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WINE & SPIRITS WHOLESALERS OF AMERICA 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

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Page 1: WINE & SPIRITS WHOLESALERS OF AMERICA - wswa.org · The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America ... It is a project we will continue and expand upon ... The overwhelming variety of

W I N E & S P I R I T S W H O L E S A L E R S O F A M E R I C A

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 1

Dear WSWA Member:

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) may be approaching its 75th anniversaryas an organization—but the association is just getting started!

WSWA today is more influential and member-focused than it has ever been, with a winning teamof seasoned professionals, strong financial footing, a broad legislative, regulatory and legalagenda backed by record PAC contributions, proactive and effective communications, state-of-the-art, value-driven meetings and cost-saving affinity programs.

This is WSWA’s first ever annual report, documenting for our members the breadth and depth of the association’s workover the preceding year. It is a project we will continue and expand upon in coming years.

Today, WSWA’s membership represents more than 80 percent of all wine and spirits sold at wholesale in the U.S. Our wholesaler members are consumer-oriented companies of every size, in every state, providing reliable delivery to restaurants, bars, hotels, arenas and off-premise retailers of the largest variety of wine and spirits available anywhere in the world…an ever-changing array of beverage products, many of which were not on the market even a year ago.

The essential component of the three-tier system, wholesalers build brands, grow markets and work to ensure productintegrity, prevent drunk driving and fight underage drinking. And they work closely with state and federal regulators toensure an orderly marketplace.

Like the dynamic members we represent, WSWA will continue to assess, adapt, and plan for the future. This annualreport is an important part of that process—to help you understand the work and value of WSWA, and to help us planfor the days ahead. Please take a few moments to review this report and familiarize yourself with the tremendous valuethat WSWA provides.

On behalf of our industry-leading team of staff, consultants and volunteer leaders—thank you for your support of, andengagement with, WSWA.

Warm Regards,

CRAIG WOLFPresident and CEO

805 15TH STREET, NW, SUITE 430WASHINGTON, DC 20005

OFFICE: (202) 371 9792FAX: (202) 789 2405

WWW.WSWA.ORG

CRAIG WOLF, PRESIDENT AND CEO

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The overwhelming variety of fine wine and spirits enjoyed responsibly by Americanadults are delivered to restaurants, bars, package goods stores and other retail

outlets by wine and spirits wholesalers.

Today, these family-owned American businesses employee more than 63,000workers at 4,400 locations and collectively earn some $5 billion each year.Wholesalers are the key component of the three-tier system of beverage alcoholdistribution, put in place in the wake of Prohibition. That system guarantees productsafety and integrity and generates more than $55 billion in tax revenue for federal,state and local governments each year.

Wholesalers build brands, take new products to market for suppliers, and aremarketing, sales, logistics and warehousing experts. They have created an efficientlogistical chain of distribution which delivers product from thousands of suppliersaround the world to hundreds of thousands of locally owned and operated retailestablishments—often several times a week—sometimes by the bottle—and often overnight.

In every state, in every community, regardless of age, size or product line—thenation’s wine and spirits wholesalers are committed to building relationships,investing in communities and making a positive difference.

Representing this market and these family-owned businesses is the Wine & SpiritsWholesalers of America (WSWA).

WSWA is the national trade association representing the wholesale tier of the wineand spirits industry. It is dedicated to advancing the interests and independence ofwholesale distributors and brokers of wine and spirits.

Founded in 1943, WSWA’s membership includes over 350 member companies in50 states and the District of Columbia. Headquartered in Washington, D.C.,WSWA provides its members with representation before Congress, executiveagencies, regulatory bodies, the courts, and other alcohol beverage industryorganizations. In addition, WSWA offers a wide range of services in the areas ofpublic affairs, education and social responsibility, as well as valuable cost-savingaffinity programs.

