StateWays n www.stateways.com n July/August 2015 4
Get Out and Network
A
s you may have noticed from my Trip Reports in the last few issues, I've spent much
of the past four months on the road at industry events. Now that I'm back home and
spending the summer in one place, I've had some time to reflect on how important
hands-on experiences are in this industry.
In May I attended the NABCA Annual Conference in Phoenix (see page 24). I had the
opportunity to speak with a number of state administrators, including Steve Larson from Iowa,
who was on the cover of this magazine in May, and Shauna Helfert from Montana, who graces
our cover this issue. Interesting sessions at the event also included "When Your Name is on
the Bottle" – with Tito Beveridge entertaining the crowd with his anecdotes – and "Weed and
Whiskey," which discussed the issue of marijuana legalization and how control states may need
to prepare for regulating new substances.
Unexpected Results
Getting away from your state doesn't just sharpen your industry knowledge and expand your
network; it can lead to surprising benefits. Later this year, two writers will have their StateWays
debut, expanding our coverage of the wine industry – I met both of them on a trip to Spain this
spring (see page 11). And my visits to Phoenix and Spain weren't the only trips that yielded
unexpected benefits. My time in New Orleans, Louisville and Orlando were all equally lucrative
for content creation and networking.
It's sometimes difficult to get out of the trenches and leave your day-to-day work in someone
else's hands. But meeting the people, places and raw materials that create the products on your
shelves is invaluable. You might be surprised by who you meet and what you learn – and the
experience will make you a better industry representative.
Jeremy Nedelka, Editor
Editor
Jeremy Nedelka
Tel: 203-855-8499 x213
jnedelka@specialtyim.com
Associate Editor
Kyle Swartz
Tel: 203-855-8499 x225
kswartz@specialtyim.com
Art Director
Jean Blackmer
Contributing Editors
Alia Akkam, Melissa Niksic, Robert
Plotkin and Thomas Henry Strenk
Sr. Regional Sales Managers
Bruce Kostic
Tel: 203-855-8499, ext. 215
bkostic@specialtyim.com
Mark Marcon
Tel: 248-761-6231
mmarcon@specialtyim.com
Debbie Rittenberg
Tel: 215-431-8787
drittenberg@specialtyim.com
Senior Research Analyst
Adam Rogers
Vice President, Beverage
Amy Collins
acollins@epgmediallc.com
Production Director
Cherri Perschmann
Tel: 763-383-4425
cperschmann@epgmediallc.com
List Rental
Jim Scova
Tel: 914-368-1012
jscova@MeritDirect.com
Reprints
Circulation and Audience
Development Manager
Debra Welter
Tel: 847-720-5614
dwelter@specialtyim.com
StateWays is published by
The Beverage Information Group,
a division of EPG Media &
Specialty Information.
E D I T O R ' S N O T E
