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.
2025 Annual Membership Forum
2025 Annual Membership Forum
WSWA Membership Forum for Owners, CEOs and Executives!
WSWA’s Annual Membership Forum is the event for gaining business intelligence, networking with other executives in the wholesale tier and providing valuable input on critical issues and decisions.
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Register Now!
Who should attend? WSWA Board of Directors, WSWA Wholesaler Member Company Owners, CEOs and Top Executives.
Attendees
WSWA Members: $695
Hotel Room Rate (per night): $329 + taxes per night
Please note you will be prompted to reserve your hotel accommodations in our room block when you register for this meeting. The hotel deadline is August 19, 2025.
The Forum Speakers
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Francis Creighton
President & CEO, WSWA
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Michael Dominguez
President and CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)
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Ryan Fox
National Director Sales Recruiting, GALLO
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Annie Gallagher
President, Gallagher Consulting Group
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Jake Hegeman
Senior Vice President, Legal & Regulatory, General Counsel, WSWA
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Dawson Hobbs
Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, WSWA
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Melissa Jackson
Vice President, Gallagher Consulting Group
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Robert Lipman
Chairman & CEO, RSL Holdings
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Stephanie Lyons
Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits
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Dina Opici
President, Opici Family Distributing, Incoming Chair of WSWA Board
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Julie Rousseau
Executive Director, Wealth Advisor, Atwood Group
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Lacey Sadoff
President, Badger Liquor Co., Inc.
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Doug Shaw
President, M.S. Walker, Inc., Chairman of WSWA Board
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Cutter Smith
President, Eder Bros., Inc.
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Chad Stone
Vice President Business Transformations & New Frontiers Breakthru Beverage Group
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Dale Stratton
Analyst, SipSource
Agenda
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Board of Directors Reception & Dinner with WSWA Staff
Off-site Location
Closed Session
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Breakfast & Board of Directors Meeting
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.
Rotisserie II Room
Closed Session
Lunch
Crescent Dining Room
SipSource Insights: Market Changes and Predictions for OND and Beyond
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.
Crescent Dining Room
SipSource Business Intelligence and Strategic Application Roundtables
In these roundtables, Dale Stratton will guide discussions on how to leverage this data to strengthen industry relations, optimize supplier negotiations, set goals, and refine your sales and marketing strategies. These roundtables are specifically designed to empower you and your teams with the best data, analysis, and business intelligence—exclusively powered by SipSource.
In uncertain times, this session will equip you with the insights and strategies to navigate any challenges ahead.
Crescent Dining Room
Planning for the Future: What’s Next for WSWA and the Industry at Large
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.
Gourmet Room
Committee Breakouts: Large Enterprise Council Meeting & Small Enterprise Council Meeting
Various Rooms
Committee Breakouts: Foundation, CLD, and Finance
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.
Various Rooms
WSWA Educational Foundation Networking Reception and Dinner
All Forum Attendees are invited to attend the reception and dinner where we will hear from Robert Lipman, Chair of the WSWA Educational Foundation and learn about the benefits the foundation provides wholesaler member employee children.
Joining Robert will be WSWA Chair Dina Opici, President, Opici Family Distributing, to give her perspective on elevating the Foundation within her company and her successful approach to incorporating employees to support it.
Rotisserie I Room
Friday, September 13, 2024
Breakfast & Networking
Enjoy breakfast and conversations with fellow executives from the wholesale tier around the country. No programming will take place during breakfast.
Crescent Dining Room
WSWA Investment Review & State of the Financial Market
Speakers:
- Julie Rousseau, Executive Director, Wealth Advisor, Atwood Group
- Cutter Smith, President, Eder Bros., Inc.
- Francis Creighton, President & CEO, WSWA
As we all know, the global market is always changing. As business owners and executives, investing intelligently is crucial to remain a successful, key player in the industry. Join Atwood Group's Julie Rousseau, WSWA Board of Director's Treasurer Cutter Smith and WSWA's Francis Creighton for an in depth and transparent discussion around the association's portfolio of investments. Attendees will walk away with clarity and confidence in how WSWA's investments are being managed and what the expectations are for future business decisions, as well as a comprehensive insight into the global market to help make smart business decisions.
Crescent Dining Room
Build a Better Team: Understanding Gen Z and Adapting for Retention
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.
Gourmet Room
Policy Priorities: What’s on the Horizon and How to Prepare with the Public Policy Committee
Speakers:
- Francis Creighton, President & CEO, WSWA
- Jake Hegeman, Senior Vice President, Legal & Regulatory, General Counsel, WSWA
- Dawson Hobbs, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, WSWA
This session will recap the work of WSWA’s Public Policy Committee and provide members the opportunity to ask questions about and provide input on WSWA’s advocacy efforts. WSWA staff will also provide updates on our policy priorities including:
- Federal Tax Issues
- Cannabis and Intoxicating Hemp
- E-Commerce State Legislative Challenges
Gourmet Room
Lunch & Closing Session with ALHI President and CEO
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.
Crescent Dining Room
Updates
More information coming soon!
