Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation Publicizes
New Board Officers & Administrators
2025 BOARD READIES SIGNATURE INDUSTRY FOR GLOBAL GROWTH, CHALLENGES
FRANKFORT, KY.— The Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation (KDA) immediately introduced that Ken Lewis has been elected Chair of the 144-year-old non-profit commerce group that unites, promotes, and protects the signature Kentucky Bourbon and distilled spirits trade.
Lewis, founding father of New Riff Distilling, will start his time period as Chair starting Jan. 1, 2025, and can serve by means of December 2025. He succeeds Jessica Pendergrass, Normal Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Heaven Hill Distilleries, who’s ending her second flip as Chair.
“It’s an honor to function Chair of the KDA. I’m proud to have been part of all of the work KDA has accomplished through the years to develop our trade right into a $9 billion financial engine,” stated Lewis, who retired this yr as President and CEO of New Riff and is now its Working Proprietor.
“As I enter this new management function, I’ve eyes extensive open to the alternatives and challenges our trade will face within the coming months and years. We’ve at all times discovered success once we work collectively as one distilling household, and I sit up for constructing upon that legacy.”
KDA President Eric Gregory, who’s ending his seventeenth yr main the historic group, stated he appears ahead to working alongside Lewis and your complete Board as they proceed to construct upon the strategic plan to strengthen the KDA because the Worldwide Voice for Bourbon™.
“We’re blessed to have a visionary and engaged Board of Administrators that has completely positioned the KDA and our members to confidently advocate for Kentucky Bourbon and American Whiskey on a world scale,” Gregory stated.
“This coming yr will deliver many alternatives and challenges for our signature spirit. With Ken main our dynamic Board of Administrators, we’re poised to raise Kentucky Bourbon even additional internationally, each as a number one beverage and a thriving tourism behemoth.”
Alongside Lewis, the Board additionally named Gigi DaDan, Normal Supervisor of Louisville Distilling Co., as Vice Chair; Kaveh Zamanian, Founder, Whiskey Maker & CEO of Rabbit Gap Distillery, as Secretary; and Chris Morris, Grasp Distiller Emeritus at Brown Forman Corp. as Treasurer.
Different Board officers embrace Pendergrass because the Fast Previous Chair; Wally Dant, President and Distiller of Log Nonetheless Distillery, representing “Proof” degree members; and Jeremy Buchanan, CEO and Proprietor of Hartfield & Co., representing “Craft” degree members.
Different Board members for 2025 embrace:
· Bardstown Bourbon Co.: Mark Erwin, President and CEO
· Fort & Key Distillery: Will Arvin, Co-Founder
· Diageo North America: Antoine Smith, Vice President of Distillation and Maturation North America
· 4 Roses Distillery: Ryan Ashley, Chief Operations Officer
· Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.: Robert G. Downing III, Senior Company Counsel
· Lux Row Distillers: Erika Lapish, Vice President of Human Assets
· Michter’s Distillery: Andrea Wilson, Chief Working Officer & Grasp of Maturation
· Suntory International Spirits: Crady deGolian, Director of Public Affairs
· Whiskey Home of Kentucky: David Mandell, Co-Founder and CEO
· Wild Turkey Distillery: Marco Barassi, Campari Authorities Relations and Sustainability Director, North America
· Willett Distillery: Britt Kulsveen, President
· White Canine Buying and selling & Storage: Tyler Harris, President
About Ken Lewis:
Ken Lewis of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a spirits knowledgeable and groundbreaking coverage chief, Lewis graduated school as a skilled English trainer, however left shortly into his younger profession for the world of spirits retail. He championed efforts for Sunday gross sales and initiated litigation that allowed retailers to make use of bank cards for gross sales, ultimately constructing The Celebration Supply megastore, the primary of its sort within the nation. Studying the trade from the underside up, Lewis introduced innovation and entrepreneurship because the founding father of New Riff Distilling in Northern Kentucky, paving the way in which for the craft Bourbon growth that now counts dozens of Kentucky distilleries.
New Riff Distilling joined the KDA in 2014 and have become a Heritage member in 2024. Lewis has served on the KDA Board since 2020 and this yr served because the Vice Chair. Since 2022, he has served on the KDA’s Authorities Affairs Advisory Group and the KDA’s Bourbon Path PAC Committee. He additionally has served on the Boards of Administrators on the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Kentucky Conference Heart, and MeetNKY.
“This coming yr will deliver many alternatives and challenges for our signature spirit. With Ken main our dynamic Board of Administrators, we’re poised to raise Kentucky Bourbon even additional internationally, each as a number one beverage and a thriving tourism behemoth.”
— Eric Gregory, KDA President
Based in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation is the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon™.
Concerning the Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation:
Based in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits trade. Its various and rising membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, world manufacturers to rising micro distilleries which are fostering the following technology of the Commonwealth’s landmark financial engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member advantages embrace media relations, worldwide commerce improvement, personal sampling occasions, technical help, financial improvement assist, networking, authorized protection, advertising and marketing methods, governmental and regulatory advocacy and modern tourism experiences by means of the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Path® and Kentucky Bourbon Path Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit group, the KDA maintains an open membership coverage, champions a robust dedication to the accountable and average consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage consuming and drunk driving. Be taught extra at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.
KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™ and KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME® are logos/service marks owned by the Kentucky Distillers’ Affiliation.
