Full Name
Rawnica Dillingham
Job Title
Chief Sales Officer
Company
New Riff Distilling
Speaker Bio
Rawnica Dillingham
Chief Sales Officer | Founder | Industry Leader | Advocate for Equity in Spirits
Rawnica Dillingham is a dynamic force in the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries, with a career built on intentional leadership, inclusive strategy, and an unshakable belief in the power of people. With over 25 years of experience, she has become known not only for driving sales and brand growth, but also for shaping cultures rooted in equity, innovation, and connection.
In addition to serving as Chief Sales Officer at New Riff Distilling, Rawnica is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Fallow, a growing collective of purpose-driven brands that merge hospitality, leadership, and impact. Through Fallow, she channels her passion for mentorship, equity, and brand building into projects that elevate the beverage alcohol industry and beyond.
As a leader, Rawnica believes in doing business with heart. Whether developing national sales strategies, mentoring emerging talent, or building inclusive trade programs, her focus remains the same: elevate people, honor the craft, and lead with purpose.
Before joining New Riff, Rawnica held senior roles at Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, where she helped scale one of the most celebrated brands in the spirits space. Her early career with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits refined her understanding of distribution, portfolio management, and brand-building across major names like Beam Suntory and Campari. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade in hospitality, leading restaurant teams, managing operations, and creating guest experiences that laid the groundwork for her people-first approach to leadership.
A passionate advocate for representation in the spirits industry, Rawnica lends her voice and time to organizations that share her commitment to equity. She serves on the DEI Committee for DISCUS (Distilled Spirits Council of the United States), the Scholarship Committee for Women of the Vine & Spirits, the Mentorship Committee for Bourbon Women, the Education Committee for the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG), and as an Ambassador for CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees). Her goal is simple: create space for others to thrive.
Outside of her professional life, Rawnica is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother who finds joy in gardening, reading, and crafting beautiful cocktails. Her creativity comes alive in the glass, where she honors tradition while experimenting with flavor, balancing her love of a Classic Old Fashioned (her go-to cocktail) with seasonal ingredients and garden-grown inspiration.
Grounded in her Cincinnati roots and guided by a vision for a more inclusive and inspired industry, Rawnica Dillingham is more than a sales leader. She is a cultivator of community, a steward of authenticity, and a trailblazer for what is possible when purpose meets leadership.
Chief Sales Officer | Founder | Industry Leader | Advocate for Equity in Spirits
Rawnica Dillingham is a dynamic force in the beverage alcohol and hospitality industries, with a career built on intentional leadership, inclusive strategy, and an unshakable belief in the power of people. With over 25 years of experience, she has become known not only for driving sales and brand growth, but also for shaping cultures rooted in equity, innovation, and connection.
In addition to serving as Chief Sales Officer at New Riff Distilling, Rawnica is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Fallow, a growing collective of purpose-driven brands that merge hospitality, leadership, and impact. Through Fallow, she channels her passion for mentorship, equity, and brand building into projects that elevate the beverage alcohol industry and beyond.
As a leader, Rawnica believes in doing business with heart. Whether developing national sales strategies, mentoring emerging talent, or building inclusive trade programs, her focus remains the same: elevate people, honor the craft, and lead with purpose.
Before joining New Riff, Rawnica held senior roles at Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, where she helped scale one of the most celebrated brands in the spirits space. Her early career with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits refined her understanding of distribution, portfolio management, and brand-building across major names like Beam Suntory and Campari. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade in hospitality, leading restaurant teams, managing operations, and creating guest experiences that laid the groundwork for her people-first approach to leadership.
A passionate advocate for representation in the spirits industry, Rawnica lends her voice and time to organizations that share her commitment to equity. She serves on the DEI Committee for DISCUS (Distilled Spirits Council of the United States), the Scholarship Committee for Women of the Vine & Spirits, the Mentorship Committee for Bourbon Women, the Education Committee for the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG), and as an Ambassador for CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees). Her goal is simple: create space for others to thrive.
Outside of her professional life, Rawnica is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother who finds joy in gardening, reading, and crafting beautiful cocktails. Her creativity comes alive in the glass, where she honors tradition while experimenting with flavor, balancing her love of a Classic Old Fashioned (her go-to cocktail) with seasonal ingredients and garden-grown inspiration.
Grounded in her Cincinnati roots and guided by a vision for a more inclusive and inspired industry, Rawnica Dillingham is more than a sales leader. She is a cultivator of community, a steward of authenticity, and a trailblazer for what is possible when purpose meets leadership.
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