2022 Forum on the Hill

During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and hear from WSWA’s new President & CEO, who will officially start at the association later this fall.

WSWA has several initiatives currently in the works. During this 45-minute session, WSWA will provide an overview of three projects and ask specific questions for our members to focus on and discuss with their tables. At the end, attendees will report out with their thoughts and ideas. The topics to be discussed include:

Sustainability Initiative: WSWA is committed to elevating the sustainability efforts of wine and spirits wholesalers and the important role they play in assisting supplier and retail partners in achieving theirs.  In the year to come, WSWA will highlight the ways in which wholesalers are reducing their environmental impact with energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, fleet and facility modernization, and other opportunities to collaborate with industry partners throughout the alcohol industry. 

Minority-owned Wholesaler Initiative:  This year, WSWA has begun a thorough research project gathering data to understand the scope of minority-owned, women-owned, and/or veteran-owned distributors in the US.  Our goal is to grow WSWA membership by creating a diverse community of wholesaler members.  Ensuring there are no barriers to entry for new members within this sector, better understanding their specific business needs with the goal of joining the association and attending Access LIVE, our premier event.

Catch-up and network with fellow attendees and industry peers for breakfast. There will be no programming during this event. Enjoy breakfast at your leisure.

Hear from the WSWA team about all the exciting changes in the works for the launch of the reimagined, WSWA Convention, now called Access LIVE!

Hear from and engage with the Honorable Michael Chertoff, Executive Chairman of The Chertoff Group and former Secretary of Homeland Security on the current state of global cyber security as well as the current environment your business is operating in – from threats to best practices.

Listen to and engage with WSWA's EVP for communications and marketing Michael Bilello and Morning Consult's food and beverage analyst Emily Moquin as they speak to the results of a poll conducted between Aug 3-8 with 3,200 mothers on; awareness and perception of alcohol laws and regulations; DTC shipping of spirits; DTC messaging; Change in opposing DTC interstate shipping.

WSWA’s government affairs and legal teams will provide an update on priorities and emerging legislative, regulatory, and litigation developments impacting wine and spirits wholesalers in the states and federally. This session will also serve as the first meeting of the new Public Policy Committee.

WSWA’s Federal Affairs team will provide background information on the policy issues members will discuss with Members of Congress during Capitol Hill meetings.

Tim Wu, antitrust advisor to President Biden, will be speaking to all Forum attendees during lunch. Wu was key to the creation of Biden’s economic policy agenda and is helping drive the administration’s push to rein in large corporations with tougher antitrust enforcement.