Vendor Magazine covers the latest products, industry news and tips for profitable operations, reaching liquor stores, bars and licensed restaurants and hotel lounges throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

JOHN SZUMLAS publisher As owner and publisher of Vendor Magazine and former executive director of the Alberta Liquor Store Association, John was heavily involved with the implementation of the Alberta model for privatizing the liquor industry. He is also a management consultant specializing in municipal governance and strategic planning, the Honourary Consul for the republic of Poland, member of the Boards of Directors of the Glenrose Hospital Foundation, the Peace Hills Insurance Company, the Vinok WorldDance Company and the Polish Heritage Society.

ZANE KROLL graphic design Zane Kroll is Gate Communications' Art Director, a role in which he exercises his considerable creativity to guide clients' ideas to impressive results. Vendor is honoured to include this accomplished and award-winning illustrator amongst its staff. Bringing this wealth of talent and experience to the magazine, he ensures that the publication is presented with style and coherence.

PETER MITHAM associate editor Peter Mitham, associate editor, British Columbia, has written about the wine, beer and spirits industry since 1997. A seasoned business writer, he has contributed to Vendor since 2005. In addition to Vendor, he is Northwest correspondent for the California wine and grape industry magazine Wines & Vines, and author of three books including Real Estate Investing for Canadians for Dummies (2006). His introduction to the trade came during a winter spent waiting tables in the Yukon, where some days saw more liquor sold than food.

KRISTINE KOWALCHUK assistant editor Kristine's first real introduction to wine was in Beaune, Burgundy, where she lived for two years while managing bike trips. (Sigh!) Since then, she has completed a masters degree in Montreal, freelanced for food and travel magazines, and taken a liking to growing a garden. She is currently the managing editor of Westworld Alberta magazine and is working on her PhD in English literature.

BRENDA HODGINS industry news Brenda Hodgins has worked in various supervisory and management positions in hotels and restaurants in B.C. and Alberta. Currently she is a full-time instructor for the Hospitality & Tourism Management program at Red Deer College and chair of her department.

TOM COX beer and spirits specialist So many beers, so little time! There is a dynamic and broad range of beers and beer styles that people haven't explored. Tom Cox has been in the wine, beer, and spirits industry for over 30 years now and is still enjoying finding the hidden gems, benchmark examples, and the newest offerings. With a love for experimenting and trying new things, Tom continues to challenge conventional wine/food pairings and beer selections. If it is weird and wonderful, Tom wants to try it!

STACEY-JO STROMBECKY wine, beer and spirits specialist

Stacey-Jo Strombecky, known for her scotch tastings, is the host of many spirit and wine tastings in Alberta. She is a certified sommelier and “Cellar Master – Eden Sommelier” at the Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff.

IVAN IVANKOVICH wine specialist Ivan Ivankovich, a wine writer, educator and independent consumer, brings his lifelong enthusiasm for wine to our readers. A veteran of past Vendor tasting panels, he is known as a consumer advocate who best appreciates a wine’s quality/value relationship. Ivan judged wines this past summer at Vinexpo in France.

BECKY SOLOMON contributing writer

Becky Solomon learned about wine, beer and spirits while working as a buyer and marketer for Earls, and she worked on the development of the lounge menu for White Spot when they expanded into Alberta. She has an intermediate certificate from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, and her wine and cocktail blog is read in over 40 countries: www.beckysolomon.blogspot.com

MICHAEL BOTNER contributing writer Michael Botner has been involved in the industry for over 25 years: as an educator, consultant, organizer of international wine competitions, and wine, beer and spirit writer. He is co-owner of the Accounting for Taste B & B in Kelowna.

MIKE TESSIER contributing writer Mike Tessier has traveled the world tasting beers. His latest trip was to Quebec, with British Columbia and France up next. Mike writes for several beer publications, has been a beer judge and panelist, and has just started his own agency, Artisan Ales Consulting Incorporated.

HEATHER KINGSTON contributing writer Heather Kingston received her International Sommelier Guild Diploma in November 2007. She has been busy ever since, sharing her passion for wine with others as a teacher for various wine and spirit classes for Continuing Education. She also is a writer, with her independent Wine-A-Lot feature for an Alberta newspaper, and has her own private wine tasting company.