CONTRIBUTORS
This paper was possible only through the participation, perspective, and honest candor of cigar makers, brand owners, retailers, operators, media voices, and community participants across the premium cigar industry. Their insights lit the path. This work is stronger because of you.
MANUFACTURERS / INDUSTRY
Justin Andrews, New Business Development Manager - Scandinavian Tobacco GroupHector Becerra, U.S. National Sales Director - Casa 1910
Aric Bey, Founder - Black Star Line Cigars
José Blanco, Worldwide Brand Ambassador - Arturo Fuente Cigars
Matt Booth, Founder - Room101
James Brown, Founder - Black Label Trading Company / Black Works Studio
René Castaneda, President - Villiger North America
Glen Case, Founder - Kristoff Cigars
Sébastien Decoppet, Founder - Cavalier Genève Cigars
Nimish Desai, Industry Principal - Rocky Patel Premium Cigars
Jonathan Drew, Founder - Drew Estate and J.SANN & SON
Christian Eiroa, Founder - CLE Cigar Company / Eiroa
Justo Eiroa, President - JRE Tobacco
Erik Espinosa, President - Espinosa Premium Cigars
Billy Fakih, Co-Founder - Artesano Del Tobacco
Andre Farkas, Founder - Viaje Cigars
Abdel “AJ” Fernandez, Founder - AJ Fernandez Cigars
Guy Fieri, Co-Founder - Knuckle Sandwich Cigars
Dr. Paul B.K. Garmirian, Founder - PG Cigars
Paolo Garzaroli, President - Graycliff Cigars
Dion Giolito, Founder - Illusione Cigars
Litto Gomez, Founder - La Flor Dominicana Cigars
Casey Haugen, Vice President - CRUX Cigars
Michael Herklots, Co-Founder - Ferio Tego Cigars
Giselle Herrera, President - El Titan de Bronze Cigars
Jon Huber, Co-Founder - Crowned Heads Cigars
Pete Johnson, Founder - Tatuaje Cigars
Daniel Lance, Founder - Domain Cigars
Tom Lazuka, Co-Founder - Asylum Cigars
Mo Maali, Founder - Patina Cigars
Lee Marsh, Co-Founder - Stolen Throne Cigars
Skip Martin, Co-Founder - RoMa Craft Tobac
Jeremy McDonald, Founder - Wildfire Cigars
Nicholas Melillo, Founder - Foundation Cigar Company
Oliver Nivaud, National Sales Manager - United Cigars
Jorge Padrón, President - Padrón Cigars
Nick Perdomo Jr., President - Perdomo Cigars
Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo, Founder - Casa Carrillo
Sam Phillips, President - La Palina Cigars
Law Ream, Brand Activation Manager - Camacho Cigars
Terence Reilly, Vice President - Aganorsa Leaf
Ian Reith, Founder - Dapper Cigars
Rick Rodriguez, Founder - West Tampa Tobacco Company
Lew Rothman, Founder and Former CEO of JR Cigars
Steve Saka, Founder - Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
Jonas Santana, President - Blackbird Cigars
Mel Shah, Founder - MBombay TobaccoMichael Szczepankiewicz, Co-Founder - Powstanie Cigars
Oscar Valladares, Founder - Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co.
Henderson Ventura, Founder - ADVentura Cigars
David West, Founder - Avowed Cigar Company
RETAILERS
Abe Dababneh - Smoke Inn Cigars - Boynton Beach, FLEric Drazen - Oak Glen Tobacconist - Raleigh, NC
Stephen Frank - Boll Weevil Cigars - Enterprise, AL
Jerry Gavito Jr. - Lake Worth Cigars - Lake Worth, TX
Tucker Hobbie - Wendell Cigar Company - Wendell, NC
Jeff Martinez - The Vault - Meridian, ID
Charles Oxendine - Anstead’s Tobacco Company - Fayetteville, NC
Vick Shah - Norwood Royal Cigars - Chicago, IL
Alan Shuminer - Caribbean Cigars - Miami, FL
Tim Swanson - Cigars Daily - Phoenix, AZ
Jorge Valdes - Sabor Havana Cigars - Doral, FL
Dan Wood - Wooden Indian Cigars - Havertown, PA
MEDIA & CIGAR COMMUNITY
More than twenty-five media, cigar community, and lifestyle voices contributed to the paper. Their input informed the analysis, although participants were not quoted directly in the final manuscript.