Dawson Hobbs to Lead Reorganized Government Affairs Team
Wine & Spirits Wholesaler of America (WSWA) President and CEO Craig Wolf today announced a reorganized government affairs team including internal promotions, a new head federal lobbyist, and new department leadership. Association veteran Dawson Hobbs will now serve as Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, overseeing a department of ten.
In his new position, Hobbs will maximize the department’s efficiency, expand its capabilities, set strategic goals in coordination with the association’s communications and regulatory teams, and implement new structural and organizational programs to best serve the association’s members.
Hobbs joined the association in 2006 as Vice President, State Affairs and has led the growth of the association’s state advocacy efforts. The state affairs team was recently expanded at the direction of the association’s Board of Directors to increase proactive advocacy on behalf of wholesalers across the country.
In his tenure at WSWA, Dawson has testified before legislative and regulatory bodies in dozens of states and has established extensive relationships with governors, attorneys general, alcohol regulators and industry officials around the country.
A native of Texas, and a 1997 graduate of Texas A&M University, Hobbs joined WSWA in 2006 after working for eight years in positions of increasing responsibility at the National Rifle Association.
“Dawson’s promotion reflects the association leadership’s confidence in his strategic vision, policy skills, and management abilities. Working with our newly-promoted top lobbyist and an expanded federal affairs team, Dawson will help guide the association through a time of challenge and opportunity,” said WSWA President and CEO Craig Wolf.
WSWA is the national trade association representing the wholesale tier of the wine and spirits industry, dedicated to advancing the interests and independence of wholesalers, distributors and brokers of wine and spirits. Founded in 1943, WSWA has 366 member companies in 50 states and the District of Columbia and its members distribute more than 80 percent of all wine and spirits sold at wholesale in the United States. More information is available at www.wswa.org.