News Releases & Statements

American Beverage Association Announces Election of New Members to its Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2009

Contacts:  
ABA Press Office
(202) 463-6770

American Beverage Association Announces Election of New Members to its Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Beverage Association (ABA) announced today the election of eight new members to its board of directors.  Elected to serve their first term are: Rich Beck, president, North America Functional Beverages, PepsiCo; Brian Charneski, president, L & E Bottling Company, Inc.; Ralph Crowley, president/CEO, Polar Beverages; Selim Chidiac, CEO, Red Bull North America; Edwin C. Rice, chairman and CEO, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.; and Cliff Ritchie, president and CEO, Carolina Beverage Corp.  Elected to serve a second term are George Kalil, president, Kalil Bottling Co., and Keith Reimer, president and CEO, Pepsi Bottling Ventures LLC. 

"I welcome the new board members to the ABA family, and am grateful for their leadership and expertise," said Larry D. Young, chair of the ABA board of directors and president and chief executive officer of Dr Pepper Snapple Group.  "Our industry is leading the way on a variety of fronts, from school health and wellness to environmental stewardship.  We look forward to working with our new members to expand our industry's leadership."

ABA President and CEO Susan K. Neely said, "The ABA and its members value the commitment and dedication of its board and look forward to achieving the collective goals of the beverage industry with the guidance and direction of our newest members."  

Members of ABA's board of directors serve a four-year term and participate in semi-annual meetings that help shape association policy and initiatives.  With the election of these eight new members, there are now 25 members on ABA's board.

  # # #

The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.  For more information,  please visit the association's Web site at www.ameribev.org or call the ABA communications team at (202) 463-6770.

-30-