WHO WE ARE

About the STEPUP Foundation

The alcohol beverage industry brings together the best of American creativity and craftsmanship. It’s a community fueled by passion, innovation, and collaboration—connecting agriculture, hospitality, tourism, marketing, sales, and skilled manufacturing into one dynamic field.

What is the STEPUP Externship Program?

The purpose of STEPUP is to expand access to training and career pathways in the spirits industry. Working with distilleries and wholesalers across the United States,

STEPUP provides a structured educational externship that combines online learning, guided distillery exposure, mentorship, and career development.

Mission, Values, and Vision Statements

Mission Statement

To provide underserved and underrepresented individuals with hands-on training and education, encouragement, and opportunities to enter the spirits community through a comprehensive externship program like no other in the alcohol beverage industry.

Values
  • To support, train, develop, and economically empower underserved and underrepresented individuals to advance diversity within the spirits industry to better reflect our society.
  • To help the spirits industry prevent the harmful impacts of racism and cultural bias. 
  • To challenge and change structures that create inequality.
  • To celebrate our diverse cultures.
Vision Statement

To diversify the spirits & distilling industry – one person at a time – by providing a hands-on, comprehensive externship program for underrepresented professionals.

Eligibility for Interns

  • Member of an underrepresented or underserved demographic
  • U.S. Citizen or able to demonstrate proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. with a green card or work permit/visa
  • 21 years of age or older
  • Have earned at least a high school degree or its equivalent
  • Acceptance of a background check in states which allow
  • Willingness to commit to up to six months of training
  • Commitment to following procedures, including health protocols, at each individual distillery/wholesaler in which the intern is placed
  • Agree to serve in a graduate alumni group

Eligibility for Mentors

  • Passion, willingness, guide, and coach the intern throughout the internship
  • Mentors must have experience in the hospitality and/or spirits industry
  • No prior mentorship experience is required

Eligibility for Distilled Spirits Producers & Wholesale Distributors

  • Member of ACSA (Not a Member? Join ACSA)
  • Willingness to host an intern for a period of 14 weeks
  • Able to demonstrate a formal safety program
  • Proof of distillery insurance and safety plan
  • Demonstrated strong industry experience in one of four areas:
    • Operations
    • Sales
    • Marketing
    • Finance
  • Commitment to providing insight on local lodging and transportation logistics for the term of stay
  • Ability to designate a program instructor

Applications

Applications for 2025 will open early Summer 2024.

Timeline

One applicant will matriculate through the program in 2025.

Growing the number of placements per year will be contingent on donor funding, and the evolution of the program’s structure and design.

Please stay tuned for the next “STEP” in the evolution of the program in 2026!

Selection

Applications will be reviewed and vetted by the Selection Committee with final selection and invitation from the STEPUP Board of Directors and Advisory Board during the month of October and November 2024. Internships will begin in January 2025.

NEW in 2026

  • January 2026 – Applications Open.
  • February 2026 – Applications Close.
  • March 2026 – Interviews are conducted. The Selection Committee provides recommendations for Top Candidates to the Board of Directors and Advisory Board.
  • April 2026 – Final Selections are chosen by the Board of Directors. Successful trainees are notified and onboarded. 
  • May 2026 – 2026 Externship program commences.
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