KENT, Wash. — Columbia Distributing is saddened to announce today that its Senior Vice President of Revenue Management and Business Support, Scott DeMartine, died suddenly on Thursday, July 5.
In a memo to the company Thursday afternoon, President and CEO Chris Steffanci said, “Scott was an incredibly talented co-worker who added so much value to our business, but as many of you know, he was also one of my closest friends. Scott was one of the greatest beer men this industry will ever know. There is nothing Scott wouldn’t do for anyone, whether he knew you or not. It is with a heavy heart that we say an early goodbye to such a special person, loyal friend and committed co-worker.”
Steffanci added, “With Scott, one thing always mattered more than anything to him….family. He leaves behind two amazing children, Austin and Hayley, who he loved and admired more than anything in this world. Scott would just gush whenever he had a chance to mention their names. Scott’s other family was Columbia Distributing and all of us. He cared so deeply for this organization and always wanted us to be great.”
Scott DeMartine, age 56, joined Columbia Distributing in 2007. As SVP, Revenue Management and Business Support, Scott led Columbia’s POS, Corporate Communications, Inside Sales and Pricing Departments. Prior to Columbia, Scott spent eight years with The HEINEKEN Company, the first three as Country Manager based in Argentina, and later state-side as General Manager and President of HEINEKEN’s Star Brand Imports division.
For the past two years Scott sat on the Board of Directors for the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) as a representative of distributorships across the entire state of Washington.
About Columbia Distributing
Since 1935, Columbia Distributing has helped build some of the best known brands in the beverage business. Today Columbia Distributing and its 3,500+ employees service over 20,000 retail customers covering more than 135,000 square miles in Oregon, Washington and California.Columbia’s success is based on the deep-rooted tradition of delivering quality products, timely service and a genuine concern for customers’ needs. This is achieved by providing ongoing, sustainable opportunities and growth for its employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities. For more information on Columbia Distributing, please visit www.coldist.com.