LABG in a role that not only supports L.A. brewers, but the community at large,” Lopez says adding: “I am captivated by the city’s dedication to the spirit of unity, innovation, and collaboration.”
The new Executive Director position is the first full time staff position for the Guild and was proposed by the Board of Directors to provide increased support for its membership and new initiatives that will increase the visibility of Los Angeles brewers on both a local and national level. Lopez will be responsible for all marketing and public relations efforts, implementing membership programming and consumer engagement opportunities, and fostering craft beer culture in L.A. through education and promotion of the county’s 35 craft breweries and counting.
“Frances has been an integral part of the craft beer community for many years and we could not have found a better fit for the guild’s leadership,” LABG Vice President and Smog City Brewing Proprietor Laurie Porter said. “Her passion and commitment to educating and growing craft beer in L.A. will serve as the cornerstone for the LABG and the future of L.A. beer.”