The Brewers Association today announced Fawn Weaver, business entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, as the keynote speaker at its upcoming Craft Brewers Conference in Las Vegas. Weaver’s keynote address, “The Story of Uncle Nearest and What Craft Distillers and Brewers Have in Common,” will cover her journey to becoming the first non-celebrity Black American woman to build an independent company valued at over $1 billion from the ground up, in just four years.
“Fawn Weaver has been a dynamic force in the entrepreneurial business world for over 25 years, smashing barriers and setting new standards wherever she goes—including in the distilling industry. We are thrilled to have her share her expertise with us at the Craft Brewers Conference this April,” said Ann Obenchain, vice president of marketing and communications at the Brewers Association. “Brewers are increasingly looking to find growth in new ways to meet changing consumer preferences and demographics. Ms. Weaver’s presentation will undoubtedly offer timely, thought-provoking, and inspiring insights from a different small producer lens.”
New York Times bestselling author and groundbreaking business mogul Fawn Weaver is an expert in crafting compelling stories; as a writer, powerhouse investor, and values-driven leader. Weaver leverages 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, from founding and serving as CEO of Grant Sidney, Inc., a privately held investment company, to launching the fastest-growing whiskey brand in U.S. history, Uncle Nearest, Inc. The brand boasts significant accolades as the most awarded American whiskey, including bourbon, of 2019, 2020, and 2021, sweeping 16 of the top 18 award competitions in the world. Weaver also built the $50M Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, investing in minority-founded, -owned, and -led brands with the greatest potential to grow into legacy brands. A multi-hyphenate and popular TED speaker and guest on NPR’s “How I Built This,” Weaver is a highly sought-after voice in conversations about accelerating growth without sacrificing values, inclusive organizational strategy, and leadership, making an impact with audiences of all kinds.
The 2024 CBC and WBC take place next year in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 21-24, 2024.