Lester Jones
Lester Jones serves as the Chief Economist for the National Beer Wholesalers Association, a national trade organization that represents the interests of America’s 3,000+ independent, licensed beer distributors that service every state. He has more than 20 years of experience in survey research, alcohol beverages and applied economics. He also serves on the Boards of The Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM Coalition).
As NBWA Chief Economist, Jones tracks the economic factors that impact the beer industry and alcohol policy decisions at the federal, state and local levels. He evaluates and develops primary industry data, including economic impact, tax impacts, sales, and volume data. Jones previously served as Chief Economist at the Beer Institute. Jones has a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Delaware as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.