At 26 years old, I have only spent four years working in the day-to-day of this industry. But the truth is, I've been around it my entire life. With a parent who owned and operated a distributorship for more than 30 years, this business has always been part of my life. While the industry wasn't new to me, SAAGNY was.

Traditionally, boards of directors are built around individuals with decades of experience and deep industry tenure. That's why I was genuinely surprised when I was asked to join the SAAGNY Board. I didn't fit the conventional mold, and I knew that.

But when SAAGNY chose to bring a younger member onto the Board - someone who could offer a different perspective - it said something important about where this association is headed. That decision reflects a larger truth I've come to appreciate: SAAGNY isn't content with being a traditional regional association. We're challenging expectations, embracing new ideas, and reshaping what a regional association can be.

That shows up in the substance, too. We are creating events and experiences designed to drive purpose, growth, and real community, not just attendance. We are working to bring new and younger people into this industry, get them involved, and give them a reason to stay, to lead, and to see a future here. And we are rethinking what our members should expect from us at every touchpoint, not only at our signature shows.

You'll feel that same energy in what's ahead. We have some awesome events coming up, including factory tours of MidniteSnax and Liquimark on August 4th, a Long Island Ducks baseball game on August 12th, and our SAAGNY fall show on September 24th.

I hope everybody leans into this awesome regional and shows up for this industry. The future is bright.

Sincerely,

Dylan Cohen

Board of Directors - Marketing Chair