Press Release
Incoming Chairman Peter Heimark Highlights Changes, Challenges and Opportunities in Year Ahead for NBWA, Beer Distribution Industry
NBWA Announces New Chairman, Peter Heimark, Hears from Business and Social Leaders During Final Session of its 84th Annual Convention
Media contact: Erin Donar | EDonar@nbwa.org | 703-229-3702
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Today, the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) concluded its 84th Annual Convention and Trade Show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. During Tuesday’s general session, NBWA President and CEO Craig Purser and outgoing Chairman of the Board Patrick Blach introduced Peter Heimark as the organization’s new Chairman of the Board.
“Peter’s two decades of experience serving the beer distribution industry in Southern California will be especially valuable as he helps lead this industry forward over the next year,” said Craig Purser, President and CEO of NBWA. “Peter’s expertise and insights have already served NBWA well as an active member and Vice-Chairman. We welcome his leadership during such a crucial time for the industry.”
During his remarks, Heimark discussed his deep roots in the beer distribution business and spoke about the resilience of the industry throughout the pandemic, highlighting distributors’ role as essential businesses and their commitment to local communities.
“I was pretty much born to this business – third generation, going to the warehouse with my dad on Saturdays as a kid and vacationing around conventions just like this one. I am extremely honored to be your new Chairman, particularly at such a pivotal moment for our industry,” said Peter Heimark, President of Heimark Distributing. “Despite all the special interests that want to see us fail, we’re still here, and we continue to show we’re essential. Because we do what we always do — we get to work, we figure it out no matter the challenge and we get the job done.”
Following Heimark’s comments, NBWA presented several awards to distributor members:
- The Public Affairs Award was given to Laura Markstein of Markstein Sales Company for her work on promoting the Distributors Against Human Trafficking Initiative.
- The Kenny Kerr PAC Award was given to Gregory ‘Bud’ Dunn, Jr. of Atlas Sales for his work to continue growing the PAC every year since his chairmanship in 2019.
NBWA President and CEO Craig Purser, as well as Former NBWA Chairman and current Chairman of the Center for Alcohol Policy Bob Archer, presented a special posthumous Life Service award to Mike Lashbrook. Lashbrook was the first Executive Director for the Center for Alcohol Policy and was instrumental in growing the organization.
Convention attendees also heard from Living Essentials, LLC Founder and CEO Manoj Bhargava, who shared details about his philanthropic endeavors and ideas for how to integrate social entrepreneurship into business strategies. Additionally, Benj Steinman, President of Beer Marketer’s INSIGHTS, was joined by Steve Fechheimer, CEO of New Belgium Brewing, Pete Marino, President of Emerging Growth at Molson Coors, and Nuno Teles, President of Diageo Beer Company, for a panel discussion about the challenges and opportunities in the evolving beverage landscape and how brewers are adapting.
Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne closed the general session with a keynote about his inspiring story of resiliency.
Hailing from Indio, CA, Peter Heimark has served as the President of Heimark Distributing since August of 2020. Previously, he worked at Triangle Distributing Company, Heimark Distributing’s former sister company where he served in nearly every role before being named president in 2003. He has served on the NBWA Board since 2016, including as Chair of the Legal Review Committee before being elected as NBWA Secretary. He is a founding member and board member of the California Family Beer Distributors. Heimark has also served on the Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Advisory panel twice, including as its chairman in 2009. Read Heimark’s full remarks here.
This year, the NBWA Trade Show floor was sold out and boasted an impressive 150+ exhibitors from across the country. For more information about NBWA’s 84th Annual Convention and Trade Show visit our website here.
The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents America’s 3,000 independent beer distributors who service every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Licensed at the federal and state levels, beer distributors get bottles, cans, cases and kegs from a brewer or importer to stores, restaurants and other licensed retail accounts through a transparent and accountable regulatory system. Distributors build brands of all sizes – from familiar domestic beers to new startup labels and imports from around the world – and generate enormous consumer choice while supporting more than 140,000 quality jobs in their home communities. Beer distributors work locally to keep communities safe by sponsoring programs to promote responsible consumption, combat drunk driving and reduce underage drinking.