People You Should Know: Ron Newman
Ron Newman
Branch Manager, Glazer’s Midwest
AGE: 61
JOB DESCRIPTION: I am responsible for the sales and marketing of distilled spirits, fine wines and malt beverages to a 38-county market area in central Missouri. Our customer base includes licensed accounts of taverns, fine wine stores, restaurants, convenience stores, clubs, super stores and grocery accounts.
YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA: 38
ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Webster Groves, Mo.
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts, Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas; Defense Language Institute, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Cosmopolitan Club, Ragtag Theater Board Member, “We Always Swing Jazz” Board Member, Co-Founder of the University of Missouri Concert Series “Wines of the World” fundraiser, Architect of the “We Always Swing Jazz, Wine and Beer Pub Crawl”, corporate sponsor for Roots Ôn Blues Ôn BBQ Festival, and the True False Film Festival.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: I entered the wine profession as an entry-level salesman for E&J Gallo Winery with Boone Distributing in 1971 and was promoted to wine specialist in 1974. I became sales manager of Boone Distributing in 1975. In 1986, my partner, Bruce Loyd, and I purchased the SJL Beverage Company (Columbia and Springfield). In 1997, we sold to the Glazer Family of Companies from Dallas.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: Cindy Mustard, the head of the Voluntary Action Center. Business should have a personal connection with the community and Cindy personifies that connection. It’s all about the heart and giving back to your hometown.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: The best part of my job is working with loyal, hard-working and creative co-workers. The longevity of employment is a testament of our work environment and the passion we share for our business. We pride ourselves on customer service to our accounts. I enjoy the connection of fine wine, food, friends and travel, which my position has allowed me to experience around the world.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, I WOULD: I would be building a yurt and making sure it could accommodate a 60 inch flat screen TV or teaching English as a second language in Europe.
BIGGEST CAREER OBSTACLE I’VE OVERCOME AND HOW: After the purchase of our primary competitor in 2000, we had to assimilate their sales and management team into ours, as well as redefine our contrasting corporate cultures.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: Teaching “Wines of the World” at Osher Lifelong Learning Center at University Extension under Lucille Salerno’s direction.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROFESSION: As an alcohol beverage distributor we are actually in the “Entertainment” business that encourages personal responsibility when consuming our products. Ours is a dynamic industry where you get to meet generational winery owners, distillers and brewers that are committed to their craft and grounded in continuing their family traditions.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: I love to float the streams in southern Missouri, bird watching, hiking in the spring and fall, visiting art museums, enjoying Mizzou sports, and hosting tail gate parties in Lot G!
FAMILY: I’m happily married to my soul mate, Pam. We have a blended family that includes five children and five grandchildren. Our children in Columbia are Jesse Newman, Elizabeth Mendenhall and Ford Mendenhall. We have daughters, Lisa, in Tulsa, Okla., and Michelle in Augusta, Ga.
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: I have severalÑMy screened-in porch overlooking the Missouri River, Eagle Bluffs Wetlands at sunset, and all the great restaurants and bars in Columbia.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: Being the only entry-level Gallo salesperson to become an owner of a distributorship.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT I: Happened into Les Bourgeois Winery in the Ô80s during crush, and they said, “Taste this,” and I said, “I can sell as much as you can produce”. That was the birth of “Riverboat Red”, the top selling wine in Columbia.