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Paul Hletko of FEW Spirits with his copper
(Credit: FEW Spirits)
The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) today announces the appointment of Paul Hletko, founder of FEW Spirits in Evanston, IL, as the President of the Board of Directors. He succeeds Thomas Mooney, who served as the organization’s inaugural President since 2014. Together, Hletko, who has served as a key member of ACSA’s Board of Directors since the organization’s founding in 2013, and the newly-elected Board of Directors will work with Executive Director Margie A.S. Lehrman to address the key issues facing the craft distilling industry.
In addition to Hletko’s appointment as President, Dan Garrison, of Garrison Brothers Distillery (TX), a newly-elected board member, will serve as Vice President, ACSA. Steve Johnson of Vermont Spirits (VT), a seasoned board member who helped bridge the nascent growing pains of the 501(c)(6), will continue to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.
“I have had the privilege of working with Paul Hletko on the ACSA board of directors during the past two years, and I’m thrilled to see him at the helm,” said Thomas Mooney, who will remain on the organization’s Board as Hletko takes on this new role. “Serving as President of the Board of Directors these past two years has been one of the greatest honors of my career, and I look forward to supporting Paul and working closely with each of our new board members in the year to come.”
“While Tom has left an indelible legacy, working tirelessly with the Board of Directors these past two years to transition ACSA from a clear vision – one deeply rooted in industry values and a code of ethics – into a thriving organization, I am thrilled to take on this new role,” said Hletko. “Our team and Board of Directors look forward to addressing key issues on behalf of our nation’s 1,287 craft distillers as together we move our industry forward.”
In addition to electing the key officer positions, the Board of Directors also appointed the following members to lead its governing committees:
Membership: Mike Blaum
Ethics Chair: Tom Jensen
Convention: Matt Hofmann, Mike Blaum, P.T. Wood
Education: John Jeffrey, Maggie Campbell
Judging: Maggie Campbell, Ted Huber, Dan Farber
Legislative Affairs: Nicole Austin, Mark Shilling
State Guilds: P.T.Wood, Nicole Austin
Technology: Chip Tate, Mike Blaum
Development: Thomas Mooney, Orlin Sorensen
The 2016 Board of Directors is comprised of the following individuals:
Nicole Austin, Kings County Distillery (NY)
Mike Blaum, Blaum Brothers Distilling Company (IL)
Maggie Campbell, Privateer Rum (MA)
Dan Farber, Osocalis Distillery (CA)
Dan Garrison, Garrison Brothers Distillery (TX)*
Paul Hletko, Few Spirits (IL)
Matt Hofmann, Westland Distillery (WA)*
Ted Huber, Starlight Distillery (IN)
John Jeffrey, Santa Fe Spirits (NM)
Thomas Jensen, New Liberty Distillery (PA)
Steve Johnson, Vermont Spirits (VT)
Thomas Mooney, House Spirits (OR)
Dave Pickerell, Ex Officio
Mark Shilling, Revolution Spirits (TX)*
Orlin Sorensen, Woodinville Whiskey Co. (WA)*
Chip Tate, Ex Officio
P.T. Wood, Wood’s High Mountain Distillery (TX)*
*newly-elected to the ACSA Board of Directors
Board elections, which were supervised and certified by Robin McDougall of Lake George Distilling Company (NY) and Jeff Wuslich of Cardinal Spirits (IN), were held late last week, with more than 60% of voting members casting ballots, while leadership appointments and committees were chosen this week.
