ALEXANDRIA, VA — The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) is proud to announce the Board of Directors officers for the 2012-2013 term. Bob Archer, president and CEO of Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc. in Salem, Virginia, will take the helm as chairman of the Board. He assumed the position and its responsibilities during NBWA’s 75th Annual Convention held October 14-17 in San Diego, California.
Other officers of NBWA’s Board of Directors include:
- Vice Chair Greg Lamantia, member/manager of L & F Distributors, LLC in Texas and New Mexico
- Treasurer Jim Hellman, owner of Preferred Distributors in Sparta, Wisconsin
- Secretary Travis Markstein, executive vice president of Markstein Beverage Co. in San Marcos, California
- Immediate Past Chair Larry Del Papa, president of Del Papa Distributing Co., Inc., in Galveston, Texas
As chair, Archer will help 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.
“Bob has served on NBWA’s Board of Directors since 2003 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. “His breadth of industry knowledge and experience, coupled with his tremendous service ethic has made him an outstanding advocate on behalf of his fellow beer distributors. I look forward to working closely with Bob to advance the association’s goals in the year ahead.”
Since 2001, Archer has served as president and CEO of Blue Ridge Beverage Company, a family-owned and -operated business with locations in Salem, Lynchburg, Waynesboro, South Boston and Marion, Virginia. He runs the company alongside several family members, including his mother Regine and his brothers and sisters — Nancy Doucette, Jim Archer, Paul Archer, Evelyn Hunt and Jackie Archer — who all play a critical role in the business.
Although the company began business in 1938, the Archer family has led Blue Ridge since 1959 when James and Regine Archer purchased the company. After James Archer passed away in 1972, Regine stepped in as president. Blue Ridge started with just 10 employees and five brands. Today, the distributorship employs 385 individuals and services more than 4,000 retail customers over a 49-county territory with approximately 140 brands of beer.
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 — more than 13,000 labels of beer — and works to ensure that only safe, fresh beer reaches American consumers of legal drinking age.
About:
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. To learn more about America’s beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @MrBeerGuy on Twitter and visit www.facebook.com/Mr.BeerGuy.