BOULDER, Colo. – The Brewers Association (BA), the nonprofit trade association dedicated to small, independent American craft brewers, has announced the recipients of its first Mentor of the Year Award: Annette May and Ramon Tamayo.
“Through the larger mentorship program and our wonderful volunteer mentors, we are moving the needle forward in the craft beer community by providing people with the tools and resources to succeed, especially those who face obstacles. more important,” said Dr. J Nikol Jackson-Beckham, Equity and Inclusion Partner at the Brewers Association. “I am proud to see Annette and Ramon creating lasting and positive ripple effects in the industry; they establish a solid foundation to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
The Brewers Association Mentorship Program aims to increase diversity in the workforce, leadership and ownership of small independent breweries by providing structured mentorship and advocacy to those who face barriers to access or to advancement in the industry. Since the program’s inception 15 months ago, 86 mentors have mentored 89 individuals seeking to develop their knowledge and skills in the craft brewing community. The Mentor of the Year Award recognizes volunteer mentors who have provided exceptional mentorship to program participants and championed those who face barriers to access and advancement in their career paths.
“Mentoring is a great way to give back to the community and make a positive impact in someone’s life,” said May, founding faculty member of Schoolcraft College’s Brewing and Distilling Technology Program and first woman to become Cicerone® certified. “From serving and tasting beer at Craft Beer 101, I’m excited to have the chance to help mentor people who are looking to grow and thrive in the craft beer industry.”
“As a brewing community, we need to come together to facilitate the continued growth of our members,” said Tamayo, Brewing Manager for Magnolia Brewing Co. “Through this program, I’ve met so many great people, at the time from fellow mentors and mentees and heard so many wonderful stories. It was an inspiring experience that I am truly grateful to have been part of.
Both winners will be honored at this year’s Craft Brewers Conference® in Minneapolis.
The Brewers Association recently announced the selection of the third cohort of the mentorship program; with 34 participants, it is the largest cohort to date.
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the nonprofit trade association dedicated to America’s small, independent brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents more than 5,600 American breweries and more than 38,000 home brewers. The BA Independent Craft Brewer Seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers from small independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events such as the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR™: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con™, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® and Zymurgy® magazines, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the United States. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the vibrant world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about home brewing through BA’s American Homebrewers Association® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app.
For more information:
https://www.brewersassociation.org/association-news/annette-may-and-ramon-tamayo-receive-inaugural-mentor-of-year-award/
