The Brewers Association has elected two members and reelected one to its Board of Directors following its 2026 election.
Fred Matt of Saranac Brewery/Matt Brewing Co. in Utica, New York, was reelected in the packaging brewer class. Jacob Landry of Urban South Brewery in New Orleans was elected to the same class, while Lara Gray of Casual Animal Brewing Co. in Kansas City, Missouri, was elected in the brewpub and taproom brewer class.
All three will serve three-year terms beginning in February 2027.
Voting took place Sept. 21 through Oct. 21 and was open to Brewers Association voting members, defined in the organization’s bylaws as small and independent brewers in good standing. Packaging brewers voted to fill two board seats, while brewpub and taproom brewers voted to fill one.
Matt received 35.6% of the votes in the packaging brewer class, followed by Landry with 23%. Bill Tressler of Hinterland in Green Bay received 17.2%, Jack Albanese from Kona Brewing Hawaii received 14.1% and Glenn Closson of Ivanhoe Park Brewing in Orlando received 10.1%.
In the brewpub and taproom class, Gray received 34.4% of the vote, narrowly defeating Alec Travis of Field Day Brewing (North Liberty, Iowa), who received 32.1%. Mike Garcia (Loose Screw Beer in Meridian, Idaho) received 17.3% and Emy Senkbeil (McFleshman’s Brewing in Appleton, Wisc.) received 16.2%.
“Our board represents our members and sets the direction for everything the BA does on behalf of small and independent brewers,” said Bart Watson, president and CEO of the Brewers Association. “I’m glad Fred will continue his work on the board, and I’m eager to welcome Lara and Jacob to the table.”
The board governs the association’s activities and its divisions, including Events, Government Affairs, Marketing and Communications, Membership, and Operations.
