Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/488317
12 / the tasting panel / april 2015 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT F ishbowl Spirits, LLC announced that David Farmer has been selected as President. Wholly owned by multiplatinum singer-songwriter Kenny Chesney, Fishbowl Spirits is the entity through which Chesney created and produces Blue Chair Bay Rum. In this newly-created position, Farmer will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Fishbowl Spirits' operations and will report to Chesney, Fishbowl Spirits' Chairman. He will continue to serve as Chesney's Tour Manager, a position he has held for 18 years. Bill Foley of Foley Family Wines appointed Steve Nelson as Winemaker at Chalk Hill Estate. With a Master of Science degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis, Steve brings over ten years of winemaking experience to Chalk Hill Estate, including three years as Assistant Winemaker at Lewis Cellars in Napa and vintages with Sebastiani, Joel Gott Wines, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Henschke Cellars in the Barossa Valley of Australia and Ceretto Fratelli in Piedmont. APPOINTMENTS David Farmer. Steve Nelson. Daniel Wirtz. Arthur Wirtz III. The Chicago-based leading wholesale distributor of spirits, wine and beer, Wirtz Beverage Group, announced at their annual leadership conference in Florida that Daniel Wirtz will take on the role of President and Arthur Wirtz III will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer. W. Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz, Chairman of parent Wirtz Corporation, will serve as Chairman of Wirtz Beverage Group. "This is a family-run business that has spanned four generations of active leader- ship," Rocky Wirtz explains. "These changes represent the future leadership of this organi- zation and will serve to take our company to its next level of growth and innovation." Since 2007, Danny Wirtz, 38, has served in multiple roles for the company, most recently as Executive Vice President, where he reorganized the company's overall sales and marketing functions. A third generation fam- ily leader, Art Wirtz, 46, steps up from his role as Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and will now oversee all corporate operations throughout their footprint as COO—he brings over 20 years of wholesale industry and company experience.