Jarred Craven, CSS
Last August, SWE welcomed in a new president as well as a new Board of Directors. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of articles to introduce our new leaders. Today, we would like to introduce a new member of SWE’s Board of Directors, Jarred Craven, CSS!
Jarred Craven’s expertise in spirits spans over two decades, beginning with his time at the University of Florida. While he eventually graduated with a degree in anthropology, his work as a bartender while in school fueled his lifelong passion and ambition in the spirits industry.
After graduation, he honed his beverage skills at hospitality-driven venues and craft cocktail bars. He has continuously pursued his beverage education through earning numerous certifications, excelling at cocktail competitions, attending industry conferences, and solidifying his place in the United States Bartenders Guild. Within the USBG, he has acted as Chapter President, Board Member, and Education Committee Chair—where he organized a diverse array of events, including Texas Tiki Week.
In 2016, Jarred became involved with the Society of Wine Educators when, through a cocktail competition, he won a scholarship to pursue the CSS certification, earning a rare perfect score when he sat the exam in 2018. Living in Austin, Texas at the time, he crossed paths with Jane Nickles (SWE’s Director of Education) and Shields Hood (SWE’s General Manager), leading to collaboration (and some raucous wine classes) between SWE and the local chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild.
When asked about his focus as a new board member for the Society of Wine Educators, Jarred replies, “As part of the board I would love to bring more representation for spirits into SWE. The educational content is already there. I want to work at getting the larger community to recognize that and seek out the certifications that can help them advance in their careers. In particular, I would love to be able to offer scholarship opportunities through partnerships with brands and trade-related charities to serve a wider audience and to diversify the membership of SWE.”
You can find out more about Jarred at his website, Craven Cocktails.
Welcome to the Board, Jarred Craven, CSS!