“From two wildly successful sold-out leadership development conferences to a widely-attended reception that has become a staple at the WSWA Annual Convention and Exposition, the WLC has had a real and lasting impact on the nation’s wholesaler community,” WSWA President and CEO Michelle Korsmo said. “While providing a forum for networking and professional development, the group has also found ways to celebrate the achievements of women in the industry with the WLC Icon Award and the quarterly WLC Spotlight. I am confident under the leadership of Philana and Jessica, along with the rest of the advisory board, the WLC will continue to amplify the expertise of women in the wholesale tier.”
“I am excited to lead this impressive group of women in fulfilling the WLC’s mission over the next two years,” WLC Chairman Philana Bouvier said. “From the start, this group was formed to serve an audience in WSWA’s member companies that has been growing at an exponential rate. With the environment we have created, we are enhancing the talent that exists in the wholesale tier and continuing to encourage and empower women to aim for leadership roles.”
Other advisory board members include Heather Alper of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Megan Ross Iaccino of Great Lakes Wine & Spirits; Stacy Gabel of Republic National Distributing Company; Lacey Sadoff of Badger Liquor Company; Monica Chaplin of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; and Hillary Wirtz of Breakthru Beverage.
The WSWA Women’s Leadership Council is comprised of leaders in the wholesale tier of the U.S. Beverage alcohol industry. Its primary mission is to help foster relationships between members, as well as industry leaders within the three-tier system, advance women in the industry, and provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge with peers.
The WLC Advisory Board will meet January 24-25 in Washington, D.C. to layout the group’s priorities for this year and begin work planning its 2019 events.
WSWA is the national trade association representing the wholesale tier of the wine and spirits industry, dedicated to advancing the interests and independence of wholesalers, distributors and brokers of wine and spirits. Founded in 1943, WSWA has more than 370 member companies in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and its members distribute more than 80 percent of all wine and spirits sold at wholesale in the U.S. Visit www.wswa.org to learn more.