Join us for this can’t miss event as our industry’s premier thought leaders gather to discuss the political, legislative, and legal issues facing America’s family-owned wholesalers.

This uniquely designed event connects current and future women leaders in the wholesale tier by providing networking opportunities, developing advanced leadership skills and business acumen, and equipping attendees with tools to elevate and empower them in their roles in the ever-changing marketplace within the beverage alcohol industry.

What’s New? This year, we purposefully combined two meetings into one to provide maximum value our members and are excited to now offer the opportunity for attendees of the annual membership meeting to meet with their Members of Congress during a Fly-in/Capitol Hill Day to discuss issues impacting American family-owned wholesalers.

What better way to spend time with your wholesale member contemporaries to connect and hear the latest from our industry’s premier thought leaders on topics like:

• First-hand WSWA Board of Directors update to the membership
• Overview of all WSWA programs/ council work
• Access LIVE: What does the new convention look like? What is different!?!
• Government Affairs/Legal and Regulatory Policy and Advocacy Update
• E-Commerce
• Industry Trends
• Fly In Briefing on Federal Issues
• Political Update
• Capitol Hill Visits

Join WSWA in St. Louis for Bourbon, Baseball and Barbecue! We are thrilled to host our 2022 Leadership Development Week live and in-person! We want to see you at the NextGen Leaders Summit and CLD Conference – taking place together from July 11-14 at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. 

WHAT IS CLD?

The WSWA Council for Leadership Development (CLD) was developed over 60 years ago and brings together the rising leaders in the wholesale tier. Over the past 60 years, this group and conference have evolved but the main focus of the council remains the same: provide a space for the future leaders to share ideas, learn about industry topic and trends, develop and improve leadership skills, and to network with the alcohol industry’s future leaders.

CLD provides many opportunities for our alcohol industry’s next generation of leaders and rising managers including:

• Building an educational foundation of essential policy, legislative, regulatory, marketing and trend information needed to advance in your career;
• Making connections with wholesaler, supplier and service provider peers—as well as current industry leaders, speakers, panelists and the WSWA staff/leadership team;
• Enhancing leadership skills and fine-tuning technology and management abilities.

WHAT IS NEXTGEN SUMMIT?

NextGen brings CLD back to its roots and provides a platform for the next generation of wholesaler owners and presidents to engage with their peers from companies across the country.

Last years programming was focused on more high-level, executive, and strategic conversations revolving around industry issues and hot topics. With the smaller group of 35 attendees (mostly family members) our attendees had the opportunity to have more in-depth discussions on these issues, ask more strategic leadership questions, and engage with their peers in ways they would not have been able to at past conferences.

With the extremely positive feedback from last year’s conference, and the attendees emphasizing how much they enjoyed the smaller group of peers, WSWA will continue to hold a conference for the next generation of family owners. This will be in addition to the traditional CLD Conference where rising leaders in each of the wholesaler member companies are invited to attend.

PRICING

NextGen Leaders Summit: $1100

CLD Conference: $1250

NextGen Leaders Summit & CLD Conference: $1450

The WSWA Forum, formerly known as “Fall Membership Meeting,” will be a virtual summit that invites wholesaler members nationwide to gain a deeper understanding of how WSWA works to deliver the future of our industry every day. Divided into two distinct parts, this meeting kicks off with “Councils and Task Forces Week” which will offer all members, whether or not they are on the board,  the opportunity to engage with staff, learn about current association initiatives, and hear how WSWA is protecting and advancing wholesaler issues throughout the country. The latter half of this program, “Board of Directors Week,” is designed exclusively for the WSWA Board of Directors. This week will host the association’s primary governance meetings where the leaders of our industry discuss association goals and legislative priorities for the upcoming year. Learn more about each week of programming below:

COUNCILS & TASK FORCES WEEK

Join our Communications Council, IT & Operations Council, Diversity & Talent Council, and more as they discuss challenges and opportunities for our industry, as well as how their teams are navigating the COVID-19 landscape. You will hear from staff about SipSource data insights and how Drizly is performing with the dramatic increase in delivery demand. Learn about the new direction the WSWA Convention will move in and how the current environment will change and improve the event. This is the week where, as a member of this association, you have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of all we have to offer you and to also provide input and ask questions.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS WEEK

Designed exclusively for the Board of Directors. The schedule includes Board committee meetings, the Executive Committee meeting, meetings for Leadership Caucus A and B, and the fall Board meeting. All Board members are encouraged to participate, as your input shapes the direction of the association and industry.

We are excited to bring you a more engaging and connected experience designed exclusively for wholesalers in The WSWA Forum.

This conference has been cancelled due to COVID-19. In lieu of the CLD and WLC Conferences in 2020, WSWA will be hosting a six-part webinar series that will bring education on trends, hot topics, and leadership skills development to all WSWA members who register. Stay tuned for more info. 

The Women's Leadership Council (WLC) Conference is designed to connect current and future women leaders in the wholesale tier. This is a great opportunity to further educate, inspire and equip WSWA members to expand their role in the beverage alcohol industry. For more information, please contact Catherine McDaniel at catherine@wswa.org.

This conference has been cancelled due to COVID-19. In lieu of the CLD and WLC Conferences in 2020, WSWA will be hosting a six-part webinar series that will bring education on trends, hot topics, and leadership skills development to all WSWA members who register. Stay tuned for more info. 

Council for Leadership Development (CLD) Skills Conference is WSWA’s annual executive training program for the next generation of industry leaders, whether they are family members or non-family members. All rising leaders, managers and young executives from our wholesale members are invited and encouraged to attend CLD. This conference was developed to help build an educational foundation of crucial legislative, public policy, marketing and trend information needed to advance careers in the beverage alcohol industry. The conference also helps to develop connections among the wholesalers as well as suppliers and service providers, peers and current industry leaders. For more information, contact Kari Langerman at kari@wswa.org.

In the interest of addressing the health and safety concerns of stakeholders as well as following the rapidly developing consensus among public health officials to limit social interactions and cancel events of over 1,000 attendees, the WSWA 77th Annual Convention & Exposition has been cancelled.

For questions regarding the cancellation of the 77th Annual Convention & Exposition, please visit www.wswaconvention.org. Contact our Convention Hotline at (202) 371-5682 or email us at registrations@wswa.org.

The Winter State Policy Conference provides an opportunity for wholesaler state association leaders to discuss the political and legal issues facing wholesalers across the country. By comparing notes and discussing strategy, the meeting increases the effectiveness of state associations and allows wholesalers to speak with a unified voice. WSWA staff use this as an opportunity to receive input from state associations leaders and the implementation of national legislative and legal goals.

The annual Fall Membership Meeting (FMM) is WSWA’s primary annual governance meeting where Board members start determining next year’s agenda and provide direction on legislative, legal and regulatory matters. FMM also offers members the opportunity to network with fellow wholesalers and state association executives as well as engage with a host of interesting speakers. For more information, contact Kari Langerman at kari@wswa.org.