The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) has announced its two newest Lifetime Members: master mixologist and educator Bridget Albert, and senior whisky master Steven Beal.
The news debuted at last weekend’s Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans. The USBG is the country’s only national non-profit network of bartenders and hospitality professionals.
Bridget Albert
The USBG’s Lifetime Membership Program honors members with over ten years of membership in the Guild who have “elevated the bartending and hospitality industry throughout their careers,” the organization said in a press release.
Past inductees include Dale DeGroff, Tony Abou-Ganim and Francesco Lafranconi.
Albert was the Founding President of the USBG’s Chicago chapter and was the organization’s National Secretary from 2010 to 2012, a time that saw the largest growth in chapters. She is also the Founding President of the USBG National Charity Foundation, which advances the lifelong stability and wellbeing of service industry professionals through education and charitable activities.
Steven Beal
The Foundation administers the Helen David Relief Fund and the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.
“I want to thank the USBG Board of Directors and everyone I’ve ever worked with in the community for this great honor,” said Albert. “I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished here in the Chicago chapter and across the country.”
Beal has “long been a galvanizing force in the USBG’s San Francisco chapter,” the organization said, and is a master educator of whisky. Beal was instrumental in the development and delivery of the USBG Master Accreditation Program.
“Belonging to the USBG has introduced me to some of the most creative, energetic, thoughtful, service-oriented people in the industry” said Beal. “It’s opened an enormous number of doors and made so much possible in my career.”