2 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

PART ONE: REPRESENTING AMERICA’SWINE & SPIRITS WHOLESALERS

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 3

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Federal Affairs

WSWA’s government affairs team isdedicated to advocating for the

interests of wholesalers at both thefederal and state levels, in thelegislatures, the courts and in theregulatory arena. WSWA’s efforts aresupported by a top-tier political actioncommittee WSWA-PAC.

Over the past year, WSWA engagedon a host of issues. Here is a look atjust a few of our leading priorities:

Tax Matters

WSWA worked tirelessly to protectmember priorities, such as the Section5011 tax credit, Last In, First Out (LIFO)accounting method, and status of PassThrough Entity Taxation. Highlights ofthose efforts include:

l Protecting Closely-Held FamilyBusinesses: An influentialcomprehensive tax reform proposaloffered by Congressional leadersincluded favorable tax rates forclosely-held businesses’ shareholderswith respect to LIFO recapture,consistent with the argumentsrepeatedly made by WSWA.

l House LIFO Letter: WSWA ledefforts to collect signatures from morethan one-fourth of all members of theHouse of Representatives in supportof the association’s position to protectLIFO accounting method—used bymost family-owned wholesalers. Theletter was spearheaded by Reps.James Lankford (R-Okla.) and MikeThompson (D-Calif.). WSWA led asimilar effort in the Senate. SenatorsJoe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Mike Enzi(R-Wyo.) were the authors of a proLIFO “Dear Colleague” letter.

4 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

PART TWO: THE VOICE OF WHOLESALERS

l Small Distiller Tax Bill: In early2014, legislation was introduced toreduce the federal excise tax rates onspirits produced by small distillers.WSWA ensured that no languagewas added to this bill requiringadjustment or possible negativeexposure towards wholesalers’Section 5011 credit.

Other Federal Efforts

l Buy Local: WSWA achieved animportant victory for members in theannual federal appropriationslegislation process. We preservedthe “Buy Local” provision thatrequires military facilities in Alaskaand Hawaii to purchase spirits via in-state wholesalers. The governmentaffairs team spearheaded letters andengagement from Sens. Mark Begich(D-Alaska), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska),Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and MazieHirono (D-Hawaii).

l Ignition Interlocks: WSWA workedwith the House Transportation &Infrastructure Committee to ensure thatno universal ignition interlockmandate was included in anyHighway bill reauthorization. Instead,federal law provided states withincentive grants to pursue statutes thatrequire interlocks for repeat DUIoffenders. This policy aligns withWSWA-drafted model legislationwhich targets hard core drunk driversand repeat offenders, whilepreserving judicial discretion.

l Postal Reform: WSWA opposedefforts by the U.S. Postal Service(USPS) to obtain legislative consentpermitting direct to consumer mailingof beverage alcohol. Efforts byWSWA led to the passage of anamendment during a Senate postalreform legislative markup protectingand providing deference to state,local and tribal restrictions on alcoholdelivered through the USPS.

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 5

l TTB: WSWA and the The Presidents'Forum of the Distilled Spirits Industryled an industry-wide coalition of 10beer, wine, spirits and wholesalerassociations to call for full-funding ofthe Alcohol and Tobacco Tax andTrade Bureau (TTB), the industry’sprimary regulator and trade practicesenforcer. The industry enjoys anunparalleled working relationshipwith the agency and, together, thepartnership has delivered a longrecord of success and safety withappropriate regulatory oversight.Ensuring that TTB receives adequatefunding to support its mission is a topWSWA priority.

Regulatory AffairsWorking with federal and stateregulatory agencies and attorneysgeneral, WSWA’s regulatory affairsteam has quickly grown into an integraland vital component of the association’sgovernment affairs team.

