Meet Your 2025 Board of Director Candidates

Christine Walter

Christine grew up on her family’s farm, Bauman Farms, in rural Oregon. Raising apples and pressing juice with her family are some of her earliest memories. She studied biochemistry in college, and started and ran a small retail company for 22 years before discovering and quickly falling in love with cider. It took her a couple years to convince her family that cider was a real thing and that I might be able to make it on the farm if they would only let her use a small corner of a barn to launch Bauman’s Cider. As you can imagine she has since taken over the whole barn, and created a huge following among her family. She is also currently a member of the board of the The Cider Institute of North America and regular guest instructor.

Candidate Statement

I personally straddle the line between making nuanced, apple-honoring traditional ciders and pushing the edge of innovation in dessert apple-centric recipe-driven ciders. With exceptional quality as my guiding light, I seek always to grow the pool of people who hold cider in high regard. The more people who appreciate the art and craft of cider, and the more people who look for it when they choose to drink, the better we can all do as an industry to foster relationships, build diversity and to contribute to the social and financial economy of the communities we live in.

Ben Calvi

Ben Calvi is the Director of Cider Making for Vermont Hard Cider Co. in Middlebury, Vermont. Previously, he made cider at Champlain Orchards in Shoreham, Vermont, and wines at Esser Vineyards and Quintessa in the Napa Valley, for Burklin-Wolf in Germany, and at the Robert Mondavi Institute in Davis, California. Ben lives on a tiny apple orchard in nearby Cornwall with his wife, Sophie, and two children, Arthur and Delfina. He joined the American Cider Association board of directors in 2016.

Candidate Statement

As a board director for the ACA since 2016, I bring continuity, valuable perspective, and a wealth of experience. I am currently serving as interim Vice President on the executive committee. Over the years, my board service has focused on supporting key initiatives, including the founding of the CCP and DEI committees, and spearheading Legislative efforts. It is crucial for cider makers to continue fostering unity and a shared voice, enabling us to effectively showcase American ciders in an ever-evolving, hyper-competitive beverage landscape. Together, we can ensure the future success and growth of the cider industry.

Eleanor Léger

Eleanor Léger is the Founder of Eden Specialty Ciders of Vermont. Eden was established in 2007, and is a leading producer of ice ciders and heritage ciders. Eleanor has served on the Board of the American Cider Association, as a member of the Vermont Working Landscape Enterprise Board, and was a founder of the Vermont Cider Makers Association. In addition to leading the team at Eden, Eleanor writes about the economics of small cider production at Cidernomics.com

Candidate Statement

Hello from Vermont. It has been a great honor to serve as Eastern Region Chair. I’ve met so many wonderful cider makers of all sizes and types from across our large region. I’ve traveled to Philly CiderWeek and the PA Cider Fest to the Hudson Valley and the Finger Lakes, Franklin County Cider Days, Cider Feasts, and Maine Apple Camp. Whenever I’m in conversation at the ACA Board, I’m thinking of all of you, your needs, and how we can work together to make the cider business easier, more visible in the market, and more successful. I’m looking forward to supporting our new CEO and our Board President, and partnering with NY and PA Cider Associations, as we continue to fight for things like bubble-tax relief, harvest dates, and ensuring our continued ability to ship DTC. Don’t ever hesitate to contact me with your questions, concerns and ideas!

Tom Hart

Tom Hart began his cider journey as the first employee at Humboldt Cider Company in 2015. He became a co-owner in late 2016 and has been following his passion for apples ever since. Tom’s cider journey started in the cellar cleaning tanks, pressing apples and pitching yeasts, and has grown to include nearly all aspects of the industry since then. He currently helps manage two orchards, runs Humboldt Cider’s sales and distribution departments and handles the day-to-day issues that come with owning a small business.

Tom has worked with California State Parks and the National Park Service on historic orchard restoration projects, including the restoration of the Tower House orchard after the devastating 2018 Carr Fire. His love of history has led him to become a quasi-expert on Albert Etter and he helps maintain Etter’s 1894 homestead orchard. Tom derives a lot of his industry passion from these areas and hopes to work with the ACA to help highlight cider’s rich history and deep roots in his region and country.

Candidate Statement

I am excited for the opportunity to work with the ACA and represent cider companies large, medium and small for the Pacific Coast region. I believe it is important to take a big tent approach and listen to all the opinions and needs of cideries in our region. It is my goal to help make the ACA more accessible to individual companies and highlight our region’s rich history, contributions and desires at the national level. I know how hard it is to run a small business in our industry, and I will work diligently to assist and advocate for the Pacific Coast region at the national level in any way I can. My door is always open.

Daron Ford

Since 2006, I’ve pursued a passion for fermentation science crafting wine across Napa Valley, Western Australia, and Northern Michigan, as well as brewing beer and cider in my home state of Minnesota. Now living in Williamsburg, VA, with my wife and three boys, I’m focused on bringing modern ciders to Coastal Virginia at Sly Clyde Ciderworks. With a background in life sciences, art, and business, I bring a unique blend of scientific technique and creativity to the cider world.

Candidate Statement

I bring a serious passion for science, creativity, and business efficiency to the ACA. My experience with producers of all sizes gives me insight into our industry needs at every scale. As Southern regional chair, I will advocate for our unique challenges, foster connections among producers, and amplify the voice of our special region. I’m committed to maximizing our resources, contributing scientific expertise, and collaborating on innovative solutions. Dedicated and approachable, I aim to build on our impressive foundation, represent you effectively, and celebrate our shared successes – ideally over a glass of cider.

Scott Spelbring

Scott Spelbring is Director of Winemaking and Cidermaking for Bluemont Vineyard and Henway Hard Cider, located in Northern VA at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a passion for crafting exceptional beverages and using local resources, Scott’s 15 years of wine and cidermaking combines innovative techniques and traditional methods to create unique wines and ciders that reflect the region’s rich agricultural heritage. Always creating, Scott thrives on “start-ups” and building brands and was involved in the music industry and internet technology prior to wine and cider. He is a Virginia Cider Association board member.

Candidate Statement

As an advocate for craft beverages and a dedicated member of our cider community, I have witnessed firsthand the potential of our region’s cider industry. My vision is to strengthen collaboration, help amplify our voices in national and local conversations, and foster a vibrant culture of cider appreciation. Our industry is shaped by passionate large and small business owners who pour their hearts into their craft and it’s vital that we create a supportive ecosystem to help them succeed through wide ranging initiatives. Whether it’s supporting legislation such as the Bubble Bill Modernization Act, creating marketing initiatives and consumer connections or supporting entry level cider-makers and cideries I want to help drive cider forward! Together, we can grow and foster our industry while preserving its unique heritage.