The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Alliance for Women in Beer recently co-hosted the largest iteration of their Making Moves event to date, attracting over 430 attendees for a two-day gathering focused on enhancing leadership skills and recognizing the significant contributions of women in the beverage sector.
Making Moves is unique in its dedication to women in the beer industry, offering engaging and relevant content aimed at helping participants advance their careers, build valuable connections, and gain new insights into key industry challenges.
“Since its inception three years ago, Making Moves has quickly become a must-attend event for beverage professionals at all career stages,” said Kim McKinnish, NBWA Chief Operating Officer, who oversees the BREW initiative and Alliance programs. “Both women and men attend to connect, receive leadership training, and gain industry insights that are difficult to find elsewhere. We are thrilled with the positive response to this year’s event and are committed to delivering a world-class experience for beverage leaders.”
The event opened with an inspiring keynote address from Erika Ayers Badan, former CEO of Barstool Sports, who emphasized the importance of resilience in career development. “I’m a huge proponent of failure,” Badan stated. “By constantly putting yourself in uncomfortable situations and learning to recover from setbacks, you prepare yourself to handle a lot.”
The agenda featured a distinguished lineup of speakers from various segments of the beer and beverage industry, including:
- Jenn Litz-Kirk, Beer Business Daily
- Merrilee Kick, BuzzBallz and Southern Champion
- JB Ryan, Molson Coors
- Brittany Crosby, Walgreens
- Kim James, bp
- Sofia Colucci, Molson Coors
- Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, Zeal of the Heel
- Kimberly Rath, Zeal of the Heel
- Laura Merritt, Diageo Beer Company
- Laurel Patrick Slick, Reyes Beverage Group
- Portia Dowell-Simmons, Glazer’s Beer and Beverage
- Connie Kim, Heineken USA
- Tandy Harvey, Breakthru Beverage California
- Sinead Carey, Breakthru Beverage California
- Bridget Smith, Origlio Beverage
- Natalie Burbidge, Constellation Brands
- Stacey Karczewski, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc.
- Colleen Lucas, Anheuser-Busch
- Erica Taylor, Boston Beer Company
- Rosalie Kennedy, Athletic Brewing Company
- Whitney Stevenson, JuneShine
During the event, NBWA presented the 2024 Frieda G. Maisel Trailblazer Award to Glazer’s Beer and Beverage for its commitment to creating a supportive environment for the professional growth of women.
The next Making Moves event is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas on October 15, 2025, following NBWA’s 88th Annual Convention and Trade Show.