Key activities this year included:

l Regulatory Monitoring and Input:The regulatory affairs teamdeveloped and implemented a dailycomprehensive review process forproposed state and federal rules andregulations. That process allowedWSWA to provide timely input into anumber of important regulatory

proposals impacting members,including FDA food transport andmenu labeling rules, IRS rulesgoverning tax-exempt organizationsand NLRB guidance on unionorganizing rights. WSWA alsoweighed in on trade policy issuesand the recent port issues on thewest coast. In doing so, WSWA’sregulatory affairs team raised itsprofile and created and fostered key relationships with a variety ofimportant organizations andagencies including the NationalHighway Traffic SafetyAdministration, the National Centerfor DWI Courts, the GovernorsHighway Safety Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protectionand state alcohol beverageregulatory agencies.

l Marijuana: WSWA’s team engagedwith state governors and attorneysgeneral to promote the three-tiersystem as a model when stateofficials grappled with the issue ofmarijuana decriminalization andlegalization. The communication togovernors and attorneys generalstressed the importance of a strongthree-tier system, as well as theproven safety, public health, lawenforcement and marketplaceprotection results achieved by theindustry since Prohibition.

l State Law Database: The regulatoryaffairs team has worked assiduouslyto prepare for the launch of a newState Law Database, integrated intothe new WSWA.org website, whichwill provide a much-needed one-stopsource for core state beveragealcohol laws and regulations. TheSLD will provide additional value toour members and a potential sourceof non-dues revenue.

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WSWA-PACThe WSWA-PAC is the political arm ofWSWA and supports federalcandidates who promote the three-tiersystem and advocate for the interests of wholesalers.

Highlights of the PAC

l Over the most recent election cycle,the WSWA-PAC received$2,032,000 from memberexecutives and employees anddisbursed $2,158,799 to 330candidates, 108 leadership PACsand national campaign committees.

l During the two-year election cycleending in 2014, the WSWAgovernment affairs team attendedmore than 750 individual fundraisingevents for elected officials whosupport wholesalers.

l WSWA had 483 new first-timecontributors last year and maintainedparticipation from more than 2,000individual member employees.

l WSWA-PAC was supported by 18couples at the Sapphire Club level,and 97 members at the $5,000annual maximum level.

6 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

l The government affairs team workedclosely with the communicationsteam to develop a new and ongoingseries of educational and outreachvideos produced by WSWA. Thesevideos helped support recruitment,encouraged the use of payrolldeduction contributions, provided an update on activity and policydevelopments to donors and membercompany employees, and promotedthe association’s government affairs agenda.

Eventsl Fly-In—In May, owners and senior

executives from member firmsattended the annual Legislative Fly-In.Attendees participated in more than100 meetings with representatives,senators and staff members,advocating on behalf of wholesalerspriorities. These meetings help electedofficials gain a deeper and personalunderstanding of the work undertakenby wholesalers and the nature of theirbusiness, as well as the potentialimpacts from legislation adverse to theinterests of wholesalers, and allowedfor an opportunity to seek theirsupport for legislative proposalsbacked by wholesalers.

l Toast to Congress—The annual"Toast to Congress" receptioncoincides with the Fly-In and isattended by dozens of wholesalers,as well as elected officials regulatorsand senior staff, and is a primeopportunity for member firms toshowcase their work, value andbenefits to these audiences in asocial setting.

PART TWO: THE VOICE OF WHOLESALERS CONTINUED

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 7

l WSWA Holiday Party—Thegovernment affairs team worked withthe meetings and conventions team tohost the association’s annual holidayparty where WSWA staff were ableto engage on a personal level withlegislative staff members and electedofficials with whom they have workedover the past year. This event alsoshowcases the product diversity andimportant role of wholesalers asbrand-building, mixology and localmarketing experts.

l Member Facility Visits—Thegovernment affairs team worked withmember firms to coordinate onsitevisits for representatives and senatorsat more than a dozen wholesalerlocations across the country. Thesesite tours and educational sessionshelp give elected officials a deeperunderstanding of wholesalers’ work,helps demonstrate their deepcommitment to employees and theircommunities, and highlights theconsiderable economic impact madeby our tier.

l Small Group Events—WSWA-PACand the government affairs teamhosted a number of small groupeducational events and tastings.These events were produced with thehelp of wholesaler mixology andwine and spirits experts whoshowcased a variety of wines andspirits and provided insight andproduct education to electedofficials. These events showcase in a small and intimate forum thevalue, expertise and importance ofwholesalers and their employees, as well as the unique and diverseproduct offerings available from wholesalers.

