MB&WWA Advocates & Future Leaders

The MB&WWA offers two personal development programs designed to build advocates within your distributorship and cultivate future leaders of the Association.


As threats to the Three-Tier System increase, it's crucial for distributors to actively defend their interests. The MB&WWA leads the charge, but we also need a network of distributor advocates and a strong bench of future leaders who understand the industry and can guide the Association’s continued success.


The Three-Tier Advocate Accreditation Program is open to any distributor employee—whether in management, sales, warehouse, or delivery. The only requirement is a commitment to advocating for the beer and wine distribution industry. For those aspiring to leadership roles, including future owners, the MLA program provides the skills needed to grow into these positions.



Explore this webpage for more details on program content, requirements, training schedules, how to enroll, and meet our current participants and esteemed graduates!

Program Requirements

3T Advocate Accreditation

  • Complete (3) training sessions: MB&WWA 101, Grassroots Advocacy 101, and 3T 101. Each training session will be offered twice per year.

  • Attend (2) MB&WWA Lobby Day & Spring Parties

  • Attend (2) Warehouse Tours

MB&WWA Leadership Academy (MLA)

  • Complete (3) training sessions: MB&WWA 101, Grassroots Advocacy 101, and 3T 101. Each training session will be offered twice per year.

  • Attend (2) MB&WWA Lobby Day & Spring Parties

  • Attend (2) Warehouse Tours

  • Complete (1) Do's & Don'ts Training

  • Complete (1) Equity Preservation Class

  • Attend the 1.5-day MLA Retreat, offered once a year at the MB&WWA Headquarters in Lansing. Registration fee required, as this event features hired speakers and trainers.

  • Attend (3) Conventions (One must be a Winter Convention.)

  • Attend (2) Holiday Luncheons

  • Attend (6) Board Meetings

  • Attend (2) Region Meetings

  • Serve on at least (1) committee with a 75% attendance rate.

Training Sessions Content

  • The structure of state government

  • How the legislative and regulatory processes work

  • What grassroots advocacy is, how and when to engage in it, and how the MB&WWA assists distributors in grassroots advocacy

  • How to build an advocacy message; effective communication and messaging

  • The core advocacy issues of the MB&WWA (3T, franchise laws, exclusive territories, and more)

  • The impact of distributor consolidation on advocacy

  • How to build relationships with policymakers

  • The importance of the PAC/corporate giving

  • Warehouse tour training

Enroll Now!

MB&WWA Training Program Enrollment

Upcoming Trainings & Events

Training Date Time Location
Board Meeting Thursday, February 13 10:00 AM Zoom
Winter Seminar Series February 23-26, 2025 The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos
Board Meeting Thursday, March 13 10:00 AM MB&WWA Headquarters, Lansing
Board Meeting Thursday, April 10 10:00 AM Zoom
Board Meeting Thursday, May 8 10:00 AM Zoom
MB&WWA Lobby Day & Spring Party Wednesday, May 14 MB&WWA Headquarters, Lansing
Board Meeting (Joint with MBWWA Services, Inc.) Thursday, June 12 10:00 AM MB&WWA Headquarters, Lansing
Board Meeting Thursday, July 10 10:00 AM Zoom
Summer Convention July 27-30, 2025 Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls, MI

3T Advocate Training Materials

Click on the blue links to download and view relevant materials ahead of or after each training!

Training Program Participants

3T Advocate Accreditation

  • Mark Bodtke, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

  • Ava Butler, John P. O'Sullivan Distributing, Inc.

  • John Butler, John P. O'Sullivan Distributing, Inc.

  • Rob Caleca, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Graham Eby, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Jordan Flora, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

  • Barry Galgoci, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Jon Hanichen, Tyler Sales Company

  • Jason Heystek, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Jason Howard, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

  • Brandon Jacobs, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

  • Heather Kerr, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

  • Heidi Knudsen, Ludington Beverage Company

  • Nick Lee, Alpena Beverage Company

  • Stephanie Lyons, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

  • Christian Marcus, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Rob Moore, West Side Beer Distributing

  • Ava Morgeson, O & W, Inc.

  • Jimmy Morgeson, O & W, Inc.

  • Katie Salow, Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

  • Lindsay Smith, H. Cox & Son

  • Jesse Thompson, Tyler Sales Company

  • Micala Torres, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Patrick Walsh, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Sally Westerhouse, Imperial Beverage Company

MLA

  • Ashley Cekola, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Joey Cekola, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Lindsay Cekola, Imperial Beverage Company

  • Charlie Cove, Dan Henry Distributing Company

  • James Fabiano III, Fabiano Brothers, Inc.

  • Joseph Fabiano III, Fabiano Brothers, Inc.

  • Jamie Wanty-Keeder, O & W, Inc.

  • Ryan Klopcic, West Side Beer Distributing

  • Jill Korc, Rave Associates, Inc.

  • Kristy Linster, Floral City Beverage, Inc.

  • Joe Marcantel, Daniel L. Jacob & Co., Inc.

  • Jim Permesang, Mervenne Beverage, Inc.

  • Alec Petitpren, Petitpren, Inc.

  • Austin Petitpren, Petitpren, Inc.*

  • Jenna Podjan, Bud Distributing, Inc.

  • Brad Stachowiak, Rave Associates

  • Cooper Wanty, O & W, Inc.*

  • Isabel Wanty, O & W, Inc.*

  • Ben Warbritton, Rave Associates, Inc.

  • Jamie Warbritton, Rave Associates

*3T Advocate Graduate

Questions about our training programs?

Mark Medenblik

Public Affairs Coordinator

(517) 482-5555 ext. 219

Email Mark
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