Tom McCormick

Tom McCormick founded the first craft- beer-only distribution company in the country in 1984, serving the Sacramento and Lake Tahoe markets. McCormick Beverage Company, which he sold in 1994, was a pioneer of the craft beer industry. “I got into the industry for the people,” says McCormick. “In the early years, craft brewers were part pioneer, artist, scientist and entrepreneur, and they were all extremely passionate. It was for the love of beer, not for the money.” McCormick became executive president of the California Craft Brewers Association in 2006.