Welcoming New Board Members
New Board members include a former regional director, host of The Foundation Weekly on Instagram Live, and a former United States Bartenders’ Guild President
HENDERSON, NV (July 13, 2021) - Today the USBG National Charity Foundation announces that it has added five new members to the organization’s Board of Directors. Among them are a former Regional Director, a host of The Foundation Weekly on Instagram Live, and a former President of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG).
Dallas-based Naomi Ayala has worked in the hospitality and spirits industries since 2004 across the Northeast and Texas. She is also an experienced fundraiser and is active in the non-profit sector to benefit survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking, as well as veterans, women, and children experiencing homelessness. She has served on the USBG Dallas Chapter Board of Directors since 2018 and as Southwest Regional Chair of the National Council of Chapters since 2020. In addition, she frequently hosts the USBG Foundation Weekly.
Carlos Paiva is a seasoned industry professional, currently a bartender at Service Bar D.C. and previously served as a Regional Representative for the Northeast Region of the USBG. Carlos has been an active member of the D.C. local chapter since 2015. Having worked in several front-of-house positions since the early 2000s has helped him find a love for the industry, especially bartending. Carlos is currently focused on providing mentorship and best practices for up-and-coming bartenders.
A USBG member since 2007, Kyle McHugh is the former President of the USBG and is one of the preeminent beer, wine, and spirits experts working in the beverage industry today. He is a Certified Spirits Professional, an Advanced Sommelier candidate with the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Cicerone candidate, and a trained BJCP beer judge. Kyle and his work have been featured in countless media outlets, including Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Fine Living Network, NBC-5 Chicago, WCIU-26 Chicago, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Magazine, Michigan Avenue Magazine, Cheers, Paper, Santé, TimeOut Chicago, Chicago Reader, and many more.
Tony Devencenzi has worked in various positions within the service industry for over 25 years. A personal experience led to his co-founding the Bartender Relief Fund - which in turn inspired and was subsequently absorbed into the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program at the USBG Foundation. His first-hand knowledge of how charitable grants can prevent financial and psychological ruin drives his passion for the cause.
Trish Renehan Vodrazka currently works at DR Hospitality, LLC, a Phoenix-based restaurant group. While working in the hotel bar and restaurant industry in Arizona since 1989, she offers consultancy services ranging from event planning, catering, and charity fundraising to education on wine, sake, spirits, and beer as well as restaurant management and openings, company training, and social media and marketing.
Continuing in their positions on the Board of Directors are Aaron Gregory Smith, who is also the Executive Director of the USBG; Kim Haasarud, who is the current President of the USBG; industry luminary Chris Patino; and Frank Martucci, the Director of Beverage & Nightlife for Bally's Corporation casino properties.
Said Smith, “We’re incredibly fortunate to add to the Foundation Board of Directors these talented, professional, and empathetic individuals. They are all people with whom we’ve worked in other capacities and we look forward to the next year of collaboration in an effort to meet the mission of the Foundation, which is to advance the lifelong stability and well-being of service industry professionals through education and charitable activities.”
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Tune in this Thursday, July 15, for “The Foundation Weekly” on Instagram Live @usbgncf at noon Pacific/3 p.m. Eastern as host Naomi Ayala welcomes Keke DasGupta to preview DasGupta’s seminar at the Foundation’s forthcoming Social Responsibility Symposium titled “The Black T-Shirt Experiment: What Branding Can Teach Us About Self-Esteem.”
Follow the USBG National Charity Foundation through social media channels: IG/FB/TWITTER: @usbgncf/@USBGNCF/@USBGNCF
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About the USBG National Charity Foundation
The USBG National Charity Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to advance the lifelong stability and well-being of service industry professionals through education and charitable activities. The USBG Foundation accomplishes this mission through programming that focuses on social responsibility, community service, and philanthropy. The USBG Foundation was formed in 2012 to expand the charitable impact of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG). You can learn more about the USBG Foundation at www.usbgfoundation.org.
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Media inquiries:
Colin Baugh
Emblem Public Relations
323-219-3427
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