Northwest Cider Association Names Emily Ritchie as Executive Director

current Program Manager Emily Ritchie Becomes fulltime Executive Director effective May 2, 2016

Left to Right: Nick Gunn (Wandering Aengus), New NWCA Executive Director Emily Ritchie, and Steve Wood (Farnum Hill Ciders/Poverty Lane Orchards. 

Portland, OR – April 16, 2016 – The Northwest Cider Association (NWCA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of current Program Manager Emily Ritchie as Executive Director effective May 2, 2016. She replaces Sherrye Wyatt who has led the association as an independent contractor since 2012. The Board’s action follows an extensive search, and she will be the NWCA’s first full time staff member.

“The decision comes with the fullest confidence that Ritchie will continue to be an excellent steward of NWCA’s mission as well as a leader and advocate for craft cider,” according to Pete Mulligan, NWCA President.

Ritchie has successfully written grants for the cider industry as part of her work as a contractor with NWCA. In other professional roles she served as a Marketing and Sales Associate for Truitt Family Foods in Oregon and spent last summer doing direct marketing for Wandering Aengus Ciderworks. Prior to that, she directed the Oregon FoodCorps program at the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Department. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is a graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, California.

“Emily is a leader we feel best meets our ever increasing needs. She is strong with project management and has the ability to bring people together,” continued Mulligan. “Emily’s knowledge and front line experience with the cider industry, as well as her time working with the Oregon Department of Agriculture are a benefit to the association. Her care and passion is clear.”

About Northwest Cider Association
Founded in 2010, the Northwest Cider Association (NWCA) brings cideries and cider lovers together to learn, experience and enjoy the Northwest cider culture. Representing more than 70 commercial cidermakers from throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, the group is dedicated to supporting, promoting and growing this thriving industry. NWCA hosts cider-themed events, including Cider Rite of Spring, Summer Cider Day, and Cider Weeks in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. For more information about the Northwest Cider Association, visit www.nwcider.com, or follow the growing organization on Facebook and Twitter (@nwcider).

Media Contact:
Sherrye Wyatt
Sherrye@nwcider.com
(360) 929-9924