The Virginia Craft Beer Seminar Series is a quarterly professional development resource for brewery owners, sales & marketing professionals, and brewhouse team members. The series focuses on regulatory, operational, and sales/distributional issues and resources that help members reduce costs and increase revenue. Held in coordination with the Brewers Association, events feature local and national experts. 

This year, the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild is taking a road trip to give members across the Commonwealth the opportunity to attend the series! Can't join us on June 9? Upcoming seminars will be held at the following locations: Charlottesville on September 8 and Richmond on December 1.

PROGRAM

2 - 2:45 PM | KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Where's the Profit? How to (Actually) Make Money Selling Your Beer in 2025
Julia Grubbs, CPA, Small Batch Standard

2:45 - 3:15 PM | REGULATORY COMPLIANCE GUIDANCE 

A Regulatory Guide to Beer Distribution
John Szymankiewicz, Esq., Partner, Beer Law Center
Stacie Gordon, Government Relations Director, Virginia Craft Brewers Guild

Utilizing the Virginia Beer Distribution Company in Distributed Service Territories
Dakota Rust, Executive Director, Virginia Beer Distribution Company
Jason Romano, Government Affairs Co-Chair, Virginia Craft Brewers Guild; Co-Owner, Co-Founder & Brewmaster, Lake Anne Brew House

3:15 - 4 PM | PRODUCTION, OPERATIONS, & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 

Building Profitable Tasting Rooms and Customer Experience
Brian Faivre, COO, New Realm Brewing Co.
Mitch Steele, Packaging Brewery Representative, Brewers Association; Brewmaster, COO & Co-Founder, New Realm Brewing Co.

4 - 4:30 PM | SALES, MARKETING, BRANDING, & DISTRIBUTION 

Craft Beer Tourism: Leverage Marketing, Craft Beer State Tourism Plan, Beer Trails, Logo Usage
Laura Messer, Destination Development Manager, Virginia Tourism Corporation
Staci Martin, Grants Director, Virginia Tourism Corporation

4:30 - 5:15 PM | GUILD ANNOUNCEMENT: Game-Changing Guild Updates!

Big News. Big Impact.
A Special Guest Speaker—be there to find out who!
Bill Spence, Chairman, Virginia Craft Brewers Guild; President, St. George Brewing Co.
David St. Clair, Farm Brewery Co-Chair, Virginia Craft Brewers Guild; Co-Owner, Swover Creek Farms & Brewery
Brett Vassey, President & CEO, Virginia Craft Brewers Guild

5:15 - 6:30 PM | BEER TASTING/SHOWCASE 

David Hunter, Fans of Virginia Craft Breweries
Jeff Maisy & Jennifer McDonald, Virginia Craft Beer Magazine