ABL Annual Meeting & Management Conference 2026

Jake Hegeman is Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs for WSWA. In this role, Jake works with state and federal regulatory officials on behalf of WSWA and its members. Jake joined WSWA from Stateside Associates, a Virginia based state government affairs firm where he served as Vice President. In this role, Jake managed the company’s regulatory division and worked on advocacy efforts with a wide variety of state regulatory agencies. Prior to rejoining Stateside Associates, Jake served as National State Liaison at the USDA (Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service). As a liaison, Jake worked alongside agency leadership and state agriculture officials to improve regulatory processes and enhance communication and coordination across a range of animal and plant health issues.

Roi Kliper is the founder and CEO of City Hive Inc. – a software startup based in NYC that works with retailers, distributors and suppliers tracking tens of millions of data points in real time and help them digitally transform their businesses. Roi is a father of three, an entrepreneur, and an AI expert. He holds a Ph.D in computational neuroscience specializing in machine learning, statistical modeling and Big Data. An innovator with multiple patents in retail tech and an experienced developer and product leader that has previously led the development and deployment of Data products that have evolved to multi-million product lines.

Michael Madigan has over 30 years of experience practicing in the areas of administrative, alcohol beverage, antitrust, business, commercial, distributor, dealer, franchise, construction, employment, and environmental law. AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell for 27 years and recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by the Minnesota Journal of Law and Politics for eighteen 18 years. Selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Franchise Law. For the last 22 years, served as an Arbitrator and Mediator on the Complex Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association and served as a Neutral on the Minnesota ADR Neutrals Roster. Inducted as a Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers).

Gerald Proctor is the Vice President of Government and Corporate Affairs for Alcanna Inc. He has more than 12 years of experience in public service, government relations and retail for controlled substances. Proctor sits on the Industry Boards of ALSA (Alberta Liquor Stores Association) and ABLE BC (Alliance of Beverage Licensees). He is also an accomplished senior civil servant in Alberta and Saskatchewan with extensive government and public relations experience.

A 20-year veteran of policy and political work, Jim McGreevy serves as President and CEO of the Beer Institute, the national trade association that represents America’s brewers, beer importers and supply-chain partners – a $350 billion industry that supports more than 2.2 million American jobs. As the national voice for the industry, Jim advocates on policy matters involving Congress, state legislatures, courts and regulatory agencies.

Kraig R. Naasz is the President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council, the national trade association representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States. The Council supports policies that increase adult market access for spirits products, provide greater convenience and choices for adult consumers, and encourage responsible and moderate consumption. Kraig previously served as the chief executive of the American Frozen Food Institute, The Fertilizer Institute and the U.S. Apple Association.

Chris Furnari is the editor of Brewbound, focusing on the beer business. In addition to overseeing daily content, Furnari also plans and executes Brewbound’s business networking events — Brewbound Session and Brew Talks. He is a regular at industry gatherings and has been cited in mainstream media publications such as CNBC, USA Today, The Boston Globe, Mashable and Wired Magazine, among others.

Matthew Crompton is an Client Director for Nielsen CGA and is responsible for the implementation of Nielsen CGA’s On-Premise services in the US. Since joining CGA Strategy in January 2010, Matthew has risen through the CGA ranks becoming an expert in all things On-Premise. Matthew has managed and provided consultancy for some of the largest Bev Al manufacturers across Europe including Diageo, Anheuser Busch and William Grant & Sons. He is now part of the U.S. On-Premise Specialist team, providing first-class insight into that market.

As Vice President of Nielsen’s Beverage Alcohol Practice, Danelle provides industry thought leadership and best practice solutions to beer, wine, and spirits clients, industry groups, and the media. She is committed to leveraging Nielsen’s breadth of resources to provide an integrated and holistic understanding of consumer behavior and retail trends across beer, wine, and spirits. Danelle has more than 15 years of marketing experience, and has been with Nielsen for over 10 years, working across various clients in the food, beverage, and consumer goods industries. Prior to joining the Beverage Alcohol Practice, Danelle led Nielsen’s business at MillerCoors in Chicago.

Kevin Cooke is Constellation’s Chief Global Sales Officer, Wine & Spirits Division. In his role as Chief Global Sales Officer – Wine & Spirits Division, Cooke is responsible for leading Constellation’s Wine and Spirits sales goals. He manages a high performing group of leaders in Spirits, Fine Wine, Core Wine, Strategic Accounts, Sales Enablement and Sales Strategy. In this role, he leads a talented team of Constellation sales professionals across multiple channels. Cooke joined Constellation in May 2016 as Senior Vice President – Sales Strategy & Transformation, with a focus on integrating world class account management planning and enhancing Constellation’s Route to Market. He has over thirty years of experience in all sectors of the total alcohol beverage industry.

Scott Keller is chair of the firm’s Supreme Court and Constitutional Law Practice, and he has briefed and argued numerous appeals nationwide. Scott has argued 11 cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and has been counsel of record on over 80 U.S. Supreme Court briefs, including regulatory, free speech, immigration, election, criminal, environmental, antitrust, intellectual property, and interstate water disputes. Keller regularly speaks and writes on appellate advocacy, and he has made several media appearances. Keller is also a member of the Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee, appointed by U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz to recommend nominees for federal judicial and U.S. Attorney positions in Texas.

Ann Kitch is currently a Transportation Research Analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures, responsible identifying and monitoring state legislation on a variety of traffic safety issues. Her traffic safety expertise includes topics such as distracted and impaired driving as well as recent legislation pertaining to unmanned aircraft systems. Kitch actively supports state legislatures and other organizations with their traffic safety efforts. Prior to joining NCSL, Kitch worked for the State of Colorado where she helped state agencies such as the Colorado Department of Transportation track their policy initiatives and improve their regulatory processes.

Peter Angus is a seasoned beverage industry executive with a multi-disciplinary background and more than 40 years in the industry. For the last 12 years, Peter has worked tirelessly with the founder of the craft distilling movement, Tito Beveridge, and developing Tito’s Handmade Vodka into the leading U.S. brand in both On- and Off-Premise has been the most thrilling, rewarding and fascinating experience of his career. Previously, Peter served in varying roles with Seagram, Guinness United Distillers, Diageo and Daucourt Martin Import Co. During this time, Peter has launched over 25 brands; worked on integration teams to unite a very diverse group of brands and company cultures; led the formation of the Channel Marketing Group; and managed the Strategic Account Team that pioneered the Total Beverage Alcohol customer management approach.

An expert in scaling high-potential ventures and digital business strategy, Mike Provance delivers strategic growth and operational excellence to progressive, technology-centric companies. As CEO of 3×3 Insights, Provance leads a team of industry and technology experts who are applying analytics to disrupt the business of beverage alcohol consumption. This role follows 25-year career building groundbreaking digital businesses in industries spanning financial services, information services, and healthcare.

Matthew Botting was appointed to the position of ABC General Counsel in August 2008. Botting has over 16 years of state government legal experience. He was ABC’s Chief Legal Counsel from 2000-2004 before he left for a short time to work in private practice. Botting returned to ABC in 2005 where he served as a Staff Counsel III until his appointment to General Counsel. Prior to joining ABC in 2000, Botting was a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) degrees from Otago University in New Zealand before relocating to the United States.