The American Beverage Association and The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) are among those welcoming new faces to top jobs this month.
The American Beverage Association and The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) are among those welcoming new faces to top jobs this month.
The American Beverage Association (ABA) has announced the election of new Officers and Members to its Board of Directors.
Members of ABA’s Board of Directors participate in semi-annual meetings that help shape association programs, policies and initiatives. Officers are elected annually.
The Board of Directors voted to elect Bill O’Brien, chief executive officer, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, as its Chair. O’Brien succeeds Matthew Dent, president and chief executive officer, Buffalo Rock Company, who was elected Chair in 2020.
Other Officers of the Association elected include: Kevin Keane, president and CEO, American Beverage, as president; and Ralph Crowley, president and chief executive officer, Polar Beverages, as treasurer.
Those elected to serve an additional term on the Board of Directors were: Ralph D. Crowley, president and chief executive officer, Polar Beverages; Matthew Dent, president and chief executive officer, Buffalo Rock Company; J. Frank Harrison, III, chairman and chief executive officer, Coca-Cola Consolidated; Jennifer Mann, president, North America Operating Unit, The Coca-Cola Company; William “Bill” O’Brien, chief executive officer, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling; Andrew Springate, chief marketing and concentrate officer, Keurig Dr Pepper; Todd Squarek, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, PepsiCo Beverages North America; and Timothy “Tim” Trant, chief executive officer, G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, Inc.
Nirvana Water Sciences Corp – a NY functional beverage company focusing on drinks for enhanced strength and longevity – has welcomed Gary Cooperman as Chief Financial Officer.
The company’s portfolio includes Nirvana Natural Spring Water and Nirvana Super, a performance line of waters, seltzers and shots infused with Vitamins D3, B-Complex and its proprietary ingredient myHMB Clear - a water-soluble form of HMB (Beta-hydroxy Beta-methylbutyrate).
Cooperman began his career in the Entrepreneurial Services Group of Ernst & Young, providing tax and accounting services for emerging technology brands in San Francisco and New York City. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Arts in Business-Economics and Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned his CPA from the State of New York.
Cooperman brings 30 years of financial and operational experience in building, managing and scaling growth organizations, systems and operations for technology, direct-to-consumer and consumer packaged goods companies. In his most recent role, he served as Chief Financial Officer of True Classic Tees, one of the fastest growing DTC men’s basic apparel brands.
Prior to the role, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Health-Ade Kombucha. Throughout his tenure spanning more than three years at Health-Ade, he spearheaded multiple successful fundraising endeavors. This includes securing an investment from Coca-Cola and navigating the business's acquisition by its foremost private equity sponsor, First Beverage.
Cooperman will lead the finance, legal, human resources and administrative functions at Nirvana Water Sciences reporting directly to CEO David Vanderveen.
The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) has announced the appointment of association veteran Aimee Carter as vice president of member services and business development: effective October 16.
Carter will lead all membership services and be responsible for member recruitment, engagement and retention. She will also oversee the US trade association’s comprehensive non-dues revenue program for the association through conferences, events, sponsorships and business development.
The appointment comes as DISCUS celebrates its 50th anniversary and opens new Capitol Hill headquarters.
Carter joins DISCUS from the Alliance for Health Policy, where she served as the vice president of development and engagement. In this role, she was responsible for developing and executing strategies for annual revenue and longer-term growth; creating and leading fundraising and audience engagement strategies and evaluations; and overseeing logistics of fundraising and engagement events, briefings and conferences.
Prior to that, Carter served as the vice president of membership for the Business Roundtable, a CEO member association. In this capacity, she managed corporate relationships, engagement and membership administration including prospecting, recruiting and onboarding new members.
Earlier in her career, Carter worked at AARP as vice president, international and also spent more than 10 years as the managing director of corporate affairs for the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). At CFR, she led corporate relationships, partnerships and fundraising for the foreign policy think tank and membership organization whose members include many of the most prominent international affairs leaders, business leaders, global influencers, noted thinkers and experienced practitioners.
Aimee received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Boston University – Paris, France.
Erin Kaylor joins coffeehouse franchise Biggby Coffee as Chief Financial Officer.
At McDonald’s, Kaylor held numerous positions over her twenty-plus years with the company.
In her last role, she collaborated with US leadership on the development and execution of a comprehensive re-franchising strategy across the country. This role also enabled her to partner with franchise owners on building their individual businesses.
“As the brand approaches important growth milestones with over 360 units open and another 140 in development, Kaylor will serve a crucial role in supporting the entire system through its next stage of development,” says Biggby Coffee.
Malkin Law, P.A. – a boutique law practice focused on serving the beverage and cannabis industries in the US - announces the addition of Alison Herman as Of Counsel to its team.
Herman brings a wealth of industry and legal expertise to Malkin Law. In her new role, she will expand the firm’s work with TTB and state investigations, trade practices and regulatory guidance.
Prior to joining the firm, she played a pivotal role at Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits (SGWS), the largest wine and spirits distributor in the US.
“Her 15 year tenure at SGWS equipped her with a deep understanding of the intricacies of the alcohol beverage market, and an unprecedented knowledge of high-level investigations and regulator relationships, making her a valuable addition to Malkin Law's team,” says Malkin Law.
Malkin Law works with suppliers, brand owners, distributors and third-party providers who support the industry. It is also counsel for the American Craft Spirits Association and Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association.
