The 62nd annual Brewers Association of America Conference will take place in San Francisco next month, Nov. 8th-11th. A lineup of nearly 20 speakers, from both within and outside the industry will cover topics ranging from self-distribution to the politics of beer. A variety of hospitality gatherings and sightseeing trips are also on the docket.
Of particular value at the annual gathering of small brewers are the speaker presentations. In recent years, the BAA has provided speakers from outside the beer business to provide a unique perspective on our industry. This year, Dana L. Fields, Executive Publisher & President of Men’s and Entertainment Group, will delve into the new male market that has driven her magazine and others like it to the forefront. This young male audience has a distinctive aesthetic which may be relevant to beer marketers. Christopher Beros, co-founder of Clarus Capital Advisors LLC will give a presentation on selling, merging and financing your company. Beros has completed numerous financings and company sale assignments for clients in the wine and craft brewing sectors.
Speakers from within the beer industry include Jeff Becker of the Beer Institute, Fritz Maytag, founder of Anchor Brewing, Craig A. Purser, vice president of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Paul Romain, executive director, attorney and lobbyist for the Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Association, Benj Steinman, president of Beer Marketer’s INSIGHTS and Robert Weinberg of R.S. Weinberg and Associates, among others.
The conference also includes a day long seminar on how to strengthen your brand’s position, presented by Tom Dougherty and Michael Vanausdeln of Stealing Share, a strategic and brand planning firm. The seminar will discuss the keys to building and positioning a beer brand so that it has the kind of meaning to your customers that leads to increased sales. More detailed information: www.brewersadvocate.org