Voting is now open for the 2022 Board of Directors. Retail members are encouraged to participate and cast your vote to help shape the future of the Premium Cigar Association. Voting runs from May 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022.
The PCA Board of Directors consists of 14 retail members and five 5 Associate Members. Each board member serves a 3-year term. The PCA holds elections each year to fill open board seats for directors whose terms have been completed. This year, we have 3 open Retail Board Seats and 2 open Associate Board seats. Review the candidates below and cast your vote today!
HOW TO VOTE: instructions for casting your vote are provided at the bottom of this page. Note: only 1 vote per company will be accepted.
Candidates for the PCA 2022 Board of Directors Election
Retail Candidates
Troy Benne | Owner, Sequoia Cigar Company, 1 Retail Store, Fresno, CA
If elected, I will bring over 20 years of executive level casino management experience to the PCA Board of Directors. Throughout my casino career, I have dealt with regulatory requirements, government overreach and external and internal audits alike. With this experience, I intend to bring a fresh perspective on these and other issues as they relate to the premium cigar industry and specifically to the brick and mortar stores.
Simply stated, brick and mortar stores are the lifeblood of our industry. If elected, my work on the PCA Board of Directors will be focused on our brick and mortar stores and how we can remain competitive in an ever-increasing on-line environment. State taxes, how they are calculated and how they are unevenly applied to on-line sales is a personal reform goal of mine.
Thank you for considering me to be a member of the PCA Board of Directors.
Anthony Goins | Owner, Capital Cigar Lounge, 1 Retail Store, Lincoln, NE
My desire to serve is twofold:
1. To create more opportunities for those of us that enjoy cigars, to do so in a frictionless manner and without hassle. Also to bring more people in our culture. Cigars are a lifestyle and part of hospitality and relaxation. Very different from cigarettes.
2. To influence policies that drive profitability for all businesses that are part of the cigar supply chain. This of course includes the retailer.
I want to work with my peers to influence the narrative for the above initiatives.
I am currently the head of economic development for the State of Nebraska. This is a cabinet appointment by our Governor Pete Ricketts. In this role I am responsible for all economic activity for the state which includes working closely with state and federal legislatures. I work to find compromise so that bills that are part of the Governor’s agenda are passed.
Kathleen Kelly | Owner, Queensbury Cigar and Pipe, 1 Retail Store, Queensbury, NY
I would like to thank you for your consideration for election to the PCA board. I have owned and operated Queensbury Cigar and Pipe for 28 years, and I am also the Treasurer/Secretary for the New York Tobacconist Association.
I have gained a lot of relevant experience on the board for the NYTA. I was responsible for rebranding the logo, designing the NYTA Rocky Patel Empire cigar, revamping our website, and working with the board on two bills we have in the Senate and Assembly in the State of New York. I love our industry and know how important it is for shops to work together to not only make it better but to also to protect the rights of tobacconists with legislative issues we are constantly facing.
I also understand how important the PCA is to our industry, and I look forward to utilizing my professional experience in collaboration with the board if elected. I am committed to working hard for all retailers.
Alan Price | General Manager, Cigar Mojo, 1 Retail Store, King of Prussia, PA
My passion for the premium cigar industry began in 2009 when I became a CRA ambassador and recruited over 600 new members in my first 2 years of volunteering. Soon after, I became a sales representative for a group of 10 boutique cigar brands and then further expanded my expertise in the industry by becoming a Certified Tobacconist.
For the last 8 years, I have been a Manager at Cigar Mojo in King of Prussia, PA, a brick and mortar shop and lounge. Through my work with CRA, I have established a broad network of contacts including many brand owners across the industry who I am also proud to call friends.
I hope to serve on the PCA Board of Directors to help represent the voice of the single brick and mortar establishments.
Bob Roberts | Owner, Smoke m Casa Grande, 5 Retail Stores, Mesa, AZ
I am a premium cigar retailer with a lounge in Mesa, AZ. I also have owned 8 Smoke shops in AZ. Currently serve as an officer on the NATO (National Association of Tobacco Retailers).
As a retailer I will work with Manufacturer and Associate Board members to:
• Extend reach of PCA to more retailers including those outside of USA
• Explore additional opportunities to increase Trade Show attendance and exhibitors
• Utilize my NATO experience (13 years) to support Government Affairs efforts.
• Review PCA Strategic Plan in an on-going effort to enhance PCA’s presence/brand in the industry.
Associate Candidates
Mike Gold | Arango Cigar Co.
As a member of PCA and owner of Arango Cigar Co., an importer/distributor for over 40 years, I have experienced and dealt with all aspects of the premium tobacco industry.
