Tom McCormick entered the craft brewing industry in 1982 and two years later founded McCormick Beverage Co., one of the first beer wholesalers in the country to sell craft beer exclusively. After selling the company, he created an onsite educational seminar for major brand wholesalers on how to sell craft beer. He also taught classes at the American Brewers Guild and UC Davis Extension and consulted for brewers, wholesalers, and importers. In 1997, he was a founding partner in Wolaver’s Organic Ales. He later became editor of the online industry newsletter BeerWeek and manager of the online industry resource site ProBrewer.com. In 2006, he became the first executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association.