USBG MA Board Members & Contributors

Never before has such an esteemed group of Mixologists, Beverage Professionals, Cocktail Enthusiasts and Spirits Educators come together for a project like this. These select few, out right obsessed with the beverage industry and all it's amazing glory have created such an exciting opportunity for beverage professionals all over the country - the chance to prove your talent and knowledge as a professional publicly to your colleagues.

The USBG is incredibly proud to announce our Master Accreditation Program Board Members and Contributors. They have poured their passion into this program and dedicated countless hours of hard work in creating standards for each MA level and bringing you this chance to prove your greatness!

Thank you for your dedication, Our Founders…..

	Tony Abou Ganim, Executive Board Member Las Vegas, NV Tony grew up in the bar business, learning the craft from his cousin Helen David at the Brass Rail Bar in Port Huron, Michigan. Tony's initial introduction to the business was steeped in the tradition of classic cocktails and professional barmanship, grooming him to become a leader in the beverage industry. Tony is the co-owner of Bar Milano in Gramercy Park, New York City, Tony also won the Iron Chef America competition with Mario Batali, released his first DVD “ Making Great Cocktails at Home” and most notably was featured demonstrating the art of cocktail preparation on the Fine Living Network program “Raising the Bar: America's Best Bar Chefs”.
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	Bridget Albert, Vice President and Executive Board Member Chicago, IL Vice President and Executive Board Member Bridget Albert is currently Master Mixologist at Southern Wine and Spirits of Il and the Director of their Academy of Spirits and Fine Service. She is the Chapter Chairman of the USBG Illinois chapter and the author of “Market Fresh Mixology”. She has been in the spotlight for many years as such an inspiring talent featured many times, but just to name a few… Martha Stewart Radio, Oprah.com and Food Network Iron Chef America. She loves to inspire consumers and bartenders by spreading her love for knowledge of cocktails and fine spirits.
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	Steve Beal, Executive Board Member San Francisco, CA One of spirits giant DIAGEO's fifteen “Masters of Whisky” who tend to the firm's famous brands such as Johnnie Walker, Steve is also a writer and chef. In 2003 he received the Spirits Ambassador to the World Award at the Whiskies of the World Expo I San Francisco. He has been a Judge at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition since its inception and a presenter for Bon Appetit magazine's “Wine & Spirits Focus. He has also served as a contributing editor of to Patterson's California Beverage Journal, The Tasting Panel Magazine. He appears weekly on the 'Food Guy and Marcy Show', a nationally syndicated food, wine and entertainment radio program with Guy Fieri and Marcy Smothers where his “Cocktail of the Week” is very popular with listeners. He also writes under the pen name, “The Liquid Archaeologist.”© He is a lecturer at the School of Fine Spirits and Service in Las Vegas. He is also a consultant in concept, design and staff development and has worked with such iconic brands as Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Wynn Las Vegas, Nobu, and Bourbon & Branch, San Francisco.
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	Dale DeGroff, Executive Board Member West Hempstead, NY Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail, developed his extraordinary techniques and talent tending bar at great establishments, most notably, New York’s famous Rainbow Room. Universally acknowledged as the world's premier mixologist, whose innovations have globally impacted the industry. He is a four time James Beard award nominee, is an accomplished Author and appears regularly in the press and media. He is the founding President of The Museum of the American Cocktail and also a founding partner of Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) a partnership of six of the world's leading spirits and cocktails authorities who provide training and credentialing in distilled spirits and mixology.
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	Liz Edwards, Executive Board Member Las Vegas, NV Liz fell in love with the liquor industry in 2004 when she first sipped one of Francesco Lafranconi's creations at Southern Wine & Spirits in Las Vegas where she worked under the Master for 2 years. Liz joined the USBG in 2004 and started working for them exclusively in 2007. She raises funds and manages partnerships to run the national organization and is now responsible for funding the opperations of the MA Program as well.
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	Bobby G Gleason, Executive Board Member Las Vegas, NV Bobby G has been bartending since 1984 in first South Florida and then Las Vegas. He is World renown, has been published in many magazines and has made many TV appearances. His cocktails have won many competitions including the New York International competition, USBG National Championship, The World's Most Sensuous Cocktail, and was named the US Mixologist of the year in 2005 by Angostura. Bobby G is also the current Guinness Book of World Record holder for the most cocktails in one hour. He is now the Master Mixologist for Beam Global Spirits & Wine, teaching Mixology and product knowledge all over the country to better the craft of the cocktail and the professionalism of the bartender.
