We’re pleased to share that House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-6) will be joining us to share his outlook on today’s political environment.

Congressman Emmer served as Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 116th and 117th Congresses, and currently sits on the House Financial Services Committee.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33) will be joining the 2024 Legislative Conference to share his perspectives on issues important to distributors.

Aguilar is a lifelong resident of the region who started his first job at the age of twelve, working with his grandfather at the San Bernardino County Courthouse cafeteria. He went on to serve as mayor of Redlands before being elected to Congress in 2014.

Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) will be joining our Next Generation and Emerging Leaders Lunch.

Arrington currently serves as Chairman of the House Budget Committee and on the Committee of Ways and Means. You won’t want to miss his take on the current political landscape in D.C. and across the country.

Reid Wilson is the founder, chief executive, and editor in chief of Pluribus News, the nation’s only independent news outlet covering state-level politics and policy. He is an expert in spotting political trends as they develop and forecasting election results long before the ballots are counted.

Known for staying ahead of the news through his access to top newsmakers, Wilson is a trusted staple of the political scene. Wilson previously covered politics for The Hill and the Washington Post, and he’s the former editor-in-chief of National Journal’s The Hotline. His work has appeared in outlets like The New York Times, RealClearPolitics, Atlantic Monthly, New Republic, and other major news networks, and his expertise is frequently also sought-after by MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, and radio shows across the nation. He is also the Amazon best-selling author of Epidemic: Ebola and the Global Scramble to Prevent the Next Killer Outbreak. 

Brian Crawford joined the Beer Institute as its president and CEO in 2022. Before joining the Beer Institute, Brian served as executive vice president of government affairs for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, where he led the association’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with key administration policymakers and stakeholders on priority issues, including short-term rentals, workforce career development and technology and distribution. He also oversaw the lodging industry’s largest political action committee, HotelPAC, ensuring that the association’s political voice was strong and united by investing in federal candidates who support the industry.

Before working at AHLA, Brian spent years in the U.S. House of Representatives, having served five as chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Tom Rooney (FL-17). He previously served as the deputy chief of staff for Florida Congressman Ric Keller (FL-08) and held senior roles in other national trade associations.

Bob Pease is president and CEO of the Brewers Association, the national trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers. In his role, Pease is responsible for the strategic development and tactical execution of the association’s mission in the areas of membership development, events, media relations, and government affairs. He has led the charge to strengthen the small brewer’s voice in Washington, D.C.

John Bodnovich is Executive Director of American Beverage Licensees (ABL) and a leading advocate for America’s beer, wine and spirits retailers. He works closely with state and regional affiliates representing on- and off-premise beverage licensee members on matters of concern to beverage alcohol retailers. His work includes managing ABL federal government affairs portfolio, grassroots advocacy, and strategic communication efforts between ABL and its affiliates. During his time with ABL, John has led a number of association initiatives including membership and responsibility campaigns, and public awareness efforts addressing alcohol issues. John holds a B.A. in Government & International Relations from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University.

Justin Kissinger is the President and CEO of the World Brewing Alliance (WBA). Justin has extensive experience as a senior leader at the intersection of business, government and international affairs, including work at Heineken and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Justin holds a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Scranton. He has lived in the United States, Honduras and the Netherlands, and speaks English and Spanish.