Blog
2026 Convention Panels: Growing the Category, Building for the Future
The Great Convergence (Monday, Oct. 12)
For a decade, beverage leaders have talked about convergence as something that was coming. Today, it is happening in real time:
- Brewers are becoming total beverage companies while spirits suppliers enter traditional beer networks.
- Beer distributors are expanding deeper into spirits, canned cocktails, NAs and emerging categories; wine and spirits distributors are becoming more active in beer.
- And consumer demand continues to blur category boundaries.
Amid all this change, how can beer distributors embrace beverage expansion while keeping beer first? Distributor leaders operating across different markets, ownership structures and portfolio strategies will discuss what they’re seeing and how they’re positioning their businesses for the future.
- Michael Corrigan, KEG 1 Colorado, LLC
- J.R. Hand, Hand Family Companies
- Peter Heimark, Heimark Distributing
- Bubba Moffett, Crescent Crown Distributing
- Moderator: Mike Frank, Frank Beverage Group
Turning Occasions Into Cases (Tuesday, Oct. 13)
As consumers increasingly value connection, community and shared experiences, beer is uniquely positioned to bring people together.
Join industry leaders in this General Session panel as they discuss the role occasions play in driving beer growth, why the on-premise remains one of the category’s bright spots and what it takes to turn successful occasions into sustainable volume.
Through examples ranging from the FIFA World Cup to the Iowa State Fair and live-event hospitality, panelists will share practical lessons that distributors can apply in their own markets.
- Kristen Burke, Burke Distributing Corporation
- Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Brewery
- Lauren Doll-Sheeder, Doll Distributing
- Bobby Greenawalt, Greenawalt Hospitality
- Moderator: Lester Jones, NBWA