Shirley Ford joins Black Momma Vodka as Executive of Sales & Marketing

VALENCIA, Calif. - May 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Today, President and CEO of The B4MC Group Vanessa Braxton announced Shirley Ford as the new Executive of Sales & Marketing Representative of the Southern California Region for Black Momma Vodka.

“Shirley Ford is an undoubted force and leader in the liquor industry here in Southern California”, said Braxton. “She has a wealth of knowledge in marketing new brands and a particular strength in sales to wholesale distributors and the select retailers that Black Momma Vodka is interested in working with. We could not have chosen a better candidate for this new role in our organization.”

Black Momma Vodka, a division of The B4MC Group, launched its flagship vodka in the U.S. in February 2013. Since then, the company’s vodka has been ranked among the nation’s top ten unflavored vodkas at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2013 and brokered deals with national restaurant chains and retailers.

“Southern California is the marketplace of the world and you have to be aggressive”, said Ford. “California is so spread out you really have to break it up and call on stores, hotels, and events.”

As the Executive of Sales and Marketing Representative of the Southern California Region, Ford plans to take her experience of running some of the region’s highest volume stores and applying it to the new brand. Her ultimate goal is to gain repeat customers and grow the company’s distribution deals through a combination of referrals, word of mouth and business-to-business sales.

“What you want to look for in any business is repeat customers and referrals. We’ve got to really infiltrate the market [and our customer base]”, said Ford.

Ford has more than 30 years of experience in the liquor industry. Launching her chain of liquor stores in 1979 and branching out into leadership roles in both industry associations like the California State Package and Tavern Owners Association (Cal-Pac) and local government, she is a recognized name in Southern California.

During her career as an owner and operator of liquor stores throughout the region, Ford joined Cal-Pac – eventually becoming the president of its Los Angeles chapter – and was influential in securing a 1984 agreement with Adolph Coors Company to reinvest in the African-American community, hire more African-Americans in executive level positions and increase support for African-American businesses and community projects.  She was also a Business Community Member of the 15th District, who assisted with programs and problems in the community.

Black Momma Vodka’s flagship vodka is 80 proof. Distilled five times and filtered five times from corn for its signature smooth taste. It’s distilled through Crushed Diamond Lava Rocks and fused with Cascade Mountain Spring Water from Oregon. Black Momma Vodka is available in 32 states nationwide and military exchanges.  

Black Momma Vodka is also the first vodka brand in the U.S. to be produced and nationally distributed by an African-American woman.