The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) today announced the graduating classes of DISCUS Academy’s 2024 leadership certificate programs: the Executive Leadership Program and the Developing Leadership Program.
Participants traveled to Tucson, AZ, to culminate the eight-month-long program with a leadership retreat focused on in-person development, networking, team building and community service. The retreat concluded with a graduation and awards dinner.
“The beverage alcohol industry is filled with great talent, and these programs ensure we are fostering growth and leadership across our sector to build for the future,” said Chris Swonger, DISCUS president and CEO. “We are proud to have nearly 50 graduates this year who are now poised to go back to their jobs and share the skills they have learned. Congratulations to each graduate on their hard-earned certifications.”
The leadership certificate programs offered through DISCUS Academy are open to any beverage alcohol professionals across all tiers. The programs consist of virtual and in-person elements as well as course work from Cornell and the University of Kentucky.
The Executive Leadership Program is designed for spirits professionals who have at least five years of experience and have demonstrated responsibility for cross-functional leadership and/or strategy-level decision-making in the distilled spirits industry.
The 2024 Executive Leadership Program graduates are:
- Samantha Adcock, Director of Marketing, Daylight Wine & Spirits
- Rachel Andres, Division VP-Control Region, Campari
- Vienna Barger, Co-founder/COO, Southern Distilling Co.
- Cody Butters Lewis, National Accounts Off Premise Manager, Mast-Jägermeister
- Ashley Cesario, National Sales & Export Director, Jordan Vineyard
- Sebastian Devallet, Vice President USA, Rémy Cointreau
- Ingrid Hobbs, Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Beam Suntory
- Jen Kearney, Chief People Officer, Marussia Beverages
- Mary McKinley-Lee, Senior Accounting Manager, Koloa Rum
- Danielle Menendez, Data Strategy Lead, SGWS
- Mallory Morris, Owner/Head Winemaker, Ghost Fox Winery
- Mara Smith, Founder/CEO, Inspiro Tequila
- Melissa Uribe Velasco, Marketing Director, Edrington
- Blair Woodall, Spirits Consultant, Strategic Advisor, Whiskey Blair
The Developing Leadership Program is designed for any professional with an interest in growing their leadership skills. This program transforms early-stage managers into true leaders, by giving participants an opportunity to identify their leadership style, develop interpersonal skills, and understand how to build and manage a high-performance team.
The 2024 Developing Leadership Program graduates are:
- Katie Alland, Senior Manager Consumer Sustainability, Beam Suntory
- Kima Bacevicius, Portfolio Director, Horizon Beverage Company
- Jack Bauer, Global Senior Brand Manager, Edrington
- Devin Billingsley, HR Specialist/Recruiter, Mast-Jägermeister
- Chiara Bottasso, Corporate FP&A Manager, Campari
- Annie Davis, Director of Business Development, SGWS
- Tara Dawson, Senior Director, Pernod Ricard
- Jacqueline Driscoll, Director, Sales Operations Planning Activation, Pernod Ricard
- Paolo Fabbri, Logistics, Operations, and Facilities Manager, Mast-Jägermeister
- Tony Fuggiti, Senior Manager IT, Sales Excellence, Beam Suntory
- Samantha Harpst, Operations Analyst, Southern Distilling Co.
- Maria Hernandez, Omnichannel Marketing Senior Manager, Edrington
- Erin Hildreth, VP, Communications, Responsibility.org
- Greg Holub, Senior Director, Southeast Region, Mark Anthony Group
- Liz Hoopes, Sales Manager, SGWS
- Melinda Johnson Maddox, Head of Production, Old Elk Distillery
- Joe Leggio, Sr. Operations Analyst, Mast-Jägermeister
- Blake Lindelow, Area Manager, Edrington
- Marissa Meyerowitz, Senior Brand Manager, Patron Tequila, Bacardi
- Brad Morgan, Supply Chain Director, Virginia Distillery Co.
- Beatriz Munozcano, Director, Strategic Business Integration, Pernod Ricard
- Tyler Pederson, Master Distiller, Westland Distillery
- Dennis Ryan, Counsel, Mast-Jägermeister
- Andrea Schaeffer, National Account Manager, Tito’s
- Caiti Soares, Brand Manager, Edrington
- Lindsay Strycharz, Senior Brand Controller, Rémy Cointreau
- Rebekah Taylor, Operations Manager, Pernod Ricard
- Halle Trefzger, Senior Regional Sales & Marketing Manager, Koloa Rum
- Sheree Wehrle, Business Manager, Breakthru Beverage Missouri
- Sarah Wilhelm, Assistant General Counsel, Edrington
- Jenny Wren, Founder, The Wren Way
The 2025 programs with include the Developing Women Leadership Program, offered in partnership with Women of the Vine & Spirits. This program equips leaders in beverage alcohol with professional skills to help them address unique challenges organizations face. It will specifically focus on the empowerment of women leaders, creating a safe space to examine the historical and current issues sometimes faced by females in a male-dominated industry.
Those interested in joining any of the 2025 leadership certificate programs can apply on the DISCUS Academy site. Early Bird Applications will be accepted until September 30, and the final deadline is November 15, 2024, and the new sessions will begin in February 2025.
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Executive Leadership Program
The Executive Leadership Program, in partnership with the University of Kentucky’s Gatton School of Business, develops a leader’s ability to communicate strategy, negotiate skillfully, influence team behaviors and deliver results. The program ensures the right blend of soft skills and a strategic mindset to achieve performance outcomes at participants’ companies.
Developing Leadership Program
The Developing Leadership Program, in partnership with Cornell University, transforms early-stage managers into true leaders, by exploring leadership styles, developing interpersonal skills, and learning how to build and manage a high-performance team. Entrepreneurs, new managers and employees with limited management experience are encouraged to apply.
Developing Women Leadership Program
The Developing Women Leadership Program, in collaboration with Women of the Vine & Spirits and conducted in partnership with Cornell University, is designed to empower and advance women in the spirits workforce by developing leadership and managerial skills.
