Catching up with Michelle McGrath CEO of the ACA

CiderCon 2024 takes place in Portland, Oregon, making it the perfect time to chat with the American Cider Association's CEO Michelle McGrath. The Northwest Cider Association is also involved helping with the cider tours on Monday and Tuesday and Oregon Cider Week!

• Who is Michelle McGrath? Why did your job title change from Ex Dir to CEO? The latter, is a typical of a for-profit organization title. Was this new title part of signifying a greater change for the ACA moving forward?
• What are the key services that the American Cider Association is providing to its membership?
• Who can join the American Cider Association?
• CEO Michelle’s must attend (do not miss) recommendation for CiderCon 2024

CiderCon 2024

• What is CiderCon? How do the host cities get chosen?
• This year it returns to Portland Oregon, for the first time since 2016. What can attendees expect with this site (physical overview) what is different from the downtown location in 2016.
• Planning Tips for getting the most out of CiderCon (or why should a business send themselves or their staff).
• Pre conference cider tours: Why arrive early and sign up for a cider tour?
• First Timers, Networking & Traveling alone to CiderCon – “how to stay in the loop”

Learning Tracks at CiderCon

• Doing Business Better
• Making Amazing Cider
• Selling More Cider
• Growing bountiful Apples
• Exploring Cider’s Flavor & Terroir

International Guest at CiderCon

• There are a number of speakers from Sweden and Norway attending CiderCon 2024. Is this in keeping with highlighting a specific country or region as in past? Will there be any specific tasting sessions from the Nordic countries?
• CiderCon has become the largest conference in the world for the cider industry and this year it appears to spotlight more international speakers than ever before, from both Scandinavia and the UK. How do you recommend members or attendees who are focused on their US market to interpret the state of cider in America, if the pool of speakers is dominated by international guests.
• Is there a final closing toast that attendees can participate in, the Friday before heading home?

Contact info for American Cider Association and CEO

• Website: https://ciderassociation.org/
• CiderCon 2024 January 16th-19th, 2024 in Portland, Oregon
• CiderCon 2024 cider tours! go to https://ciderassociation.org/cidercon2024/2024-tours/
• Oregon Cider Week January 13-21, 2024