​​​​​Fans, Hands, and Brands: Strategies and Tactics for Being Inclusive and Building Diversity in Craft Beermaster brewers webinars

Broadcast Date: November, 28, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT

Webinar Summary

What do a black belt in Jiu Jitsu, a colony of ants, and a recipe for a brown ale have in common? In the real world, very little. But in Dr. J.’s talk, this eclectic list of common objects will inspire attendees to rethink how we approach diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. In this interactive presentation, Dr. J. will open the door for an honest and judgment-free conversation about the realities of authentically reaching populations that are underrepresented among beer drinkers and brewery employees. Though there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to the many different challenges organizations face when seeking to diversify, this talk will use established best practices, craft brewing industry data, insights from social science, and consumer research to help attendees begin to craft individualized plans for aligning inclusive practices and diversity outcomes with their overall organizational goals.


About the Presenter

Dr. J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham

Dr. J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham
Randolph College and diversity ambassador for the Brewers Association

Dr. J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham is an assistant professor of communication studies at Randolph College, Dr. J. Jackson-Beckham has a storied history in the brewing community that began when she attended her first craft beer festivals in San Diego in the early 2000s. In the years that followed, she became an avid home brewer and worked as a buyer for a homebrew supply retailer with five locations across Virginia and North Carolina. A passion for tasting, making, and digging into the history of beer styles, inspired J. to dedicate her academic career to the study of beer and its place in American culture.

While earning a Ph.D. degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, J. conducted in-depth research about numerous aspects of the American brewing industry in general and published social commentary, scholarly journal articles, and academic book chapters about a range of topics relating to the craft beer industry and craft beer culture in particular. Those topics include sustainability, entrepreneurship, brewing history, and home brewing, but J. is most passionate about her work on issues of diversity, inclusion, and cultural disparities as they relate to craft beer.

In recent years, J. has delivered keynote addresses, presentations, and guest lectures on the culture and inclusiveness of craft beer. She is a frequent guest on radio shows and podcasts and has provided perspective and expertise for a number of news and entertainment media outlets. Her book, The Value of a Pint, is forthcoming from the University of Nebraska Press. As diversity ambassador for the Brewers Association, Dr. J. works to provide industry members with effective strategies for aligning inclusive organizational practices with overall organizational goals and tactics for diagnosing and removing barriers to access for populations that are underrepresented among craft beer drinkers and producers.


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