State AffairsAssociation staff worked to promoteWSWA model ignition interlocklegislation with state elected officials incontrol and open states, worked withstate association members to preservethe wholesaler role in the three tiersystem, and worked with stateassociation members to help derail afatally flawed deregulatory privatizationballot initiative in Oregon.

WSWA’s state affairs team works with ahost of coalition partners and policyadvocates to promote issues importantto wholesalers, including:

l Republican Attorneys General Association

l Democratic Attorneys General Association

l Conference of Western Attorneys General

l Republican Governors Association

l Democratic Governors Association

l Southern Governors Association

l Western Governors Association

l American Legislative Exchange Council

l National Conference of State Legislators

l Republican Legislative Campaign Committee

l Republican State Leadership Committee

l Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

l State Government Affairs Council

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WSWA’s meetings and conventions team organizes the association’s annualconvention & exposition, an industry-leading event that unites suppliers and

service providers with wholesalers for an exciting four-day event.

In 2014, WSWA’s 71st Annual Convention & Exposition achieved a recordattendance of more than 2,500 people and saw record supplier participation in all exhibit categories, Lower Level and Traditional Hospitality Suites, and bothexhibit halls.

Keynote speakers included Jordan Belfort, the real “Wolf of Wall Street,” Dan Heath,a Duke University management expert, and Captain Richard Phillips, subject of thehit Tom Hanks film.

WSWA saluted industry leaders for their long record of engagement, success andactivism in support of wholesalers and the industry at large. Rocky Wirtz, President of Wirtz Beverage Group of Chicago, Ill., was recognized with the LifetimeLeadership Award, presented each year to a wholesaler whose contribution to theassociation, community and beverage industry defines excellence, inspires loyaltyand exemplifies leadership.

The WSWA Educational Foundation honored Max Shapira, President of Heaven HillDistilleries of Bardstown, Ky., with the Sidney Frank Award. This award is given to aperson who has made exceptional contributions to the industry in addition tonoteworthy philanthropic and community service contributions. The award is namedfor the well-known and popular beverage industry innovator who built successfulbrands and set records for philanthropic contributions and service.

The WSWA 71st Annual Convention & Exposition included The Wine & SpiritsTasting Competitions; Hoptails Mixologist Competition; Call for Cocktails: MixologyCompetition; and, the Wholesaler Iron Mixology Competition. These eventsshowcased wholesaler mixologist and bartender talents and spotlighted new andemerging brands, trends and opportunities.

Tying it together was the launch of a new Convention Mobile App, allowingattendees to access the directory of attendees, exhibitor and schedule informationwhile also facilitating a new channel of social engagement via photo sharing anddirect messaging.

8 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

PART THREE: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESAND NETWORKING

71st Annual Convention & Exposition

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 9

Bringing Wholesalers TogetherThroughout the year, WSWA hosts a number of events and meetings for wholesalermembers including the January Executive Committee meeting, Fly-In and Toast toCongress, Council for Leadership Development Meeting, Fall Membership Meeting,and the Winter State Policy Conference.

l CLD: One of WSWA’s most popular and successful programs is the Council forLeadership Development Conference (CLD), held each summer. This executivetraining program helps equip the next generation of industry leaders with thetools, skills and resources they need to succeed, helps train them on associationadvocacy and policy, and gives them the opportunity to create strong and lastingrelationships with fellow wholesalers which will help to create and maintainwholesaler unity. The 2014 event was held in Chicago, Ill., and had a recordattendance of 67 executives from across the country. Speakers representedLinkedIn, Nielsen, GuestMetrics, and other companies, attendees alsoparticipated in a briefing and tour of a retail and hospitality facility operated byBinny’s Beverage Depot.

