The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) has initiated a nationwide search for the organization’s next Executive Director. The USBG seeks a new executive to replace the departing ED Aaron Gregory Smith.
As the USBG heads into its 76th year, Smith and the USBG board of directors view 2024 as the optimum time for a fresh perspective at the helm of the Guild and it is why they have enacted the Executive Director succession plan that was created in 2017, the guild said in a press release.
USBG President, Ingrid Rodriguez said, “Never before in our 76 year history have we had the unprecedented chance for the organization’s leadership to positively influence its future. Our board members eagerly anticipate evaluating Executive Director candidates who offer innovative perspectives, robust organizational abilities, and valuable insights gained from experience.”
The USBG executive committee has the authority to serve as the search committee or to delegate authority to an independent search committee. For this, the USBG’s first executive transition, the committee selected a unique search committee to execute the succession plan.
The passing of the torch to the next Executive Director is a transparent process that begins with the formation of the nine-member search committee comprised of seven industry leaders and led by Jess Pettitt and Marc Pitman as non-voting co-chairs, both of whom are outside consultants with years of association and philanthropic expertise. Committee members have been selected to provide the widest and most diverse swath of bartending, drinks, and hospitality industry professionals in order to maintain the organization’s commitment to a well-informed search.
Committee members are now kicking off the first phase of this process of finding a qualified candidate. Their first order of business is to make public the updated job description so that candidates can be sought via multiple outlets including professional search firms and recruiters, job boards, and personal referrals. The process includes multiple rounds of interviews and background checks before a candidate is selected by the board of directors and the job offer is extended by the executive committee. The new ED’s start date typically falls two to five weeks after that depending on existing personal and professional commitments.
Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders’ Guild is the national, member-led not-for-profit association of bartenders and other hospitality professionals that unites and elevates the bar industry through education, community, and advocacy.
Those wishing to apply for the position can do so here.