Keynote Speakers Announced for 2018 Craft Brewers Conference

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Business visionary Paul Saginaw and entrepreneurial brewing icon Deborah Carey to speak in front of thousands of brewing professionals

Boulder, CO • January 16, 2018 — Paul Saginaw, co-owner and founding partner of Zingerman’s, and Deborah Carey, founder and president of New Glarus Brewing Company, will deliver the keynote speeches for the 2018 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America®(CBC).

Presented annually by the Brewers Association, CBC is the industry’s largest gathering, bringing together 13,000 brewing professionals. This year, the conference and expo will be held in Nashville, Tenn., from April 30 to May 3. CBC 2018 also serves as home to the World Beer Cup , often referred to as “the Olympics of Beer.”

“The Craft Brewers Conference brings together the expertise and passion of its internal brewing community and voices outside as well,” said Paul Gatza, director, Brewers Association. “Through this year’s choices for keynote speakers, we want to offer CBC attendees words of wisdom, inspiration and experience. The combination of Paul and Deb provides insights into the crucial components of building and sustaining success in the brewing community.”

Paul Saginaw
Paul Saginaw

Speaking Tuesday, May 1 (9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.), Saginaw co-founded Zingerman’s Delicatessen in 1982 in Ann Arbor, Mich., with his business partner Ari Weinzweig. With the goals of producing a great corned beef sandwich and creating an organization with a soulful culture, they transformed their venture into a community of businesses, consisting of 22 partners and over 750 employees. Saginaw brings an inspirational message—and strong vision—into the corporate world. His accomplishments include a “Champion of Change” award from the White House in 2014 and a lifetime achievement award from Bon Appetit.

Deborah Carey
Deborah Carey

Speaking Wednesday, May 2 (9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.), Carey, a lifelong entrepreneur, started her first business at the age of 16. Carey raised the capital to establish New Glarus Brewing Company, based in New Glarus, Wis., in 1993, making her one of the first women to found and operate a brewery in the country. Under Carey’s leadership, New Glarus has become a national icon as one of the largest U.S. craft breweries by volume, while still being acclaimed for its local, in-state focus. She combines business management and brewing professionalism to run her brewery on foundations of individuality, cooperation and the use of 100 percent natural ingredients.

The CBC general session will also feature Gatza and Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson, who will provide a detailed look at the overall health of the craft brewing market in their annual State of the Industry address.

About the Craft Brewers Conference

Presented by the Brewers Association, the Craft Brewers Conference is the largest industry event. Thousands of brewing industry professionals from the across the country will gather from April 30 – May 3 at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., for nearly 70 seminars across 12 different tracks. CBC also includes BrewExpo America, the nation’s premier trade show for the craft brewing industry. For more information, visit CraftBrewersConference.com.

Press Credentials

Media wishing to attend and cover the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America must apply for press credentials.

Contact: Abby Berman Cohen, The Rosen Group, 646-695-7044

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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 4,000-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 CupGreat 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 largest 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 and Twitter.

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.