8 PCA The Magazine | WINTER 2020 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you all had a terrific holiday season with big sales numbers, fun and safe times with family and friends, and of course, lots of perfect moments with your favorite cigars or pipe tobaccos, enjoying this wonderful industry of ours. Speaking of family—this is one idea/theme that has been on my mind a lot lately. This is definitely a very interesting and tenuous time in the premium cigar industry. With announcements from some saying they were not going to exhibit at the trade show, while others making claims about PCA policy positions, it’s true, there are divisions within the industry. But at the end of the day, we are a family. We are a small, niche industry that is really built on relationships and handshakes. It’s one of the things I love best about it. It’s all about family. And when it comes to family, when you are faced with an existential crisis—as we currently are—this is the exact time the family comes together to get through the crisis together. For nearly 90 years, PCA has been a brick-and-mortar retail organization, fighting to save premium cigars—and the thousands of family businesses who craft and sell them—from crippling and unnecessary regulation. We are at a critical crossroads for premium cigars, and it’s important for you to know and understand that we are making significant progress on the regulatory front. We are fighting multiple bills at the state level seeking to ban smoking, flavors and a whole host of other nonsense. Your membership support all goes directly towards these fights. I am bullish about our industry. Yes, we have challenges ahead, but I believe we are well-positioned to face them and thrive. To the many who have stepped up to support us in our efforts, I want to express my deepest gratitude. Our industry is stronger when it is united. While I hope we will all come together for the good of the community, at the end of the day, PCA is moving forward. And when all is said and done, we are family. And we will never turn our backs on family. Scott Pearce
[email protected] 512 Capital Court N.E. Washington, DC 20002-7709 Phone: 202.621.8064 www.premiumcigars.org Email:
[email protected] | PCA T H E M A G A Z I N E ILLUSTRATION BY : Joe DeLeon BY SCOTT PEARCE E D I T O R I A L EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Scott Pearce MANAGING EDITOR Greg Girard ASSOCIATE EDITOR Erin Holland ASSOCIATE EDITOR William C. Nelson ACCOUNT MANAGER David Wilson COPY EDITOR Rachel Dorrell DESIGN DeLeon Design; Omak Partners C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S Phil Ledbetter, Brian Ledtke, Luciano Meirelles, William C. Nelson, Jarrid Trudeau, Larry Wagner B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Scott Pearce Washington, DC PRESIDENT John Anderson Washington, DC FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Greg Zimmerman Lemoyne, PA TREASURER Scott Regina Virginia Beach, VA SECRETARY Todd Naifeh Oklahoma City, OK EX OFFICIO Ken Neumann Libertyville, IL D I R E C T O R S Steve Castro Frederick, MD Mike Condor Nashville, TN Paul Groh Germantown, WI Marvin Holthouser Destin, FL Jessica Hutson Springfield, MO Mame Kendall Bridgeville, PA Phil Ledbetter Chicago, IL Luz Normand Miami, FL Harris Saunders Birmingham, AL Randy Silverman New Castle, PA PCA © Copyright 2020. PCA The Magazine is a trademark of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA). All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents of this magazine without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. PCA The Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the content published. Neither the publisher nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found herein, and the publisher accepts no liability for the accuracy of the statements made by advertisers in advertising and promotional materials. The opinions expressed by contributing editors are not necessarily those of the PCA, its directors, officers or staff. The information included and items promoted in this magazine are intended for an adult audience. Editor’s Note A D M I N I S T R AT I O N SENIOR DIRECTOR, MEETINGS & EVENTS Lisa Cox DIRECTOR, FEDERAL AFFAIRS Josh Habursky SENIOR DIRECTOR, STATE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Rachel Hall MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Erin Holland ASSOCIATE MEMBER & OPERATIONS MANAGER Christine Morgan RETAIL MEMBER SERVICES MANAGER Greg Vickers