Now in its third year, the nonprofit American Craft Spirits Association’s (ACSA) April Board of Directors elections saw record participation. Among those chosen, Paul Hletko of Few Spirits (Evanston, IL) was selected as president.“It’s a real honor,” said Hletko. “Certainly the industry has given me a lot, and I very much want to give back.”Hletko was chosen from an original field of 15 candidates that was eventually narrowed down to five. Previously, ACSA asked members to apply for board positions if they wanted to run, then a nomination committee organized them on a ballot overseen by Robin McDougall of Lake George Distilling Company (Fort Ann, NY) and Jeff Wuslich of Cardinal Spirits (Bloomington, IN).ACSA executive director Margie A.S. Lehman says that while they also have affiliate members, only qualified DSP-holding members can vote. She says she and others were proud of the response, with over 60 percent of those members participating.“It definitely was a competitive electoral process,” tells Lehrman. “It wasn’t just one or two DSPs that weighed in.”Replacing previous president Thomas Mooney of House Spirits Distillery (Portland, OR), Hletko says he has big shoes to fill.“The first issue as president will be continuing the good work that Tom did,” Hletko tells. “I don’t want to let him down.”Committed to ensuring the continued success of the industry, Heltko will focus on the challenges and growth opportunities members are most concerned with. He says that ACSA is run by distillers for distillers, and tells that having a board of directors elected by the membership is central to their mission.Lehrman says Hletko will make a great leader not just because of his experience as a distiller and DSP owner, but also because of his previous ACSA participation and his diplomatic personality.“He cares so deeply about the organization and was with it since its founding, and he has a fantastic ability to listen and to analyze what is being said, with the ability then to help forge resolution where everybody is OK with the strategy,” she explains.Lehrman says she is excited to see where Hletko and the rest of the board take ACSA this year. Having worked with associations for over 20 years, she says this group is competent and destined to succeed.Serving alongside Hletko, the ACSA Board of Directors includes:

  • Vice President Dan Garrison, Garrison Brothers Distillery (Hye, TX)
  • Secretary/Treasurer Steve Johnson, Vermont Spirits (Hartford, VT)
  • Nicole Austin, Kings County Distillery (Brooklyn, NY)
  • Mike Blaum, Blaum Brothers Distilling Company (Galena, IL)
  • Maggie Campbell, Privateer Rum (Ipswich, MA)
  • Dan Farber, Osocalis Distillery (Soquel, CA)
  • Matt Hofmann, Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA)
  • Ted Huber, Starlight Distillery (Borden, IN)
  • John Jeffrey, Santa Fe Spirits Distillery (Santa Fe, NM)
  • Thomas Jensen, New Liberty Distillery (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Thomas Mooney, House Spirits Distillery (Portland, OR)
  • Mark Shilling, Revolution Spirits (Austin, TX)
  • Orlin Sorensen, Woodinville Whiskey Co. (Woodinville, WA)
  • T. Wood, Wood’s High Mountain Distillery (Salida, CO)
  • Chip Tate, Ex Officio
  • Dave Pickerell, Ex Officio
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