2025 Annual Membership Forum

Board of Directors, plus invited guests, are encouraged to join WSWA Staff for a networking reception and dinner before the Forum kicks off on Thursday with lunch.  

Open to Board of Directors members only.

During this session, Board of Directors will hear updates on the strategic plan and staff updates on key issues WSWA and the industry are focused on. Items discussed during this meeting will be presented to Forum attendees on Thursday and Friday. 

Join us for an exclusive SipSource briefing led by veteran analyst Dale Stratton. Not only will you receive the latest insights on core data and trends, but you'll also be among the first to access the SipSource forecasting report. This report offers a precise forecast of spirits performance for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025, giving you a unique strategic advantage.

Speakers:

• Dawson Hobbs, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, WSWA
• Lacey Sadoff, President, Badger Liquor Co., Inc.
• Chad Stone, Vice President, Business Transformation & New Frontiers, Breakthru Beverage Group
• Annie Gallagher, President, Gallagher Consulting Group
• Melissa Jackson,  Vice President, Gallagher Consulting Group
  Vice President, Business Transformation & New Frontiers

Jan 2022 to Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

All attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the Strategic Planning co-chairs and consultants about the Strategic Planning process that has occurred up to that point and learn about the findings. This will be the plan provided to WSWA to guide association decisions for the next 3 years. All members are encouraged to actively provide feedback during this session.

Finance & Audit: During this meeting the Finance & Audit Committee will review the current financial reports. Closed meeting for Finance & Audit Committee members only.

CLD Committee: Open to Council for Leadership Development (CLD) Committee and any Forum members who would like to join an hour-long discussion on plans for 2025 CLD. Agenda items will include agenda topics, speakers and potential sponsors for future conferences.  

WSWA Educational Foundation Board: WSWA Educational Foundation Board will meet to discuss the 2024 college scholarship program results and future fundraising goals. The annual scholarship program offers 50 scholarships to wholesaler member employees children applying for college and four additional scholarships focused on education in the hospitality industry. This is a closed meeting for Foundation Board members only. 

Enjoy breakfast and conversations with fellow executives from the wholesale tier around the country. No programming will take place during breakfast. 

Speakers:

• Ryan Fox, National Director Sales Recruiting, GALLO
• Amy Kickham, Vice President Organizational Effectiveness, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
• Stephanie Lyons, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

Join distributor leadership and Ryan Fox, Director of Sales Recruiting at Gallo, for a fireside chat on the challenges and strategies of recruiting, and, more importantly, retaining, the next generation of talent within our industry.

Speaker: Michael Dominguez, President and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)

What are the current beverage alcohol trends seen by hotel bars and restaurants domestically and internationally? WSWA’s immediate past Chair and MS Walker President and CEO Doug Shaw and Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) President and CEO Michael Dominguez will discuss the hospitality industry’s forward-thinking approach to meet sales and consumer demands, how to adapt to business challenges and what success looks like for the luxury tier and beyond.