Alexcia Pugh hails from Birmingham, Alabama where she started a career in research and development in the solubility division with a focus in oncology. She is excited to use her unique set of experiences and education acquired from Dillard University, where she obtained her B.S. in chemistry. She is thrilled to use her skillset, passion for formulation, and her wish to add a different outlook to the craft spirits industry to turn her hobbyist interest in spirits into a career.
Erica’s journey into craft spirits started with a Sensory Evaluation and Urban Planning course at Alabama A&M University. Erica has forged her path making strides in education, internships, and employment opportunities with leading food manufacturers, automotive corporations, and within the agriculture industry. With a plan to merge Agriculture and Food Science with Craft Spirits, she plans to use alternative farming methods, to craft a sustainable spirit that embodies the intricacies of her journey, in every sip.
Melinda Maddox, Production Manager for Old Elk Distillery, has over two decades of management in the hospitality industry under her belt and is working towards a decade of operations and production management. Melinda is currently on the path to becoming Old Elk’s Master Blender. She is second-in-command to Master Distiller Greg Metze, learning his practice and further innovating Old Elk’s liquid. She is quickly making a name for herself having been awarded finalist in the 2023 Women of Whiskey Awards for Production Manager of the Year.
Returning once again as a host distillery for 2024, Sagamore Spirit is driven to craft the world’s best Rye Whiskey. As a champion of American Rye Whiskey and inspired by Maryland Rye, its mission is to establish Sagamore Spirit as the premier distiller of the modern American spirit. Sagamore Spirit’s grain-to-glass process ensures that every single product made establishes a legacy of excellence while strengthening its collective communities. Sagamore’s award-winning, five-acre waterfront distillery is located in the Baltimore Peninsula neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.
Baltimore, MD
Returning once again as a host distillery for 2024, Sagamore Spirit is driven to craft the world’s best Rye Whiskey. As a champion of American Rye Whiskey and inspired by Maryland Rye, its mission is to establish Sagamore Spirit as the premier distiller of the modern American spirit. Sagamore Spirit’s grain-to-glass process ensures that every single product made establishes a legacy of excellence while strengthening its collective communities. Sagamore’s award-winning, five-acre waterfront distillery is located in the Baltimore Peninsula neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.
Rochester, NY
Black Button Distilling was founded in 2012 by Master Distiller Jason Barrett and was the first distillery to operate in “The Flour City” since prohibition. As a grain-to-glass craft spirits producer, Black Button is a licensed New York State Farm Distillery and uses nearly 100% New York State-grown ingredients that come from within 50 miles of the distillery. Best known for its Four Grain Straight Bourbon, Bespoke Bourbon Cream and botanical gins like Citrus Forward and seasonal Lilac, Black Button’s spirits are available at its new location at 1344 University Avenue in Rochester, in liquor stores throughout New York State and online at www.blackbuttondistilling.com.
Bloomington, IN
Cardinal Spirits is a craft distillery in Bloomington, Ind., that makes award-winning vodkas, gins, rums, liqueurs, and canned cocktails, and distributes them in 12 states and Washington, D.C. Everything we use to distill and flavor our award-winning spirits are real-deal botanicals, fruits, and spices — we never use bottled extracts or flavorings — and we source local ingredients like grains and honey and walnuts whenever possible. At our distillery, we have a tasting room, cocktail bar, and restaurant, and we offer distillery tours, too.
We do it because we want to make something we could hold in our hands; because we want to create a workplace where people enjoy showing up, where days are fulfilling and meaningful, and where creativity is valued; and because we want to increase connections among people and our community.
Multiple Locales, U.S.
Diageo North America is the leading premium drinks business and one of the best-performing CPGs across the United States and Canada.
Our success is built on a rich heritage, from a centuries-old bourbon recipe to aged Mexican tequilas and classic Caribbean spiced rum. Every day, our more than 2,600 people across North America proudly claim ownership for shaping Diageo North America’s future and playing an essential role in our brands’ success – proud custodians of Bulleit, Don Julio, Captain Morgan and many more iconic brands. This commitment, from US Spirits to Diageo Beer Company USA to Diageo Canada, has helped make North America Diageo’s largest market.
Multiple Locales, U.S.
As a top wine and spirits distributor in the nation, Republic National Distributing Company’s (RNDC) national reach helps suppliers by building strategic relationships with on- and off-premise customers to elevate their brands and reach their target consumers. RNDC currently operates in the District of Columbia and 37 states across the United States, with the expected addition of the New York market in 2022.
The STEPUP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, is a spirits training and entrepreneurship program for underrepresented professionals in the spirits industry.
Copyright 2020 STEPUP Foundation. All rights reserved.
STEPUP Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 85-2454665