By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Board refresh underway: Three new directors and two returning members will serve three-year terms pending member approval in April.
- Retail and manufacturing mix: The incoming board includes cigar retailers from Florida, Texas, and Nevada alongside manufacturer and legacy retail representation.
- Focus on governance and advocacy: PCA leadership cited modernization, education, and regulatory advocacy as priorities for the next board cycle.
The Premium Cigar Association has completed elections for its volunteer board of directors, adding three new members and re-electing two incumbents as the trade group continues to refresh its leadership after several years of structural and strategic changes.
The newly elected and re-elected directors will serve three-year terms beginning after formal approval by the PCA’s general membership, which is scheduled for April.
Paul Copeland of Shore Thing Cigars in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; Michael Frey of CigarBox in Las Vegas; and Brandon Hayes of Renegade Cigars in Richardson, Texas, were elected to the board for the first time. The three will replace outgoing board members Joshua Evarts, Jessica Hutson, and Angela Yue.
Returning to the board for additional terms are Christian Eiroa, founder of CLE Cigar Co., and Teresa Wessling of Georgetown Tobacco.
The PCA represents premium cigar retailers and manufacturers and is best known for organizing the industry’s largest annual trade show. In recent years, amid ongoing regulatory pressure on premium cigars at both the federal and state levels, the association has emphasized member engagement, advocacy, and internal modernization.
Todd Naifeh, owner of ZT Cigars and president of the PCA board, said participation in the election process has risen, reflecting broader engagement among the membership.
“The last two years the association saw increased participation in the Board Elections, and we sincerely appreciate everyone who applied, was nominated, and was ultimately elected to serve,” Naifeh said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the newly elected board members as we tackle an ambitious agenda from modernizing the association to education initiatives, new event programming, and our staple programs of advocacy and trade show.”
