Brewers Association Bolsters Senior Leadership Team

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Boulder, Colo.—The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers—today announced the promotions of four of its top team members and formation of a senior leadership team. Paul Gatza was named Senior Vice President of Professional Brewing Division; Nancy Johnson, Senior Vice President of Meetings and Events; Stephanie Johnson Martin, Senior Vice President of Operations; and Ryan Farrell, Vice President of Staff Development.

“Our strength and success is because of the hard work and dedication of our entire team. As long-serving and accomplished team members, Paul, Nancy, Stephanie and Ryan have proven their hard work and dedication time and time again,” said Bob Pease, president & CEO, Brewers Association. “I’m proud to work with this senior leadership team and extend a big congratulations on these well-deserved promotions.”

Each with the Brewers Association for over 20 years, Paul, Nancy, and Stephanie bring a litany of accomplishments and valued perspective to both Brewers Association staff and its members.

Originally overseeing the American Homebrewers Association, Paul has served as Brewers Association director since 2000. He has shepherded the development of many new professional member benefits over the years, with notable increases in technical and safety brewing resources and oversight of funding for major industry research initiatives. Additionally, he has worked on many legislative affairs issues at the state and federal levels.

Nancy’s tenure with the Brewers Association has been running the Event Department. She is responsible for producing, executing and ensuring the long-term success of the association’s marquee events including Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, World Beer Cup®, SAVOR™: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, and Homebrew Con.

Stephanie began her Brewers Association career in graphic design, and has assumed increasing responsibility over the years to become Operations Director. She now oversees multiple departments including Creative, Member Services, Web, IT, and Brewers Publications, while ensuring effective and efficient day-to-day operations of the Brewers Association.

With 12 years’ time at the Brewers Association, Ryan started in the Finance Department. He recognized the need for a more formalized Human Resources Department, and proactively sought his certification from the Society for Human Resource Management, and became the Brewers Association’s first HR Manager in 2014 and HR Director in 2017. Ryan’s responsibilities range from the hiring and orientation process for new employees, professional development for 60+ BA staff members, managing all employee benefits as well as the annual performance review process.

“It’s pretty rare for a company to have this sort of longevity among its ranks,” added Pease. “This group’s collective contributions over the past decades have been remarkable. I look forward to working with them for years to come.”

The Brewers Association serves a total of more than 10,000 members including breweries, allied trade partners, distributors, and retailers, plus 46,000 American Homebrewers Association members; welcomes over 84,000 attendees annually to its events; awards more than half a million dollars in grants for hop and barley research; produces hundreds of resources, publications, books, seminars and other educational materials; and much more.

For a complete list of Brewers Association staff and resources, visit the Brewers Association website.

Contact: Abby Cohen (on behalf of the Brewers Association) 646-695-7044

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 4,800-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®Great American Beer Festival®Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew ConNational Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® magazine, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.
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