WSWA exec has key role in organizing June 10 celebration of industry's history

Nachman-Senders

Madden

Trade groups are uniting behind a new exhibit at the National Archives Museum on the history of alcohol in America. One executive with a key role in the industry's celebration is Cindy Nachman-Senders, senior consultant for meetings and conventions at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America

"Spirited Republic" opened March 6 with artifacts and documents from Colonial days, through Prohibition and repeal and today. Nachman-Senders is taking the lead in organizing a high-profile June 10 reception at the museum hosted by associations representing all aspects of the alcoholic beverage industry.

"It's a great opportunity for us all to be on the same page and to do something good for the industry, and to have a united front," Nachman-Senders said.

Patrick Madden, executive director of the National Archives Foundation, worked at associations earlier in his career. So when the exhibit was being planned last summer, he thought of reaching out to trade groups.

"The associations aren't necessarily bringing an agenda of we want to sell X or we want to sell Y product," Madden said. Plus, "they have a passion for the history of the industry."

WSWA was the first industry trade group to come on board and has made the largest trade group contribution; an enthusiastic CEO Craig Wolf —with Nachman-Senders as his point person—quickly helped bring in other associations.

Additional funding is coming from the Beer Institute, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, National Alcohol Beverage Control Association and National Beer Wholesalers Association. (The exhibit also has supporters that are not associations, including The Tasting Panel magazine and the History channel.)

Nachman-Senders, who oversees WSWA's meetings and convention department, said she was born to plan and execute events. The June 10 reception will be particularly fun to organize.

"We've never had an event with all of us together before," she said. "We're pretty excited."