The capital city of Madison, Wisconsin once again played host to the Brewers Association (BA)-sponsored 2024 biannual National State Guilds Summit, with representatives from 28 state guilds attending the two-day educational event. Forty seven total attendees (including four BA staff members) took part in eight informative sessions covering a range of issues identified by guilds as key to the successful and effective operation of their organizations.

The BA has always maintained a close partnership with state guilds, as both the national and state associations share many of the same priorities and goals in representing their members and the interests of the brewing community. By providing guild leaders significant financial assistance to attend the Guilds Summit, the national association helps to ensure the strength and vitality of the state organizations through continuing education, sharing of best practices, and essential networking opportunities.

“The BA’s support of this semi-annual gathering of state guild leaders is critical to our success. The combination of educational sessions and out-of-session conversations and information gathering allows all of us to bring that newfound knowledge back to our respective states to make all of our state guilds stronger for the breweries we represent,” said Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) and chair of the BA’s Guilds Subcommittee, recognizing the summit’s continuing value for both his association and the greater guilds community.

As it did two years ago, the BA Guilds Subcommittee played a key role in developing the summit’s agenda and in leading a majority of the presentations during the two-day gathering. Guild leaders discussed a variety of issues, running the gamut from operationally-focused topics to revenue generation and legislative advocacy. Presentations included practical strategies for social impact committee engagement; how to structure board retreats; effective strategies for leading a board-driven organization; accounting best practices; how to organize a statewide beer competition; and utilizing small policy wins to maintain legislative momentum.

Summit participants once again had the opportunity to attend the Great Taste of the Midwest, which took place the day after the summit concluded. Thanks to the generosity of the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild, who run the Great Taste, for their partnership in providing the summit venue at Olin Park.

Noreen Otto, executive director of the Iowa Brewers Guild, summed up the value of the Summit perfectly: “Running a guild is a unique role, with many of us being the only person in the state doing the job! The Brewers Association does a great job connecting guilds and there is really no substitute for the camaraderie and collaboration that happens when we’re together. I have pages of notes to help improve my work and our industry. But even more, I felt supported by a network of professionals who cheer one another on.”