The leader of the nation’s largest state organization representing craft brewers is retiring. Tom McCormick, the executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA), announced today his retirement from the organization.
“The decision to retire is not at all sudden and has been thoughtfully planned with the CCBA board of directors for over a year,” McCormick told CCBA members in a message shared today. “It is difficult to leave in these challenging times, but the efforts of this association to provide relief for our members will not cease. The board is finalizing the hire of a new executive director who will continue to lead the association forward into a new era.”
Why It Matters: The state of California is home to more small craft breweries than any other state, with more than 1,000 craft breweries in operation. In 2018, the state’s breweries supported more than 61,335 jobs and contributed more than $9 billion to the state’s economy, according to the CCBA’s website.
Legacy: McCormick, a 40-year industry veteran became executive director of the CCBA in 2005. McCormick helped build the CCBA into a powerhouse with influence at the statehouse, achieving regulatory reforms while also beating back challenges to privileges afforded to the state’s brewers, including defeating attempts to impose strict franchise laws on the state’s craft brewers.
“The political dynamics among the alcohol beverage stakeholders in California has changed dramatically in the last decade,” McCormick said in a statement. “Over those years, the CCBA has become and will continue to be a strong and unified voice for our members at the state Capitol.”
McCormick attempted to start his beer career in 1982 at a microbrewery that never launched. He went on to start McCormick Beverage Company, a craft-only beer wholesaler serving the Sacramento and Lake Tahoe markets, in 1984.
A decade later, he sold the distributorship and started a craft beer educational seminar for wholesalers of leading brands. He went on to serve as an educator, teaching at classes at the American Brewers Guild, UC Davis Extension and consulting for craft breweries.
McCormick co-founded Wolaver’s Organic Ales in 1997, and went on to become editor of BeerWeek, an online industry newsletter, and also helped launch ProBrewer.com.
The Future: The CCBA is expected to name McCormick’s successor in early December.
Count CCBA associate executive director Leia Ostermann Bailey among the possible successors to McCormick. Ostermann Bailey joined the CCBA in January 2016 as the organization’s first managing director, bringing with her a background in public relations and communications. She is currently responsible for day-to-day project management, setting the organization’s communication and strategy and building membership programs.
Should the CCBA decide to look outside of its ranks, several experienced craft beer professionals had their careers interrupted by the pandemic. Among them, former Brewers Association state brewers guilds manager Acacia Coast.
As for McCormick, he plans to stay active within the beer industry.
Up Next: The CCBA’s annual winter conference is taking place virtually on December 7 and 8. Register for the summit here.
Rewind: McCormick appeared on an edition of Brewbound Frontlines earlier this year with the state guild leaders from Illinois and New York, as well as the Brewers Association’s Paul Gatza, discussing their efforts during the pandemic.