2024-2025 TXWA Board of Director Candidates
Nancy Finney
Member Distillery: Hush & Whisper Distilling Co.
Position at Member Distillery: CPA & Chief Revenue Officer
Nancy has 40+ years of experience in both public and privately held companies. With experience as a CFO for the past 20 years, she has managed all aspects of accounting, budgeting, banking, HR and IT. Most recently, she served as CFO during the planning and construction phase of Hush & Whisper Distilling in Bryan, TX.
Nancy now focuses on marketing, corporate direction, and brand development. She serves on various committees in Bryan and the Brazos Valley, focusing on economic development and user awareness. She has BBA(s) in Accounting and Finance from Texas A&M University and is a licensed CPA.
Jen Forman
Member Distillery: Johnny Pickles Distillery
Position at Member Distillery: Co-Owner
At Johnny Pickles, Jen creates unique spirits using local grain. As head distiller, Jen is responsible for the entire process, milling, mashing, fermentation, distilling, aging and bottling. She also oversees the cocktail bar and off-site events.
Jen comes from a background in construction project management with eleven years of experience including scheduling, budgeting, planning, contractor coordination for museums and interior construction projects for design and fabrication companies.
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University, Master of Science, Construction Management, 2006
Syracuse University, Bachelor of Science, Speech Communication, 1997
Josh Golladay
Member Distillery: Ironroot Republic Distilling
Position at Member Distillery: Digital Operations Manager
An early enthusiast and longtime supporter of the Texas whiskey scene, Josh Golladay is currently the Digital Operations Manager for Ironroot Republic Distilling. In addition to working with the marketing team on content creation, graphic design, strategy, and social media management, he also manages all internal technology and software platforms, including accounting, manufacturing and inventory, e-commerce and onsite sales. Josh also served for several years as a brand representative, giving tours and tastings at the distillery and working public events.
Jared Himstedt
Member Distillery: Balcones Distilling
Position at Member Distillery: Head Distiller
For Jared Himstedt, the craft of making whisky is a relational journey of discovery. Getting to know one's place and one's work are parts of a feedback loop through which we get to know ourselves. It's an ongoing, dynamic conversation with purpose, meaning and growth.
Jared's path wandered through social work, ceramic arts, punk bands, bicycle repair and homebrewing before arriving at distillation. In the early days of Balcones, he did a bit of everything--fabricating equipment, designing labels, making cuts at the stills, driving innovation concepts and blending expressions.
These days, his role is a mix of long-term planning and blending, all while keeping the company's creative and existential goals moving forward to "make it meaningful."
Outside of whisky-making, Jared enjoys time outdoors in the woods and building and riding bikes, in addition to making pots, sewing, playing music, and spending meaningful time with blood family and chosen family. Wherever the day takes him, he's always glad to find time for deep reflection around a fire with a neatpour of any Balcones single malt in hand.