Brewers Association Presents 2024 Industry Award Winners

Tonya Cornett, Laura Lodge, Eric Orlando, and John Pinkerton honored.

Boulder, Colo. • April 2, 2024 — The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers—is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Industry Awards. Since 1987, the association has recognized individuals who have positively contributed to the craft beer community. The 2024 award recipients will be honored for their dedication and service during a special ceremony on April 23, 2024, at the Craft Brewers Conference® (CBC) in Las Vegas.

“Year after year, our Industry Awards shine a spotlight on the trailblazers of the craft beer community,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO, Brewers Association. “This year’s honorees aren’t just making waves; they’re reshaping the landscape of brewing excellence, advocating for crucial legislative changes, and adding texture to the vibrant tapestry of our craft beer family. We can’t wait to see how these visionary leaders continue to shape and inspire the industry.”

2024 Industry Award Recipients

F.X. Matt Defense of the Industry Award

Eric Orlando

This award, named for the late F.X. Matt of F.X. Matt Brewing Co., is presented to an individual or company for their contributions and efforts in championing the small brewing industry.

Eric Orlando is a tireless industry advocate with more than two decades of experience providing legislative and public affairs counsel as it relates to policy development, grassroots outreach, coalition development, direct advocacy, press relations, and research. He is the executive vice president of The Zita Group, a lobbying firm in New Jersey. In addition, Orlando serves as the government affairs director for the Brewers Guild of New Jersey and sits as a board member on both the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association and Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Orlando’s advocacy efforts have resulted in significant legislative wins for the craft beer community. In 2012, he advocated for the passage of Public Law 2012, Chapter 47, which, for the first time in the state’s history, gave breweries the ability to sell pints of their beer for consumption on-premise, and brewpubs the ability to open up to ten locations in New Jersey. Then, in 2022, Eric gained state financial support for the industry through the passage of Public Law 2021, Chapter 438, which established the ‘New Jersey Brewery, Cidery, Meadery, and Distillery Industry Advisory Council and Promotion Account’ that utilized craft beverage alcohol excise tax revenue to promote the state’s craft beverage industry and fund research activities. Most recently, in 2023, Eric led New Jersey’s government affairs and strategic communications efforts to end state-imposed license restrictions through the signing of Public Law 2023, Chapter 290.

Eric was named on the annual ROI-NJ Influencers Power List in 2023 and NJBIZ’s Power 100 List in 2024.

His dedication to promoting and protecting small and independent craft brewers makes him a respected leader in the Garden State and beyond.