Carrot Credit Secures $4.2m to Help Africans Use Digital Investments to Access Loans
May 28, 2025
Black Tech Saturdays Awarded $1M To Expand Tech Workshops In Detroit
May 29, 2025
Fawn Weaver, the visionary founder of Uncle Nearest, has been inducted into the American Marketing Association New York Marketing Hall of Fame.
Best known as “The People’s CEO,” this 2025 induction makes Weaver the third African American woman in history to receive this honor.
The prestigious recognition celebrates Weaver’s pioneering contributions to brand-building, cultural storytelling, and purpose-driven leadership that have redefined the landscape of modern marketing.
Fawn Weaver, Founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest
Weaver was honored in the Marketing for a Challenger Brand category, recognizing her extraordinary success in building Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Under her leadership, the brand has become the most awarded and fastest-growing independent spirits brand in U.S. history.
Related Post: Black-owned Businesses Worth Billions in the U.S.
By centering the brand around Nearest Green’s legacy, Weaver has reshaped the narrative of American whiskey, bringing long-overdue recognition to African American contributions in the spirits industry.
Weaver’s innovative approach is exemplified in Uncle Nearest’s distribution strategy. By partnering with top regional distributors rather than a single national one, the brand expanded to all 50 states in under two years, a feat previously unheard of in the spirits industry.
“I’m honored to receive this recognition, which reflects the power of truth in storytelling,” said Fawn Weaver. “We didn’t build Uncle Nearest by following a traditional playbook—we led with authenticity and a commitment to honoring the legacy of those who came before us. Despite all the accolades, we still do not consider ourselves in the whiskey business. We are in the legacy-cementing business and will not slow down until Nearest Green’s name and legacy are ubiquitous around the world. Being recognized among the most influential marketers is a testament to the idea that purpose and profit can grow together.”
Related Post: Uncle Nearest Officially Surpasses $1B Valuation, According To Reports
The 2025 Marketing Hall of Fame inducted Weaver at a ceremony held at UM’s Global Headquarters in New York City. She joins a class of distinguished honorees, including Keith Reinhard, Chairman Emeritus of DDB Worldwide, and Tim Ellis, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of the NFL—underscoring the caliber of marketing leadership recognized by this year’s awards.
About Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is a tribute to the legacy of the world’s first-known African American master distiller, Nearest Green. It is the pioneer spirit brand to bear the name of a Black American.
The brand’s portfolio boasts the Most Awarded Straight Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey titles for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, amassing over 1,450 awards and recognitions since its launch in 2017. Furthermore, this includes an impressive 953 Gold medals or higher, 155 Best in Class honors, and an average critic’s score of 91.
Related Post: Black-Owned Whiskey Brand Uncle Nearest Approaches Unicorn Status
Uncle Nearest is available in all 50 states and 26 countries, with over 45,000 stores, bars, hotels, and restaurants. The company’s headquarters are at the 458-acre Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tenn., which is now the seventh most visited distillery in the world.
