Saluting service: Michigan beer and wine distributors honor veteran employees

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – As Veterans Day approaches on Monday, Nov. 11, beer and wine distributors across the state are proudly celebrating the men and women who have served our country. These veterans continue to make a difference, bringing their dedication, leadership and unique skills to businesses and communities statewide.

“Our veterans have given so much to this country, and they bring invaluable perspectives, a strong work ethic and leadership that strengthen our businesses and communities,” said Tim Sullivan, vice president of logistics at Alliance Beverage Distributing in Grand Rapids. “We’re dedicated to honoring their contributions, both in their military service and in the workforce.”

“We acknowledge and respect all our veterans’ valor and service, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Jim Fabiano II, President of Fabiano Brothers Michigan Division. “Veterans exemplify the courage, dedication and sacrifice required to protect the freedoms we cherish as Americans, and our team at Fabiano Brothers is committed to supporting them in any way that we can.”

In 2024, Fabiano Brothers proudly supported the following organizations and philanthropic endeavors:

• Folds of Honor
• Q100 Here’s to the Heroes Program
• Great Lakes Bay Veterans Coalition
• Rock 4 Vets Music Festival
• Coleman Veteran’s Memorial
• Saginaw YMCA Veteran’s Support

“Great Lakes Wine & Spirits proudly recognizes our veterans who have served across all branches of the armed forces and now bring that same dedication to our sales, delivery and warehouse teams,” said Lewis Cooper III, Co-CEO of Great Lakes Wine & Spirits in Highland Park. “Their service to our nation demonstrated the talent and commitment that make them invaluable members of our company and communities.”

The Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association (MB&WWA) is thrilled to highlight some of the veteran employees of a few distributor members, including Alliance Beverage Distributing, Fabiano Brothers and Great Lakes Wine & Spirits:

• Triston Albert is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for eight months.
• Abbas Alsanker is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for seven years.
• Nick Anthony, delivery driver at Fabiano Brothers, served as an E-4 Communication Specialist in the 82nd Airborne from 1989 to 1993, including time in Desert Storm.
• Ed Bronzie is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for one year and eight months.
• Nick Cambio, supervisor at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, served in the U.S. Army from 2002 to 2006. During his service, he held roles including Fueler, Platoon Sergeant, Supply Sergeant, Armorer, Supply Specialist, Convoy Security, Driver and 9mm Trainer/Qualification NCO. Cambio was stationed at various locations, including Ft. Knox (KY), Ft. Lee (VA), Ft. Dix (NJ), Ft. Irwin (CA), Camp Grayling (MI), Lansing, Michigan and Fallujah, Iraq.
• Heaven Clausen is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a merchandiser at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for three months.
• Warren Commire is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a merchandiser at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for 11 months.
• Dale Cooley is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a supervisor at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for nine months.
• Bryan Deater, operations supervisor at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army from June 2006 to March 2016. Deater held positions such as an Advanced Marksmanship Instructor, Combative Instructor and Squad Leader, and served in multiple places stateside as well as Kuwait and Afghanistan.
• Brian Drzewicki is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for two years and nine months.
• Frank Escamilla, sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, served as a Specialist in the U.S. Army from August 1, 1966, to May 3, 1968, including Fire Direction Artillery and service in Vietnam.
• Curt Fritz, warehouse manager at Fabiano Brothers, served as an assistant HR for the 3rd Infantry Division Aviation Brigade. Fritz’s 23-year military career included service in Germany from 1989 to 1992 and 1994 to 1998 and in Georgia from 1992 to 1994 and 1998 to 2012.
• Carl Garant, sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, served three years as a Security Specialist at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington.
• Mark Goryl, sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, served as a Specialist 4 in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1986. Goryl did his basic training at Ft. Leonard (MO) and permanent party at Ft. Riley (KS).
• Kristian Gostomski, sales representative at Fabiano Brothers, was a Marine 0811 Field Artillery Cannoneer from 2016 to 2020 with deployments in San Diego, Ft. Sill, Camp Lejeune, Syria and Japan.
• Aaron Hilliker is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for two years and three months.
• Andre Jackson, delivery driver at Fabiano Brothers, served as a Hospital Corpsman from 1991 to 1995 in San Diego, California.
• Mike Jones is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a district manager at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for 14 years and seven months.
• Matt Mead is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for 20 years and one month.
• David Olshove, delivery driver at Fabiano Brothers, served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army for 4.5 years, including a deployment to Iraq and service at Ft. Hood.
• Martha Owens is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a part-time merchandiser at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for five months.
• Keith Peebles is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for seven years and three months.
• Eric Ritenburgh, driver for Alliance Beverage Distributing, served in the U.S. Army from 2010 to 2013 based at Ft. Hood, Texas and had one 12-month deployment to Iraq in 2010.
• Travis Schade, transportation supervisor at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, served as a Light Infantry Mortarman in the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne from 1992 to 1994. Schade was stationed at Ft. Campbell (KY).
• Matthew Smallwood, delivery driver at Fabiano Brothers, served from 2003 to 2013 as a Bradley Gunner/Commander with deployments in Germany, Iraq, Ft. Stewart and Ft. Knox.
• Charles Space, delivery driver at Fabiano Brothers, was a Damage Control Department Airman in the USS Kittyhawk CV63’s Fire Department/Initial Response Team in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for four years. Space spent two years on active duty from 1987 to 1989 and two years in active reserve.
• Mike Sypien is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a manager at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for one year.
• Aaron Tront is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a sales representative at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for five years and seven months.
• Jason Vacheta is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for 19 years and seven months.
• Raymond Vining is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for seven years and eight months.
• Johnny Wall, sales representative at Fabiano Brothers, was an Ammunition Specialist, MOS 55B and Tank E4 (Specialist). Wall spent three years on active duty in Germany from 1996 to 1999 and civilian service in Iraq from 2006 to 2008.
• Dawson Washington is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for two years and nine months.
• Todd Wood is a proud U.S. military veteran who has been a driver at Great Lakes Wine & Spirits for nine years and six months.
• Hiram Yap, warehouse replenisher at Fabiano Brothers, served as a Mechanic for generator and vehicle repair/recovery, with deployments in Germany, Italy and the U.S. from 1980 to 1990.

This Dropbox folder has access to photos.

About Alliance Beverage Distributing

Family-owned and operated, Alliance Beverage Distributing is proud to offer a wide variety of beverages to local retail establishments, restaurants and neighborhood taverns. The beer and wine distributor has over 450 team members and services over 5,000 customers across the western half of Michigan. With three distribution facilities and six sales offices, Alliance Beverage Distributing employees live and are active in the communities they serve.

About Great Lakes Wine & Spirits

Great Lakes Wine & Spirits is Michigan’s largest wine and spirits distributor, serving all 83 counties with an extensive portfolio of renowned and innovative brands. The distributor is ‘local everywhere,’ dedicated to providing exceptional service, fostering community growth and maintaining a family-oriented culture.

About Fabiano Brothers

Fabiano Brothers has been a family-owned business since its inception in 1885. Based upon a firm foundation of tradition and integrity, the company continues to thrive under the leadership of the fourth generation of the Fabiano family. The beer distributor takes pride in providing its customers with sales, delivery and customer service teams that are efficient, dependable and responsive to the needs of its customers.