By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
Industry education: PCA collaborated with Keiser University and Nicaragua’s tobacco chamber for a premium cigar executive program.
Leadership focus: The course is aimed at owners, executives, and emerging talent in the global cigar industry.
Hands-on learning: Industry leaders and cigar makers will conduct modules directly in Nicaragua.
The Premium Cigar Association is expanding its efforts in industry development and education by launching a new executive-level program aimed at strengthening leadership throughout the global premium cigar industry.
The PCA, in partnership with Keiser University Latin American Campus and the Cámara Nicaragüense de Tabacaleros (CNT), announced the development of a Certified Executive Education program titled “The Business of Premium Cigars: Strategy, Operations, Branding, and Experiences That Build Legacy.”
The program was launched at an industry luncheon in Estelí, Nicaragua, gathering cigar makers, manufacturers, and industry leaders from across the premium cigar supply chain. Designed as a non-credit executive course, the program will be held over four full-day sessions in June 2026 at Keiser University’s Latin American campus in Managua, totaling 32 hours of in-person instruction.
The curriculum will cover essential business areas such as strategy, operations, branding, finance, and international trade, focusing on how premium cigar companies are developed and expanded in a global market. A key feature of the program is direct instruction from industry leaders, with modules taught by cigar makers, founders, and executives.
“The premium cigar industry stands at the intersection of craftsmanship, agricultural heritage, and global entrepreneurship,” said Joshua Habursky, CEO of the Premium Cigar Association. “By bringing together industry expertise and academic rigor, this program helps prepare the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of premium cigars.”
Keiser University officials said the program highlights Nicaragua’s rising significance as a top global cigar manufacturing center.
“The premium cigar industry represents far more than a product,” said Dr. Mathew Anderson, president of Keiser University Latin American Campus. “It reflects craftsmanship, heritage, and entrepreneurial vision that has positioned Nicaragua among the world’s most respected producers.”
Ricardo Carioni, PCA’s director of international affairs and education, stated that the initiative is part of a wider effort to preserve industry traditions while developing future leaders.
“Bringing academia and the cigar world together allows us to educate, inspire and empower the next generation of leaders while reinforcing the traditions and communities that define our industry,” Carioni said.
The program is open to industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and participants from related sectors, as well as consumers seeking a deeper understanding of the premium cigar business.
Applications are now being accepted ahead of the June 2026 launch.
