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18 / the tasting panel / april 2018 Movers & Shakers Want to connect with beverage industry leaders? Tap into BevForce at www.bevforce.com or email info@bevforce.com for more information. CAREER CORNER F orceBrands is the leading recruiting and staffing firm for the beverage, food, and beauty industries. We offer executive recruiting services, board of director assembly, and industry-specific job boards including BevForce—which connects global beverage companies with future leaders. Ryan Hicks has been named Trade Marketing Director at WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey. He had been Director of Brand Management at Empire Spirits Project. William Skelley has been named Division Manager of Luxco, Inc. He had been Region Manager-Midwest at Terlato Distell Artisan Spirits. Blair Finn has been named Northeast Area Manager at Mahou San Miguel. She had been Sales Representative at Duvel Moortgat USA. Jared Mathisen has been named Washington/Alaska Area Manager at Phusion Projects. He had been Area Sales Manager–Washington at Columbia Gorge Organic. Jeffrey Travis has been named Market Manager–Upstate New York at Stillhouse Spirits Co. He had been Market Manager–Upstate New York at Western Spirits Beverage Company. Three Ways to Become a Happier, More Productive Employee Did you know happy employees are up to 20 percent more productive than their less-satisfied counterparts? And it's not necessarily the employer's responsibility alone to ensure their team members are feeling fulfilled—it often takes an equally committed and dedicated employee. Read on for some pro-tips on how you can maximize your workplace influence and find happiness along the way. Learn New Things Happy employees are not only more engaged, they're mindful that their work is making an impact and helping drive the success of the busi- ness. In order to grow in your role, you need to have a genuine curiosity and interest in learning new skills, as well as a keen awareness of what it takes to get ahead and follow through. Volunteer Doing good really is good for you: 94 percent of people who volunteer report it improves their mood, according to data from Happify. And you typically don't have to venture too far out of your way to give back, as most organizations offer opportunities for their employees to participate in charity work and other volunteer events. Practice Mindfulness The average American worker spends an average of 38.6 hours per week performing their job duties, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2015. Be mindful that if you don't love or at least have an interest in what you do, it might be time to rethink where you're investing your time.