WSWA’s Annual Membership Forum, October 1-2, is the event for gaining business intelligence, networking with other executives in the wholesale tier and providing valuable input on critical issues and decisions.
October 1-2, 2026
Who should attend? WSWA Board of Directors, WSWA Wholesaler Member Company Owners, CEOs and Top Executives.
WSWA’s Chairman will open the Forum with a timely state-of-the-association address, followed by key governance business, including member voting on the new slate of Board of Directors nominees.
Featured speaker Daniel Lippman, White House and Washington reporter for POLITICO, will offer an insider’s view of the political dynamics shaping policy, politics and decision-making in Washington heading into the fall.
Join this essential briefing on the policy issues affecting the wholesale tier and the role of WSWA-PAC in advancing industry priorities. The session will feature timely updates from Capitol Hill, state capitols and the legal landscape.
WSWA’s communications and policy teams will share how the association is elevating the wholesaler perspective in alcohol policy conversations nationwide as the industry faces shifting narratives, regulatory challenges and new marketplace pressures.
Explore the rapidly evolving intoxicating hemp beverage landscape and WSWA’s advocacy for clear, consistent regulatory oversight, including the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act. With a short-term extension recently passed by Congress, questions about how this growing category should be regulated remain front and center in Washington and state capitols.
Explore how Masava helps beverage alcohol distributors address operational challenges by connecting fragmented systems and improving visibility across the organization. Learn how the platform leverages AI to reduce operational inefficiencies, support smarter resource allocation, and drive more profitable business decisions.
Join fellow Large Enterprise Council and Small Enterprise Council members for facilitated peer discussions on the issues affecting companies like yours, the ways WSWA can support members in addressing those challenges, and opportunities to strengthen engagement and maximize membership value. Each breakout will also include a vote to select the new council chair.
Connect with fellow members during an informal reception supporting WSWA-PAC and strengthening relationships across the wholesale tier.
WSWA’s Chairman will open the Forum with a timely state-of-the-association address, followed by key governance business, including member voting on the new slate of Board of Directors nominees.
Featured speaker Daniel Lippman, White House and Washington reporter for POLITICO, will offer an insider’s view of the political dynamics shaping policy, politics and decision-making in Washington heading into the fall.
Committee members will convene for concurrent working sessions focused on Foundation priorities, Committee for Leadership Development initiatives and Finance Committee business.
WSWA’s President & CEO Francis Creighton will share a concise update on association priorities, recent progress and the work ahead for members and the wholesale tier.
Data is only as powerful as how you use it. This session dives into the latest insights from WSWA's SipSource®, translating key trends into actionable strategies for today’s leaders. Join Danny Brager, SipSource Analyst, for an open conversation about what the numbers are revealing—and how to turn those insights into smarter sales approaches, stronger forecasting, and more confident decision-making.
Atwood Group will deliver an economic outlook and review WSWA’s investment portfolio performance, offering perspective on the financial conditions and market factors most relevant to the association.
AI capability is compounding faster than most leadership teams have priced in. Brooks Hamilton — drawing on two decades of AI-driven pricing and sales-effectiveness work with organizations like Home Depot Supply, METRO, Cargill, and UPS — cuts through the hype to show WSWA's board and ownership what's actually changing inside a three-tier business, then leaves them with a concrete, sequenced playbook: what to adopt first, and where the real returns are. Led by Brooks Hamilton, Founder & CEO of AI Strategy Advisors.
Mark Brown, Executive Chairman of Sazerac Company, will share his perspective on the forces shaping beverage alcohol today and what they signal for the industry’s next chapter.
