Annette May and Ramon Tamayo recognized for outstanding inspiration and leadership

The Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers, today announced the recipients of its inaugural Mentor of the Year Award: Annette May and Ramon Tamayo.

“Through the larger mentorship program and our wonderful volunteer mentors, we’re moving the needle in the craft beer community by providing people with the tools and resources to be successful—especially those up against larger barriers,” said Dr. J Nikol Jackson-Beckham, equity and inclusion partner at the Brewers Association. “I’m proud to see Annette and Ramon making lasting, positive, ripple effects in the industry; they are setting a strong foundation to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and industry professionals.”

“Mentoring is a great way to give back to the community and make a positive impact in someone’s life,” said May, a founding faculty member of the Schoolcraft College Brewing and Distillation Technology program and the first woman to become a Certified Cicerone^®. “From serving and tasting beer to Craft Beer 101, I’m happy to have the chance to help mentor people who are looking to grow and thrive in the craft beer industry.”

“As a brewing community, we need to band together to help facilitate the continued growth of our members,” said Tamayo, brewing manager for Magnolia Brewing Co. “Through this program, I’ve met so many great people, both fellow mentors and mentees, and heard so many wonderful stories. It was an inspiring experience that I am truly grateful to have been a part.”

Both award winners will be honored at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference^® in Minneapolis. Read more about the mentors.

The Brewers Association recently announced the selection of the third mentorship program cohort; with 34 participants, it is the largest cohort to date. Learn more about the Brewers Association’s mentorship program or apply to participate as a mentor or mentee.

Contact: Erin Key (on behalf of the Brewers Association) 970.963.4873 x1232

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 5,600-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 Brewers Association organizes events, including the World Beer Cup^®, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference^® & BrewExpo America^®, National Homebrew Competition, and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer^® and Zymurgy^® magazines, 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 American Homebrewers Association^®. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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 13672 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.