Portland, ORโLongtime American Cider Association CEO Michelle McGrath will depart her role at the end of 2024. This change comes after more than 8 years of successful leadership overseeing significant advancements in the ACAโs mission for the benefit of the US cider community. McGrath was hired in 2016 as the first CEO of the ACA, then called the United States Association of Cider Makers. Since her hiring, she led a transformation of the ACA into the internationally-respected nonprofit trade organization that it is today.
โMichelle has been instrumental at the helm of ACA for both our organization as well as for the cider industry. We will miss her creative, strategic, and compassionate leadership, but we are excited to see where her next endeavors take her. The board is grateful for Michelleโs 8 ยฝ years of service during which she reached many meaningful milestones for the ACA,โ says current ACA Board President, Christine Walter of Baumanโs Cider.
As CEO, McGrath expanded and diversified membership, events, and programs, enhanced the associationโs capabilities, reach, credibility and network, and effectively advocated for policy change supporting cider with Congress, the TTB, and state governments.
โIโm really proud of what the board, staff, volunteers, partners, and members have accomplished together over the last 8+ years. Itโs been a true honor to work with such inspiring people, and although I am ready to move to the next phase of my career, I will cherish my time and the relationships Iโve built at the ACA forever,โ says McGrath. โItโs hard to express how much the people in this industry mean to me, and Iโm incredibly grateful for the friendships and memories made. I was a cider fan before I took the reins at the ACA, and Iโll be a cider fan for life!โ
A few of McGrathโs many accomplishments:
- Increased the ACAโs membership by more than 60% to nearly 800 members
- Achieved a substantial 100% increase in annual revenue by diversifying funding sources
- Expanded the ACAโs team to several highly capable and passionate team members
- Organized and led 8 CiderConยฎ events, the largest cider-industry event worldwide
- Oversaw the development, growth and global expansion of the ACAโs Certified Cider Professional program, the only globally available education program for beverage and culinary industry professionals
- Championed programs and policies to support the growth of a diverse interest in cider, including the ACAโs Cider is for Everyone Scholarship
- Created a market insights program that shares market data and reports with members and the beverage industry at large
- Fostered strong relationships with key national beverage media outlets and cultivated meaningful press highlighting the growth of cider and the humans behind it
- Supported national collaborative efforts to expand small-producer tax credits
- Fought for the right to list harvest years on TTB-approved labels for cider over 7% ABV
- Led efforts in securing TTB approval for 12 oz (approved in 2020), 16 oz, and 19.2 oz packaging sizes for wine, mead, and cider over 7% ABV (TTB comments recently closed)
- Collaborated with congressional champions and allied segments to introduce the Bubble Tax Modernization Act (HR 7029) to increase allowable carbonation thresholds for fruit cider, fruit wine and fruit mead under 8.5% ABV
McGrath shared that her championing of farmers will continue in her next role. She plans to stay engaged with the cider industry, and she will be at CiderConยฎ 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
โIโm excited to see everyone, and to experience the cider from the featured guest country this yearโChile! Letโs share some cider together, friends!โ McGrath says.
The ACA Board of Directors is accepting applications for its next dynamic and visionary CEO until November 24. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Those interested in applying can learn more here.