l FMM: The annual Fall Membership Meeting (FMM) is the association’s primaryannual governance meeting, where association volunteer leaders and staff setassociation policy and goals, and determine next year’s agenda and budget.FMM also offers members the opportunity to network with wholesalers and stateadvisory council officials, and hear from interesting and educational speakers.This year’s speakers included Paul Begala, noted consultant, educator and CNNcommentator, Carolyn Wente representing her family’s winery and The Wine Institute, Bobby Koch, President and CEO of The Wine Institute,and Guillame Deglise from VinExpo. Participation by representatives of The Wine Institute was the result of 2014-2015 WSWA Chairman Alan Dreeben’spush to increase constructive engagement with our industry partners in the wine community.

l State Policy Conference: WSWA’s Winter State Policy Conference provides anopportunity for wholesaler state association leaders and member lobbyists todiscuss the political and legal issues facing members in states across the country.WSWA staff receive input from these leaders that is used in the implementation ofnational and state regulatory, legal and legislative agendas. This year, the eventtook place in Austin, Texas and included presentations from David Blake,Colorado Deputy Attorney General, Nick Rellas, Co-Founder of Drizly, and SherryCook, Executive Director of the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission.

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WSWA’s Finance andAdministration team ensures

smooth operations for the staff,manages corporate finance,accountability and oversightprocedures, and directs all humanresources and administration functionsof the association.

Highlights from 2014 include:

l A clean audit—for the fifth year in a row.

l Coming in under budget for the fifthyear in a row.

l Implementation of new oversight andaccounting procedures.

l Deployment of new audio-visual andtelecommunications systems.

l Implementation of a new CRMsystem to integrate and trackmembership and accounting.

l Completion of a remodeled andredesigned workspace and officesuite featuring a traditional bar and event space as well as the placement of historicalwholesaler pictures.

l Execution of a long-term lease forassociation office space through2019, which included a substantialstipend which was used to offset the cost of the renovation andremodeling.

10 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

PART FOUR: OPERATIONS, OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTING

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“My hope is to attend medical school tobecome an orthopedic trauma surgeon.By awarding me this scholarship, youhave lightened the financial burden andallowed me to focus more on attainingmy lifelong goal of helping people in themost desperate times in their lives.”

Harriette Houser, Orange Park, Fla.Florida State University

Father employed by Southern Wine & Spirits of Northern Florida

WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 11

The WSWA Educational Foundation is the charitable arm of WSWA and isdedicated to supporting the academic careers of children of member firm

employees. As the cost of higher education continues to rise, the Foundation hashelped fill the gap facing many families by providing scholarships for worthyemployee children to pursue a college education.

For the academic year beginning in 2014, the foundation received nearly 300applications from the children of wholesaler employees at 26 parent companies.A panel of independent judges selected more than two dozen college studentsfrom across the country to receive scholarships.

In the five years since its inception, the program has offered 75 scholarships tostudents—a number that Foundation leaders have committed to dramaticallyincreasing each year going forward.

Here are some of the statements from students regarding scholarships and thebenefit they provide to their individual families:

PART FIVE: SUPPORTING THE WHOLESALER FAMILY

“$2,500 goes a long way inthe life of a college student. Iwill put the money to gooduse and try my hardest toachieve in academia….thankyou for giving me theopportunity to succeed.”

Jedidiah Gist, Ridgeway, S.C.Clemson University

Father employed by Charmer-Sunbelt Group—Ben Arnold

Beverage

“With this scholarship moneyI can put more time andenergy into doing well inschool and achieving mycareer goals and less timeworrying about how manyhours I'm working. Manythanks to WSWA for helpingme get one step closer tobecoming a doctor.”

