| This month, ACSA announced the election of five new members to our Board of Directors, along with a new slate of officers.
Kelly Woodcock of Westward Whiskey (OR) was elected President of the Board of Directors. Amber Pollock of Backwards Distilling Co. (WY) was elected Vice President and Jeff Kanof of Copperworks Distilling Co. (WA) will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.
The newly elected Board Members include:
- Tom Bard of The Bard Distillery (KY)
- Greg Eidam of Sugarlands Distilling Co. (TN)
- Adam Polonski of Lost Lantern Whiskey (VT)
- Phil Steger of Brother Justus Whiskey Co. (MN)
- Olivia Stewart of Oxbow Rum Distillery (LA)
Together, Woodcock, Pollock and Kanof and the current and newly-appointed Board of Directors will work with CEO Margie A.S. Lehrman to address the key issues facing the craft distilling industry, including the organization’s continued push for modern market access. Woodcock has served on the Board since 2022, and as Vice President since 2023. Pollock and Kanof have served on the Board since 2018.
“It is a tremendous honor to be leading the ACSA Board of Directors as president, and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” said Woodcock. “As we usher in ACSA’s second decade as a leading industry trade association, I look forward to serving our growing craft spirits community and building on the organization’s remarkable accomplishments thus far. We’ve certainly got our work cut out for us, but I’m excited to be working alongside such an esteemed group of fellow Board Members to make great things happen for our vibrant industry.”
Lehrman added, “While industry growth continues to climb, albeit slowly, we are also seeing distillery closures and struggles to remain financially secure and profitable. ACSA remains focused on critical issues to ensure our small business manufacturers, who are intricately connected to their local hospitality and agricultural communities, will keep pace with modern society. That includes our efforts to diversify the spirits industry through efforts in the STEPUP Foundation, which executes an immersive internship program to change the face of the drinks industry, reflecting the variety of the consumers who enjoy our innovative products. Our 2024 Board of Directors is proof that our industry continues to advance in the right direction.”
Following these elections, the ACSA Board of Directors will also be appointing leadership to its governing committees. Those committees include Membership, Ethics, Convention, Education, Elections, Safety, ACSA PAC, Mentorship, Judging, Government Affairs, State Guilds, Technology, Finance, Market Access and Development.
ACSA also extends our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the following Board Members whose terms expired:
- Gina Holman of J. Carver Distillery (MN)
- Colin Keegan of Santa Fe Spirits (NM)
- Jessica J. Lemmon of Cart/Horse Distilling (PA)
- Tom Potter New York Distilling Co. (NY)
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