The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) announced that Ken Lewis has been elected Chair of the 144-year-old non-profit trade group that unites, promotes, and protects the signature Kentucky Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. 

Lewis (pictured), founder of New Riff Distilling, will begin his term as Chair beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and will serve through December 2025. He succeeds Jessica Pendergrass, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Heaven Hill Distilleries, who is finishing her second turn as Chair. 

“It is an honor to serve as Chair of the KDA,” Lewis, who retired this year as President and CEO of New Riff and is now its Operating Owner, said in a news release. “I’m proud to have been a part of all the work KDA has done over the years to grow our industry into a $9 billion economic engine.

“As I enter this new leadership role, I have eyes wide open to the opportunities and challenges our industry will face in the coming months and years. We’ve always found success when we work together as one distilling family, and I look forward to building upon that legacy.” 

KDA President Eric Gregory, who is finishing his 17th year leading the historic organization, said he looks forward to working alongside Lewis and the entire Board as they continue to build upon the strategic plan to strengthen the KDA as the Worldwide Voice for Bourbon. 

“We are blessed to have a visionary and engaged Board of Directors that has perfectly positioned the KDA and our members to confidently advocate for Kentucky Bourbon and American Whiskey on a global scale,” Gregory said.

“This coming year will bring many opportunities and challenges for our signature spirit. With Ken leading our dynamic Board of Directors, we are poised to elevate Kentucky Bourbon even further across the world, both as a leading beverage and a thriving tourism behemoth.”

Alongside Lewis, the Board also named Gigi DaDan, General Manager of Louisville Distilling Co., as Vice Chair; Kaveh Zamanian, Founder, Whiskey Maker & CEO of Rabbit Hole Distillery, as Secretary; and Chris Morris, Master Distiller Emeritus at Brown Forman Corp. as Treasurer. 

Other Board officers include Pendergrass as the Immediate Past Chair; Wally Dant, President and Distiller of Log Still Distillery, representing “Proof” level members; and Jeremy Buchanan, CEO and Owner of Hartfield & Co., representing “Craft” level members. 

Other Board members for 2025 include: 

• Bardstown Bourbon Co.: Mark Erwin, President and CEO
• Castle & Key Distillery: Will Arvin, Co-Founder 
• Diageo North America: Antoine Smith, Vice President of Distillation and Maturation North America
• Four Roses Distillery: Ryan Ashley, Chief Operations Officer
• Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.: Robert G. Downing III, Senior Corporate Counsel 
• Lux Row Distillers: Erika Lapish, Vice President of Human Resources
• Michter’s Distillery: Andrea Wilson, Chief Operating Officer & Master of Maturation
• Suntory Global Spirits: Crady deGolian, Director of Public Affairs 
• Whiskey House of Kentucky: David Mandell, Co-Founder and CEO
• Wild Turkey Distillery: Marco Barassi, Campari Government Relations and Sustainability Director, North America
• Willett Distillery: Britt Kulsveen, President
• White Dog Trading & Storage: Tyler Harris, President

Read more: KDA Announces Chicken Cock as New Craft Member

About Ken Lewis 

Ken Lewis of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a spirits expert and groundbreaking policy leader, Lewis graduated college as a trained English teacher, but left shortly into his young career for the world of spirits retail. He championed efforts for Sunday sales and initiated litigation that allowed retailers to use credit cards for sales, eventually building The Party Source megastore, the first of its kind in the country. Learning the industry from the bottom up, Lewis brought innovation and entrepreneurship as the founder of New Riff Distilling in Northern Kentucky, paving the way for the craft Bourbon boom that now counts dozens of Kentucky distilleries.