Boulder, Colorado.—Continuing its commitment to diversity, the Brewers Association (BA), the nonprofit trade association dedicated to small independent American craft brewers, today announced that it has hired J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham, Ph. .D. as its very first Diversity Ambassador.
Similar to other BA ambassador roles, Jackson-Beckham will travel across the country to state guild and other community craft brewing events to talk about best practices for diversifying both customer bases and staff and to listen to current challenges in this area. She will work closely with the recently created Diversity Committee, led by Julie Verratti of Denizens Brewing Co. and comprised of a cross section of industry members from diverse backgrounds and geographies.
“Craft beer is made by and for everyone,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO of the Brewers Association. “Diversity and inclusion are opportunities for businesses to lead and succeed. Jackson-Beckham will help reinforce this idea, identify opportunities where efforts can be strengthened, and educate our members to become an even more inclusive community. We welcome him to the Brewers Association team.
An assistant professor of communication studies at Randolph College, Jackson-Beckham has a long history in the brewing community. She has been an avid home brewer for over a decade and has researched and written about beer and its place in American culture. She has delivered keynote addresses, presentations and guest lectures on craft beer culture and inclusivity.
“Serving the Brewers Association in this capacity ‘closes the loop’ on things I’ve been doing for almost a decade now. I was fortunate enough to successfully combine a true passion for craft beer with an academic career,” said Jackson-Beckham. “I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to be part of genuine efforts to overcome some of the challenges that I have spent a lot of time researching and writing about. I am truly thrilled to have the opportunity to change the way many people in the industry think about diversity and inclusion.
Jackson-Beckham will make her first appearance as a diversity ambassador at the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®in Nashville, Tennessee, from April 30 to May 3. His presentation is “A Brewery for All — Tactics for Being Inclusive and Fostering Diversity”.
Contact: Abby Cohen (on behalf of the Brewers Association), 646-695-7044.
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 4,000 American breweries. The BA Independent Craft Brewer Seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers from small independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the beer world cup®, Great American Oktoberfest®, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®, SAVOUR℠: an American craft beer and a gastronomic experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The new brewer® 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 on homebrewing via BAs American Homebrew Association and free Brew Guru™ mobile app. follow us on Facebook, instagram and Twitter.