With this unique perspective, I will be able to relate to and communicate easily with retailers, the primary base of PCA, major and boutique manufacturers, politicians and government officials involved in federal, state, and local taxation.
By being an effective conduit between all of these groups due to my industry relationships and many board and committee positions, I can help facilitate improving, expanding and strengthening the PCA membership, future trade shows, and upcoming PCA endeavors.
I believe I have an insight into the future direction of our industry, as I have been an extremely engaged participant in its evolution. Each and every industry organization needs to work together to be unified when it comes to deciding policy on taxation, regulation, and the future expansion of our industry, which I intend to be a part of for many years to come.
Michael Herklots | Ferio Tego
I have spent 23 years working in the premium cigar industry and look forward to a lifetime ahead of me. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely on both the retail side as well as the manufacturing side of the premium cigar industry, in small family businesses and in large corporations.
Our industry is changing rapidly, as is the way we do business, and the PCA must evolve as well. Though it is unrealistic to think all PCA members will always agree in a common point of view on all matters, the reality is a much closer alignment than division.
A bright successful future requires mutual respect, open minds, diversity of thought and opinion and a commitment to working together for a greater good. As an owner of a new premium cigar company, Ferio Tego, I’m all in on the future of the premium cigar industry.
Les Mann | Coles of London
My professional career with cigar accessories began on January 1, 2000. My professional responsibilities as Executive Vice President of Sales were representing brands such as Colibri, Xikar and S.T. Dupont. Throughout the past 22 years, I have witnessed the events of September 11, the United States economic recession of 2007-2009, the taxation and legislation issues involving the cigar industry, the Covid-19 global pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine. Through prosperous times and challenges, I have always approached the entire industry with the utmost in passion, professionalism, integrity, honesty and dedication.
These personal and professional traits are critical elements to be a successful board member for the PCA. It would be my honor and privilege to serve our industry, today and into the future, working together with the board of directors and its retail and manufacturing membership, to reach our set goals and objectives for generations to follow.
My wife Jennifer and I live in Warwick, Rhode Island. We have two children, our daughter Natalie is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Industrial Engineering, our son Alex is a freshman at the University of Tampa, majoring in Business and Finance.
Brian Motola | Cavalier of Geneva
My name is Brian Motola, Partner/ Director of Sales for Cavalier of Geneva and Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco, S.A. My Professional career began in Chicago as a commodity trader. From there I spent years with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company and then I entered the CPG Industry working with Fortune 500 Companies. Finally, I arrived home in the Premium Cigar Industry 5 years ago.
Enough about me and let us discuss our amazing industry. The Premium Cigar Industry needs the Leadership of the Premium Cigar Association more than ever. As Board Members we need to create a Center of Excellence that serves the three Pillars of our Industry, Consumer, Retailer, and Manufacturer. We win by establishing unified messaging on key initiatives and by creating great communication across the three segments. The voices of the members of any Trade Organization need to funnel up versus the Trade Organization funneling their voice down. This shift will lead to developing of the Center of Excellence that will lead us all into a bright future.
Education, training, and strategic resource development coupled with great Advocacy on behalf of all members will be our focus as Board Members.
Jarrid Trudeau | Kristoff Cigars
As the Executive Vice President of Kristoff Cigars I’ve been fortunate to do business in thousands of premium cigar retailers in over 40 countries. I’ve seen the value provided by strong state and national associations and the damage done by a failing to organize in a meaningful way.
I believe it’s important to close the gap between representative bodies and their membership and would relish the opportunity to be a part of the process. The Premium Cigar Association does more for our industry than any other association and represents our legislative voice on the state and federal levels. I am excited at the prospect of putting my perspective and ten years of experience visiting and talking with every type of PCA member to good use in offering guidance as an associate member of the board.
I have flown to and spoken at state level House Finance Committee hearings towards the end of repealing or defeating harmful state legislation and currently support and participate in many state associations. I believe I can have a positive and meaningful impact as a board member and look forward to the opportunity to serve the industry that has provided so much for my family and the families of countless friends and business partners operating retail stores around the country.
how to vote
- Cast your ballot by logging in to the PCA Member Portal.
- Click the gray “person” icon in the top right corner, then click “Log In”.
- Once logged in, a link for “2022 Board Elections” should appear in the top navigation. NOTE: If the link does not appear, make sure your company profile is selected and refresh the web page to populate.
- Click on “2022 Election Ballot” and then select “2022 Election Ballot” from the drop-down menu.
- Follow the instructions on the ballot form to cast your vote and submit your ballot.
See screenshots below for visual step-by-step guidance.
