The Brewers Association announced today the retirement of Nancy Johnson, senior vice president of meetings and events. Nancy has been the band leader and calm demeanor in charge of BA events for three decades. She will leave the organization at the end of 2024 and will be missed by all.
“I am honored to have been part of a great team and a fantastic organization that has supported and convened the craft beer community for over three decades,” said Johnson. “I’m grateful for all the friends I’ve made and the amazing and inspiring people I’ve met over the years. Now it’s time for me to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders.”
Johnson joined the Brewers Association in 1993 as a temporary registrar for the Microbrewers Conference with 600 attendees. Shortly after, she became the full-time event coordinator for the Association of Brewers, managing the Craft Brewers Conference and the Homebrewers Conference.
Over the next 30 years at the Brewers Association, Johnson oversaw the development and execution of the craft beer industry’s marquee events and competitions, including the Great American Beer Festival.
“Nancy’s ingenuity and leadership have inspired us all,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO, Brewers Association in an association press release. “Over the years, she has established all our events as best-in-class examples for the meetings and events industry and helped put the craft beer community on the map. In many ways, she is responsible for the collective great memories and collaborations that have been formed at these gatherings.”
During Johnson’s leadership, the Brewers Association’s events grew in scale and attendance, from hundreds of attendees and competitors in the 1990s to the tens of thousands in the 2020s.
“Please join me in thanking Nancy for her many years of dedication and vision. While we will miss Nancy, we have an outstanding events team at the Brewers Association that is well-trained and ready to lead. They will continue to execute our events and competitions with excellence,” stated Pease. “We will begin the search for Nancy’s replacement to ensure a smooth transition. I am confident we will find an incredible leader to shepherd our events into their next innovative chapter.”