ALEXANDRIA, VA — The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) is proud to announce the Board of Directors officers for the 2011-2012 term. Steve Lytle of Columbia Distributing Co. in Portland, Oregon, will take the helm as Chairman of the Board. He assumed the position and its responsibilities during NBWA’s 74th Annual Convention and Trade Show held October 16-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Other offers of NBWA’s Board of Directors include:
┬À Vice Chair Bob Archer, president and CEO of Blue Ridge Beverage Co., Inc. in Salem, Virginia
┬À Treasurer Greg Lamantia, member/manager of L & F Distributors, LLC in Texas and New Mexico
┬À Secretary James Hellman, owner of Preferred Distributors in Sparta, Wisconsin
┬À Immediate Past Chair Larry Del Papa, president of Del Papa Distributing Co., Inc., in Galveston, Texas
As chair, Lytle will lead the Association as it works to advocate for licensed, independent beer distributors and educate elected officials, regulators, media and the public about the important role of beer distributors and effective state-based alcohol controls.
“Steve has served on the NBWA Board of Directors since 2002 and has held all elected positions, giving him a full background and working knowledge of the Association’s goals and agenda,” said NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser. “Steve’s outstanding communication and leadership skills make him an extremely effective advocate for his fellow beer distributors, and I look forward to working closely with him to advance the Association’s goals in the year ahead.”
NBWA and America’s beer distributors support the state-based system of alcohol controls that ensures an orderly marketplace and works to protect the public by providing transparency and accountability in the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcohol. Beer distributors serve as the critical link in the American beer distribution system sourcing products from regulated brewers and importers and delivering products to state-licensed retailers. This effective system provides American consumers with the widest choice and variety of products in the world — nearly 13,000 labels of beer — and works to ensure that only safe, fresh beer reaches American consumers of legal drinking age.
The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America’s 3,300 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. For more information, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com.