Beer Institute Names Economist Troy Wittek Director of Research
The Beer Institute (BI) has named Troy Wittek as director of research for the national trade association.
Wittek brings 15 years of experience as an economist and research specialist at Inforum, collecting and analyzing industry data for policy analysis, business planning and academic research.
“I am thrilled to continue my career at the Beer Institute,” said Wittek in a press release. “I look forward to analyzing the positive impact the American beer industry has on our economy and how public policy proposals will affect the millions of American jobs that rely on the beer industry.”
Troy received an MBA from the University of Baltimore in 2020 and a master’s degree in Applied Information Technology from Towson University in 2012.
NBWA Appoints Erin Donar VP of Communications
The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) has named Erin Donar as VP of communications. Donar comes from H&R Block, where she served as director of government relations, public affairs & policy for three years.
Before working in the private sector, Donar worked on tax, economic, and budget issues in the U.S. Department of the Treasury as deputy assistant secretary and spokesperson for public affairs.
“We’re thrilled to have Erin as part of the NBWA family,” said NBWA president and CEO Craig Purser in a press release. “Particularly as we continue to recover from the disruption of the past year, Erin will be a key leader in our work to support our members and amplify their voice.”
Donar is the former press secretary for Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and communications director and policy advisor for Dale Kildee (D-MI). She earned a political science degree from Yale University.
Josh Halpern Hired as CEO of Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken and Beer Park
Josh Halpern is taking his “showbiz flair” to Las Vegas. According to his LinkedIn, Halpern is the new CEO of Shaquille O’Neal’s fast casual fried chicken restaurant Big Chicken and Beer Park by Budweiser.
Halpern previously served as chief sales Officer at FIFCO USA, from 2018 to 2021. FIFCO parted ways with Halpern in January.
Halpern’s new link to Shaq is not his first collaboration with a celebrity. At FIFCO, Halpern helped create celebrity partnerships with reality TV stars Chris Harrison (The Bachelor) and Cynthia Bailey (Real Housewives of Atlanta), as well as Barstool Sports.
Brian Glowacki New Sales Director at Loverboy
Brian Glowacki is the new sales director for the hard tea Loverboy. Glowacki brings eight years of beverage industry experience to the fast-growing brand, most recently working at Bira 91 — the New Delhi-based beer company — as sales director, overseeing sales and marketing functions for the company’s North America distribution.
Glowacki previously managed district sales for Vita Coco in the greater New York City area, and spent three years in various positions at Boston Beer Company.
Loverboy is currently fighting to split from its Massachusetts wholesaler, Night Shift Distributing (NSD), insisting it does not have to compensate the distributor for its brand rights. NSD disagrees.
Crafted For All Adds New Social Media Intern
Crafted For All has appointed 2021 Randolph College graduate Lee Tookes as its new social media intern.
Crafted For All is a consulting firm and professional development platform that “fosters inclusive, equitable, and just spaces and experiences in the craft beverage sector.” The firm recently expressed a need to improve its marketing and communications, partnering with Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions to help in this area.
Tookes previously worked as a marketing department intern for Central Virginia Community College, and social media Manager for Snipe Magazine.
Galadriel Hernandez Named Production Intern for Beer Kulture and Bronx Brewery
Galadriel Hernandez is the newest production intern at Bronx Brewery. The internship program, in partnership with Beer Kulture, aims to create opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and people of color who are underrepresented in craft beer production.
The two-month paid program offers comprehensive technical training to give interns knowledge and hands-on experience in all aspects of beer production.