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ALLENTOWN, Pa.,\u00a0April 9, 2025\u00a0\/PRNewswire\/ —\u00a0The\u00a0Brewers Association<\/a>\u00a0(BA), the not-for-profit trade organization representing\u00a0small and independent<\/a>\u00a0American craft brewers, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Industry Awards. Since 1987, these prestigious honors have been bestowed upon individuals and groups that have made a significant impact on the craft beer community. This year’s award winners will be celebrated for their dedication and contributions during a special ceremony on\u00a0April 30, 2025, at the\u00a0Craft Brewers Conference\u00ae (CBC)<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Indianapolis.<\/p>\n “Congratulations to this year’s Industry Award winners. Their dedication and advocacy have strengthened the craft brewing community and paved the way for its continued success,” said\u00a0Bart Watson, president and CEO of the Brewers Association. “We celebrate their achievements and thank them for their invaluable contributions.”<\/p>\n 2025 Industry Award Recipients<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n Russell Schehrer\u00a0Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing<\/b><\/p>\n Ron Jeffries\u00a0(in memoriam), Founder, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, Mich.)<\/b><\/p>\n This award is presented in honor of\u00a0<\/i>Wynkoop Brewing Company’s founding partner,\u00a0Russell Schehrer,\u00a0to an individual or company for their innovative contributions to the brewing industry.<\/i><\/p>\n Ron Jeffries\u00a0(1967-2024), this year’s recipient of the Innovation in Craft Brewing award, embodied the spirit of the\u00a0Russell Schehrer\u00a0Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing. His passion, dedication to excellence, and commitment to sharing knowledge left a lasting impact on the brewing community.<\/p>\n Ron’s journey began in the 1980s, sparked by his curiosity for craft beer, which led him to study brewing science and work in the industry. In 2004, he and his wife, Laurie, founded Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, a brewery known for its fun, quirky spirit and pioneering wild, oak-aged sour beers. That same year, Jolly Pumpkin won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival.<\/p>\n As an early supporter of the Michigan Brewers Guild and a longtime board member, Ron played a key role in shaping the craft beer scene throughout the world and was a mentor to many. His legacy lives on through his commitment to artisan brewing and innovation in craft beer.<\/p>\n Brewers Association Recognition Award<\/b><\/p>\n The NC Beer Community<\/b><\/p>\n This award is presented to an individual, company, or group whose inspiration, enthusiasm, and support have contributed to the craft brewing movement.<\/i><\/p>\n Hurricane Helene’s devastation on\u00a0September 27, 2024, brought over 20 inches of rain, extreme flooding, and landslides that destroyed roads, bridges, and entire communities. More than 7,000 roads and 650 bridges were damaged, and 106 lives were lost. In Asheville, Buncombe County’s water system failed, leaving residents without potable water for 53 days. With power and cell service down, families were disconnected.<\/p>\n Breweries statewide stepped up\u2014taprooms became supply hubs, trucks delivered emergency aid, and impacted breweries served as relief centers. Highland Brewing’s\u00a0Leah Ashburn\u00a0captured the moment: “We can’t brew without water, so each day we adapt to meet new needs.”<\/p>\n The NC Craft Brewers Guild launched Pouring for Neighbors, raising\u00a0$250,000\u00a0through national brewery support. Its new nonprofit, the NC Craft Brewers Foundation, has distributed\u00a0$152,000\u00a0in grants, ensuring breweries can rebuild and continue serving their communities.<\/p>\n The NC Beer Community’s collaborative spirit remains unwavering, proving that in times of crisis, the beer community rises stronger\u2014together.<\/p>\n F.X. Matt Defense of the Industry Award<\/b><\/p>\n Ted Zeller, Norris-McLaughlin, and the Brewers of\u00a0Pennsylvania<\/b><\/p>\n This award, named for the late F.X. Matt of F.X. Matt Brewing Co., is presented to an individual or company for their contributions and efforts in championing the small brewing industry.<\/i><\/p>\n “I am completely honored and grateful,” says\u00a0Ted Zeller<\/a>, Chair of the Liquor Law Practice Group at Norris McLaughlin, P.A. “I really am at a loss for words.”\u00a0Ted Zeller, this year’s F.X. Matt Defense of the Industry Award winner, entered beer law in 2006, leading a landmark case against InBev. His work caught\u00a0Dick Yuengling’s\u00a0attention, sparking ongoing collaboration on legislative and distribution efforts with D.G. Yuengling & Son.<\/p>\n In 2009, Ted helped Yuengling fight a wholesaler bill threatening franchise laws. He connected with craft industry leaders, including\u00a0Bill Covaleski\u00a0of Victory Brewing Company and\u00a0Chris Trogner\u00a0of Tr\u00f6egs Independent Brewing, playing a key role in forming the Brewers of\u00a0Pennsylvania, where he currently serves as General Counsel.<\/p>\n Among his countless contributions to craft beer advocacy, these stand out as especially significant:<\/p>\n “Ted has been the agent of change that turned\u00a0Pennsylvania\u00a0into one of the best states for breweries,” said\u00a0Tom Kehoe, Yards Brewing.<\/p>\n Brewers Association Mentor of the Year Award<\/b><\/p>\n Shawn Mullen, Stone Brewing Company<\/b><\/p>\n Shawn Mullen, this year’s Mentor of the Year, joined the Brewers Association’s inaugural mentorship cohort in 2021. His dedication to fostering industry talent has helped individuals, companies, and brands grow.<\/p>\n Shawn began his career buying beer for a\u00a0Massachusetts\u00a0liquor store group, building a craft-focused program centered on quality and education. In 2014, Shawn relocated to\u00a0Seattle\u00a0to expand Wallace Brewing’s sales territories, later joining The Odom Corporation as National Account Manager to support craft brands in building chain retail business. In 2019, Shawn joined Stone Brewing, where he currently serves as the Director of National Accounts, Off Premise for the East Coast. He earned his Advanced Cicerone certification in 2022 and joined the Brewers Association’s Market Development Committee in 2024.<\/p>\n “Shawn has been the professor of craft beer I always hoped for,” said mentee\u00a0Chris Housman. “He builds bridges and shows the path forward, empowering others to succeed.”<\/p>\n Award recipients were nominated by their peers and determined by votes from staff and committees comprised of members of the Brewers Association board of directors, the craft brewing community, and past award winners.<\/p>\n Please visit\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more information on past winners and nominations for the 2026 awards.<\/p>\n In addition to the individual industry awards, the Brewers Association conducts two prestigious national and international professional brewing competitions: the Great American Beer Festival Competition and the\u00a0World Beer Cup<\/a>\u00ae.<\/p>\n About the Brewers Association<\/b><\/p>\n The\u00a0Brewers Association<\/a>\u00a0(BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to\u00a0small and independent\u00a0<\/a>American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,600-plus U.S. breweries\u00a0and more than 23,000 homebrewers.\u00a0The BA’s\u00a0independent craft brewer seal<\/a>\u00a0is a widely adopted symbol differentiating beers from small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events, including the\u00a0World Beer Cup<\/a>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>,\u00a0Great American Beer Festival<\/a>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>,\u00a0Craft Brewers Conference\u2122<\/sup>\u00a0& BrewExpo America\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>,\u00a0National Homebrew Competition<\/a>, and\u00a0American Craft Beer Week\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>.\u00a0The BA publishes\u00a0The New Brewer<\/i>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Zymurgy\u00ae\u00a0<\/i><\/a>magazines The Brewers Association is an opportunity equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital\/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 13672\u00a0and the Secretary of Labor’s rules, regulations, and appropriate orders.<\/p>\n\n