Jazmin Butzin, Mahomet, Ill.University of Illinois

Father employed by WirtzBeverage Illinois

WHAT DO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS SAY?

“I do not have the words to express howthankful I am for this scholarship. Itallows me to attend the university of mydreams, Texas A&M, where I amstudying chemical engineering. Thanks!

Emilie Lawless, Lafayette, La.Texas A&M University

Father employed by Glazer’s of Louisiana-Lafayette

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2014 HighlightsWSWA.org: On-time and under-budget, the communicationsteam produced a new, easily navigable and user-friendlyorganization website that utilizes industry best-practice layout,imagery and style,and also providesthe capability tosupport a variety ofmedia content andthe soon to beunveiled revisedState LawDatabase.

Videos: The new WSWA.org website houses several newvideo products prepared by the communications team,including a “Wholesaler 101” video providing an overviewof wholesalers and their work; an educational “About theThree-Tier System” video with history and interviews on the

system and itsbenefits; and avariety of PAC andgovernment affairspolicy updatevideos featuringPresident and CEOCraig Wolf.

Advertising: Thecommunications teamdeveloped a varietyof advertisingproducts supportinggovernment affairsprojects which werepublished in Politico,on Politico.com, andin the WashingtonPost in conjunctionwith industry eventsand significant dates.

Foundation Promotion: The team conducted targeted mediaoutreach for each of the 27 scholarship winners, earning manyof the winners coverage in their hometown media outlets.

“SmartBrief”: WSWAdeployed a new“SmartBrief” customsubscription newsletterthat has provenpopular withmembers. In the 18months since itslaunch, this opt-inproduct has grownfrom zero to more than2,400 subscribers, a valuable member service and a sourceof non-dues revenue.

Promoting Regulatory, Coalition Activities: Thecommunications team worked to earn media coverage for avariety of regulatory, policy and coalition activities includingmarijuana policy letters and TTB funding support.

Photo/ArchivesProject: Coincidingwith the renovation and remodeling of theWSWA office suite, the communicationsteam collected andcurated some threedozen member-provided photos. These images capturethe history and legacyof family-owned wholesalers and provide a personal “face” forthe industry in the association offices.

“We Don’t Serve Teens”:Working with industrypartners DISCUS and ABL,the communications teamissued to members acomprehensive “We Don’tServe Teens” social responsibility campaign kit. The kit helped wholesalers deploy more than 15,000 individualadvertisements, bus stop and bus wrap ads, materials for pressconferences, and point of sale literature distributed in twodozen markets nationwide.

12 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

The communications team works to fully support, and drivewhere appropriate, the advocacy, policy, public relations,

membership and executive communications goals for theassociation. In addition, the team supports the governmentaffairs lobbying and regulatory mission as well as marketingmeetings and convention team events.

PART SIX: THE VOICE OF WHOLESALERS

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 13

Association Promotion: The communications staff helpedguide marketing and media relations for the 71st AnnualConvention & Exposition as well as small group meetings. Inaddition, the team has now produced two new reports onwholesaler activities and results: an external biennial reportprofiling member company philanthropy and communityengagement, and this internally oriented annual report to the membership.

INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES

A M E R I C A ’ S W I N E A N D S P I R I T S W H O L E S A L E R S

A biennial report on community engagement and philanthropy by the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America

21st Amendment: WSWA’s communications team is in themiddle of a yearlong media campaign promoting the valueof wholesalers and the economic benefits they provide ineach of the 36 states that ratified the 21st Amendment.This campaign has helped generate positive mediaattention and coverage nationwide.

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14 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

A t the end of 2014, associationmembership included 108 parent

houses, 253 branches and 361 totalmember firms operating in every stateand D.C. The association also included122 associate members representing service providers, suppliers and other industry firms.

Member services, development andaffinity programs are an important partof WSWA’s suite of services andbenefits. WSWA’s value-added,member-only program with DistributorsSolutions, LLC, offers direct access to anexpanded range of 33 discountedproduct and service offerings tailored towholesaler operations.

