ALEXANDRIA, VA – The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) continued with Day Two of its 72nd Annual Convention & Trade Show at its new location, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mitch Watkins, President of Watkins Distributing, Sales and Service in Twin Falls, Idaho, assumed the position of 2009-2010 NBWA Chairman of the Board. Watkins shared his own family’s history in the beer business as an example of the special nature of the industry, which boasts family-owned and operated businesses that have survived from generation to generation while only one-third of other family-owned businesses survive the transition from the first to the second generation.
“Most of you live right down the road – just minutes away – from your warehouse and your employees,” Watkins told the group. “You also probably grew up in that same community. That’s why we care so much about the 95,000 hardworking men and women who are so loyal to their beer distribution jobs, and that is why we care so deeply about responsibility programs – to keep our neighbors and our local streets safe.”
Jim Koch, Brewer and Founder of Boston Beer Company, talked about the important role beer distributors play for America’s brewers and how they enabled the growth of his business. “When I started Sam Adams I wasn’t fortunate enough to be able to get any distributors who would carry my beer, so I had to become a distributor myself,” Koch said. “Being a distributor is very hard work and I never will forget when I got my first distributor six months after I started the company.”
Marc Carmichael, President of the Indiana Beverage Alliance, moderated the panel “Because Alcohol is Different.” He asked three advocates for effective public policy and public safety to share their insights and perspectives about the important role of state-based alcohol regulation. Pamela A. Erickson, former Oregon alcohol regulator and author of the white paper, “The Dangers of Alcohol Deregulation: The United Kingdom Experience;” Chuck Hurley, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving; and James M. Petro, former Ohio attorney general, discussed how to assist policymakers and the public in striking the proper balance between competition and the effective regulation of alcohol.
Jason Jennings, an authority on business leadership and productivity, enlightened the crowd by sharing his secrets to success and insights gleaned from researching more than 72,000 companies around the world. He described the best practices of the fastest-growing companies, the most productive companies and the greatest leaders. “The people who lead the nation’s most successful companies see themselves as stewards,” Jennings said.
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The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America’s 2,850 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution.