Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) recently appointed Laura DePasquale, MS as the new chair for WSWA Women’s Leadership Council (WLC). DePasquale is the senior vice president of sales & commercial operations, artisanal wine for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
Additionally, Maggie Maxwell, vice president of wine portfolio, Allied Beverage Group, was appointed vice chair and Jen Bowser, assistant vice president, on premise for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits was named engagement chair of WLC, according to WSWA.
DePasquale brings a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise to this position. As an active member of WLC for the past three years, her goals are to educate, elevate and empower women in the wholesale tier. She will continue to foster the professional development, education and networking opportunities this group provides, according to WSWA.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed Chair of the Women’s Leadership Council,” said DePasquale in a news release. “Throughout my career, I have been passionate about fostering inclusivity and empowering women in the wine and spirits industry. This council serves as an incredible platform to champion the advancement of talented women and drive meaningful progress across our field. I look forward to working with the council to continue building a culture of leadership, innovation, and opportunity for the next generation of women in our industry.”
The advisory board, composed of nine accomplished women in the wholesale tier, also includes: Amy Barriault, Central Distributors Inc.; Monica Chaplin of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Meghan Hamilton of Breakthru Beverage Group (new member); Virginia Means of United Distributors; Jessica Partington of Winebow; and Laurel Slick of Reyes Beverage Group (new member), according to WSWA.
“The exceptional WLC advisory board members truly embody the WLC’s mission to educate, elevate, and empower their wholesaler peers and members of the industry,” said Dina Opici, WSWA chairwoman and president of Opici Family Distributing, in the release. “The advisory board’s unwavering dedication to inclusion, allyship, and empowerment is reflected in their leadership of the WLC Mentorship Program, the annual WLC Conference, the quarterly networking calls they organize and facilitate, as well as their daily impact and commitment to the success of our industry. I was honored to be the first Chair of WLC, and I have no doubt the WLC advisory board will inspire future generations of leaders that will continue to positively impact WSWA and its membership.”
