The USBG 75th Diamond Jubilee Conference and Gala, held this year, brought together bartenders and industry enthusiasts from all 50 nationwide chapters for an unforgettable educational experience. With an impressive lineup of industry masters, attendees were immersed in a wealth of knowledge. Let's take a closer look at the highlights of this remarkable event.
Liquid Legacy Presentation by Livio Lauro
The first day of educational seminars commenced with "USBG Liquid Legacy - The Profound Journey of America’s Post Prohibition Bartenders’ Guild," presented by Livio Lauro alongside T. Cole Newton, sponsored by Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits. Livio Lauro, an esteemed figure with a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, embarked on his beverage journey in Southern Italy at the renowned Club Valentino. His impressive accolades in international cocktail competitions attest to his expertise. Livio is widely acknowledged as a driving force behind the resurgence of the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) and serves as the inaugural President of the Guild's esteemed Master Accreditation program, the foremost national testing body for bartenders across the United States.
Keynote Address by Brandon Edwin Chrostowski
Day two of educational seminars kicked off with a powerful keynote address by Brandon Edwin Chrostowski, Founder, CEO, and President of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute. Chrostowski is renowned for revolutionizing culinary and hospitality training, both inside and outside of the nation's prisons. His mission-driven effort to train and employ former prison inmates has not only transformed lives but also created a national model for re-entry and educational pipelines for formerly incarcerated individuals. His inspiring talk set the tone for the educational sessions that followed.
Diverse Educational Tracks
One of the standout features of this year's conference was the opportunity for attendees to tailor their learning experience. For the first time, participants could select one of the four tracks per hourly session, with breaks in between. Tracks included Advanced Bartending, Insights and Innovations, Leadership, and Social Responsibility. This approach allowed members to explore a variety of relevant topics, creating an engaging and dynamic learning environment.
Outstanding Speakers
The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers who led exceptional sessions. These industry experts shared their expertise and insights, contributing to the overall success of the event. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the following speakers for their outstanding contributions:
Melissa Anaya, Alison Anne, Kailee Asher
Maria Bastasch, Aspen Bingham, Derek Brown, Johnny Caldwell, Anel Cuenca, Aaron DeFeo
Michael Delmonico, Ray DelMuro, Kevin Finch, Kristi Gardner, Makeda Gebre
Danielle Goldtooth, Alejandro Gomez, Haleigh Harrold, Kyla Hein
John Henderson, Akilah Lyare, Sherri Jenkins, Matt Jensen, Amanda Jordan
Rasmus Just, Allan Kehler, Rachel Kling, Livio Lauro, Matthew Maroon, Lynette Marrero
Brian Masilionis, T. Cole Newton, Keyatta Mincey Parker, Alexis Percival, Matt Pietrek
Jeffrey Pogash, Jonathan Pogash, Cynthia Pong, Matt Ray,
Taneka Reaves, Randy Tarlow, Toshio Ueno, Talia Leon-Villanueva