The United States Bartenders’ Guild announced that the organization will switch to a slate election format to appoint new members to its Board of Directors. The change is being made to ensure that the Guild’s Board of Directors is as representative of the Guild’s membership as possible.

In a slate elections format, a “slate” of candidates is selected by a governing body based on qualifications of value determined by that governing body. In the case of the Guild, the governing body is the Nominating Committee, and the qualifications of value are a mix of the professional, such as collaborative partnerships, training and workforce development, finance, and legislative advocacy; and the personal, such as gender, generation, sexual orientation, languages spoken, relationship statuses, and even household makeup.

Slate elections ensure that candidates for nomination and election to the Board of Directors have demonstrable qualifications that make them a fit for the post they seek and that they bring with them the lived experiences that will enrich the Guild.

Task forces were formed to examine the process thoroughly. These groups studied best practices and defined the new nominations process. The process was guided by inclusivity and strategic alignment. Moving forward, the new policies will be reviewed by the Board and refined as necessary.

USBG Executive Director Aaron Gregory Smith commented, “As the USBG and the industry professionals it serves grow and evolve, the Guild’s leadership has to evolve as well. This means prioritizing inclusivity by considering a range of skills, backgrounds, and experiences. To quote our good friend Jess Pettitt, ‘This approach facilitates a more balanced board that’s better equipped to understand the diverse needs of membership and the industry. By fostering a culture where skills and qualifications matter more than popularity, you’re creating a board that’s truly representative of the USBG community.’”

Kim Haasarud, who served as USBG President in 2021-2022 and currently serves on the Nominating Committee, said, “Moving forward, the goal here is to ensure that the Guild’s Board of Directors looks like our membership and functions at an optimum level. Having a broader range of perspectives, and unique skill sets and expertise on the Board will help achieve that end.

To learn more about the United States Bartenders’ Guild, visit https://www.usbg.org/home.