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	Ed Korry, Education Liaison & Executive Board Member Hartford, CT Edward Korry is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Beverage & Dining Service Department in the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. A Certified Wine Educator, a Certified Specialist of Spirits, a registered tutor of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and a Formador Homologado del Vino de Jérèz (Certified Sherry Wine Educator) and a certified Bordeaux Wine Educator and a member of the board of directors for Society of Wine Educators. He teaches and has developed classes that specialize in wine, beer and spirits; mixology, coffee and tea; and restaurant management. He championed the development and implementation of beverage concentrations at Johnson & Wales University. Edward lectures at conferences and writes beverage articles at home and abroad. He has worked bars, restaurants, managed several restaurants prior to joining Johnson & Wales in 1983 as Food & Beverage Director for several of the university's practicum properties.
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	Francesco Lafranconi, Executive Board Member Las Vegas, NV Francesco Lafranconi founded the Southern Wine and Spirits' Academy of Spirits and Fine Service in 2000, he currently develops beverage programs for National Accounts and heads up SWS national team of Mixologists. Promoting “Bar Fresh” concepts and the image of professional bartending makes him a prime candidate for the awards he has won over the years; most recently he was a recipient of the prestigious National Cheers Magazine Award for Beverage Excellence: 'Raising The Bar!”, “Mixologist Of The Year 2008” by Night Club & Bar Magazine and Santé 2008 Spirits Professional of the Year! … Oh and don't forget his mantra…. “We're not drinking…We're learning!”
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	Livio Lauro, President and Executive Board Member Las Vegas, NV Livio started his career over 15 years ago in Southern Italy where he bartended in several cocktailian establishments including the famous Club Valentino located on the island of Ischia. In 2002, he was recognized for passing the final exam in the series earning him the title of Capo Barman. This is the most prestigious title recognized by the Italian Bartenders Association (AIBES). Livio is employed with Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. He works side by side with the world's foremost distillers and importers, as well as some of the most recognizable hospitality giants, developing custom drink menus and educational programs.
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	John Meisler, Treasurer of the USBG MA Program Chicago, IL John Meisler has been in and around Mixology beginning in New Orleans in 1981. He is an acclaimed worldwide speaker, educator and tasting facilitator and has done extensive work on food pairings with wines, spirits and cocktails. A “chef himself”, he is also a leader in using the wonderful flavors in spirits, wines and beers as base ingredients and accent spices in preparing wonderful epicurean delights! He was inducted as a “Keeper of the Quaich”, an industry based Scottish Royal Society, for his lifelong achievements in the advocacy of Whiskey.
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	David Nepove, Executive Board Member San Francisco, CA David Nepove aka Mr. Mojito is the Director of Mixology for Southern Wine and Spirits of California. David has 23 years of bartending experience, has competed in many cocktail competitions and won first place in the 2004 Bacardi Martini Grand Prix world cocktail competition for the “Best Italian Aperitif Cocktail”. David grew up in the restaurant business, and offers his passion and experience in both the craft of the cocktail as well as the methodology of a well run bar. David's goal is to create and share simple cocktails that will inspire both experienced and novice bartenders. He is currently National VP of the USBG and one of the founders of the renowned San Francisco chapter.
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	Ann Tuennerman, Executive Board Member New Orleans, LA As founder and executive director of Tales of the Cocktail, Ann provides the vision for each event and works directly with mixologists, bartenders, chefs, liquor companies and media outlets to bring them to life. Ann's love of cocktails, cuisine, history and New Orleans also prompted her to found both The New Orleans Original Cocktail Tour and the New Orleans Culinary & Cultural Preservation Society she is also the New Orleans USBG Chapter President. New Orleans City Business named her “Woman of the Year” in 2004 and included her in the “Power Generation” in 2005. Gambit Weekly has also recognized Ann as a “Top 40 Under 40” and Tales of the Cocktail won “Best Consumer Special Event” from the New Orleans Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

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