PART SEVEN: MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT,MEMBER SERVICES

In particular, the health benefits programnow includes 220 member employeesfrom four member companies. Otherpopular services include warehousingsupplies and materials, officeequipment, forklift and rental car salesand leasing, fuel and lubricants, tires,and a variety of other front- and back-office products and services.

A total of 72 WSWA member companylocations participated in DSI’s overallofferings spending more than $1.2million, resulting in a total savings of$175,000 for members and ongoingannual non-dues revenue for theassociation. WSWA’s member servicesteam also provides:

l Wine & Spirits Industry OnlineBuyers Guide: WSWA’s onlinebuyers guide, linked through theWSWA.org website, featuresassociate members and otherindustry suppliers. The programcategorizes members and providersby service area and is a regularlyutilized resource. This year was thefifth cycle of this product, netting theassociation more than $14,000 innon-dues revenue.

l Compensation Survey: In 2014, wecontinued our bi-annual EmployeeCompensation Study—a no-costdirect member benefit available to allwholesaler members—by joiningtogether with 1,000 firms from 30other distribution organizations toprovide executive and employeecompensation and benefit programdata to participants. Aggregatedresults of the entire sample groupprovide WSWA member participantswith an in-depth examination of thedata by both geographic area andfirm sales size.

l PAR: The association continued to offer members the ability toparticipate, at no cost, in the annualPerformance Analysis Report (PAR).PAR provides members with insightsand detailed financial and operatingbenchmark data comparisons forcompanies of all sizes and types.

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 15

WSWA LEADERSHIP

Alan DreebenChairman of the BoardRepublic National Distributing CompanySan Antonio, Texas

Douglas HertzImmediate Past ChairmanUnited DistributorsSmyrna, Ga.

Brien FoxVice ChairmanHenry A. Fox Sales CompanyGrand Rapids, Mich.

Doug EpsteinSenior Vice PresidentHorizon Beverage GroupNorton, Mass.

Carmine MartignettiVice PresidentMartignetti CompaniesNorwood, Mass.

Barkley StuartSecretaryGlazer’s DistributorsDallas, Texas

Sydney RossTreasurerGreat Lakes Wine & SpiritsHighland Park, Mich.

Wayne ChaplinLarge Member Caucus Rep. to the Executive CommitteeSouthern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.Miami, Fla.

Richard LeventhalLarge Member Caucus Rep. to the Executive CommitteeFedway AssociatesBasking Ridge, N.J.

Association Leadership—2014-2015

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16 • WSWA Annual Report 2014

WSWA STAFF

Executive Team

Craig WolfPresident and CEO

Joanne (Jo) MoakSenior Vice President andGeneral Counsel

Lisa BockelmanExecutive Assistant to thePresident and CEO

Government Affairs

Jim RowlandSenior Vice President,Government Affairs

Jake HegemanVice President, Legal andRegulatory Affairs

Dawson HobbsVice President, StateAffairs

Catherine McDanielVice President,Government Affairs

Reilly O’ConnorVice President,Government Affairs

Ali ProlagoManager, GovernmentAffairs

Communications &Membership

Jeff SolsbyVice President,Communications andMembership

Bob WiggansSenior Director,Membership

Rebecca NoelDigital Media andCommunicationsManager

Meetings &Conventions

Cindy Nachman-SendersSenior Consultant,Meetings andConventions

Kari LangermanDirector, Expositions and Meetings

Liz ArmstrongManager, Technologyand Support, Meetingsand Conventions

Finance &Administration

Sam BlockVice President, Financeand Administration

Cyndi SeidelOffice Manager

Katherine BrownManager, Finance and Administration

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WSWA Annual Report 2014 • 17

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Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America805 15th St., NWSuite 430Washington, DC 20005202.371.9792www.wswa.org