Twenty-Nine Industry Professionals Finish an Eight-Month Leadership Push
Twenty-nine people from across the American spirits business have finished one of the industry's most closely watched development programs. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, known as DISCUS, announced the graduating class of its 2026 DISCUS Academy leadership certificate program. The group includes distillery managers, finance chiefs, sales directors, brand managers, engineers and educators. Together they cover nearly every corner of the business, from the still house to the sales floor.
The program ran eight months. It ended with a leadership summit in San Antonio, Texas, where the class gathered in person for the final stretch. The summit covered personal development, innovation presentations, networking, team building and community service. A graduation and awards dinner closed out the event.
DISCUS is the leading voice for distilled spirits in the U.S. It advocates on legislative, regulatory and public affairs issues at the local, state, federal and international levels. The Academy is the group's way of building the next generation of people who will run the companies it represents.
What the Leadership Program Is Meant to Do
DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger framed the class as a look at where the business is headed. "The graduates of the 2026 DISCUS Academy Leadership Program represent the future of our industry," said DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger. "Throughout this journey, they have demonstrated curiosity, commitment and a willingness to lead with purpose. We are proud of their accomplishments and excited to see the impact they will make as they help shape the next chapter of the beverage alcohol sector."
The comment lands at a time when the spirits business is changing. Brands are getting older and new ones are showing up all the time. Distilleries of every size are competing for shelf space, bar placements and loyal customers. Companies in this kind of market need managers who can think past the next quarter. That is the gap a program like this tries to fill.
What Graduates Took Home
Graduates left with more than a handshake and a certificate. DISCUS says the class gained several things over the eight months:
Industry-recognized leadership credentials. Deeper self-awareness through Predictive Index insights. Practical leadership training from Dare to Lead and the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative. Meaningful connections with peers and alumni. In-person experiences built to encourage teamwork and growth.
The Predictive Index piece is about understanding how a person is wired, including how they work, how they make decisions and how they come across to others. Many veteran managers will say that knowing yourself is half the battle when you are leading a crew. The Dare to Lead material is a well-known leadership curriculum. The Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative adds a business-building angle for people who want to think more like owners.
Meet the 2026 Graduates
The class is a real cross-section of the business. Several companies sent more than one person, which suggests employers see value in the program.
Distilleries and Production
Alex Vesely works as Distillery Operations Manager at Southern Distilling Company. James Mmbando is Manager of Engineering Projects at Heaven Hill Brands Inc., one of the better-known family-owned names in American whiskey. Taylor Duncan serves as Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at Bacardi and Angels Envy. Joe Sadowski is VP of Finance at Woody Creek Distillers, and Jon (Jay) Maas is Director of Finance and Admin at Dancing Goat Distillery. Tracie Franklin is VP of Supply and Innovation at Pronghorn Co and the founder of Get Spirited Consulting.
Big Brands and Global Names
Pernod Ricard sent two graduates. Alyson Weiss is a Senior Associate in Customer Operations, and Podge Henry is Brand Manager for Skrewball Whiskey.
Remy Cointreau, USA also had two people in the class. Antonio Portillo is Senior Director of Field Marketing and Commercial Planning, and Cathy Ann Zakrzewski is Senior Director of Sales.
Mast Jägermeister US had the largest group, with four graduates. Charlotte Marshall is Territory Sales Manager for On Premise in Georgia. Emily Dickson and Nicholas Richmond are both Regional Sales Managers. Gregory Levin is Country Manager for Canada.
Chantel Leurs-Beeson is Director of Field Marketing for Champagne and Sparkling at Moet Hennessy.
Distribution, Retail and Sales
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits sent Emily Knetsche, Manager of Commercial Effectiveness. Johnson Brothers sent Katie Benner, Supplier Performance Manager.
Hotaling & Co. also had two graduates. John Martin is National Retail Chain Manager, and Olya Batsula is Regional Sales Manager.
Kelsi Langford is ETX Retail Market Manager at Still Austin Whiskey Co. Brittany Carrillo and Michelle Cetta are both Senior Account Managers at Spearhead Global.
Education, Hospitality and Industry Groups
The class also reached beyond the big producers. Andrea Fujarczuk is Program Coordinator and Professor of Artisan Distilling at Niagara College, where she helps train future distillers. Alexandra Hackett is Director of Hospitality and Corporate Beverage Director at Rick Erwin Dining Group. Alexa Gallagher is Associate Director at the Estate Whiskey Alliance. Anne Marie Kelly is Business Development Manager and Founder of Women in Irish Whiskey. Lola Thomas is Program Director at the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.
Mark Ishmael is Director of Commercial Performance and Enterprise Insights at the JobsOhio Beverage System. Ross Mulkerrin is Director of Member Services at DISCUS itself.
Why a Mixed Class Matters
One thing stands out in this list. The graduates work for tiny craft distilleries, global giants, distributors, restaurant groups, colleges and nonprofits. Many of them would likely never cross paths in a normal workweek.
The U.S. beverage alcohol business runs on a three-tier system. Producers make the product, distributors move it, and retailers and restaurants sell it. People in each tier often see the others from a distance. Putting them in a room together for months can break down some of that distance, and it can lead to better working relationships down the road.
For a distillery finance manager, hearing how a national retail chain manager thinks can be an eye-opener. For a sales director at a global brand, talking with someone who runs a small-batch operation can reveal problems that never show up in a quarterly report. The program is built around that kind of exchange.
How to Get Into the 2027 Class
DISCUS is already looking for its next group. The 2027 DISCUS Academy Leadership Program will begin in February 2027. Applications are being accepted through Dec. 1, 2026.
Space is tight. Only 30 spots are available for 2027. DISCUS describes the experience as intimate and high-impact, bringing together rising talent across beverage alcohol and all three tiers. The goal is a one-of-a-kind group with what the organization calls unmatched networking value.
Anyone interested can find details and the application through DISCUS. With a Dec. 1 deadline and only 30 seats, those who want in will want to move early.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 graduates now carry leadership credentials, a new network and a few months of hands-on training behind them. They will head back to their distilleries, offices, classrooms and sales territories with fresh ideas. If the program does what DISCUS hopes, some of them will be running the companies that shape American spirits over the next decade.
