Here are the keynote speakers for the 2018 Craft Brewers Conference (drum roll, please…)

Paul Saginaw, co-owner and founding partner, Zingerman’s, and Deborah Carey, founder and president of the New Glarus Brewing Co., will deliver the keynote speeches for the 2018 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America (CBC).

Presented annually by the Brewers Association, CBC is the industry’s largest gathering, bringing together 13,000 brewing professionals. This year, the conference and expo will be held in Nashville, Tenn., from April 30 to May 3. CBC 2018 also serves as home to the World Beer Cup, often referred to as “the Olympics of Beer.”

“The Craft Brewers Conference brings together the expertise and passion of its internal brewing community and voices outside as well,” said Paul Gatza, director, Brewers Association. “Through this year’s choices for keynote speakers, we want to offer CBC attendees words of wisdom, inspiration and experience. The combination of Paul and Deb provides insights into the crucial components of building and sustaining success in the brewing community.”

Speaking Tuesday, May 1 (9:15 to 10:30 a.m.), Saginaw co-founded Zingerman’s Delicatessen in 1982 in Ann Arbor, Mich. with his business partner Ari Weinzweig. With the goals of producing a great corned beef sandwich and creating an organization with a soulful culture, they transformed their venture into a community of businesses, consisting of 22 partners and over 750 employees. Saginaw brings an inspirational message — and strong vision — into the corporate world. His accomplishments include a “Champion of Change” award from the White House in 2014 and a lifetime achievement award from Bon Appetit.

Speaking Wednesday, May 2 (9:15 to 10:30 a.m.), Carey, a lifelong entrepreneur, started her first business at the age of 16. Carey raised the capital to establish New Glarus Brewing, based in New Glarus, Wis., in 1993, making her the first woman to found and operate a brewery in the country. Under Carey’s leadership, New Glarus has become a national icon as one of the largest U.S. craft breweries by volume, while still being acclaimed for its local, in-state focus. She combines business management and brewing professionalism to run her brewery on foundations of individuality, cooperation and the use of 100 percent natural ingredients.

The CBC general session will also feature Gatza and Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson, who will provide a detailed look at the overall health of the craft brewing market in their annual State of the Industry address.