The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), Alexandria, Va., announced the keynote speakers for its 77th Annual Convention, which will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

The general session will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, including appearances by political couple James Carville and Mary Matalin as well as former Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill.

Carville and Matalin will offer their insights about today's most important political issues, give a behind-the-scenes look at Washington politics, and provide a preview of what to expect from this year’s mid-term elections.

Carville is a well-known American political consultant. His long list of electoral successes evidences a knack for steering overlooked campaigns to unexpected landslide victories and for re-making political underdogs into upset winners, the association says. His most prominent victory was in 1992 when he helped with President Bill Clinton’s election campaign. Today, Carville is a Fox News contributor and also makes appearance on other networks worldwide. He also is a columnist for The Hillnewspaper and serves as a professor of practice at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Matalin is a celebrated and popular conservative voice in America. As an author, TV and radio host, and well-known political contributor, pundit and public speaker, she is noted for her straightforward manner and insightful political repartee, the association says. Among her many roles and accomplishments, she has served under President Ronald Reagan, was President George H.W. Bush's campaign director, and most recently served as assistant to President George W. Bush and as assistant and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney.

O’Neill was a team leader with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He was deployed more than a dozen times, and he served in combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions in four different theaters of war. A highly trained Navy SEAL, he led the military’s most elite and was involved in our nation’s most important campaigns, the association says.

Having trained more than 800 special operations and tactical operators, O’Neill will share his unique expertise and translate his elite SEAL team training into high-impact, actionable insights on leadership, decision-making, operating in uncertain environments, and how to become the “best of the best.”

“NBWA is excited to offer a dynamic convention program with insightful speakers, 20 [educational] seminars taught by the industry’s leading experts, and a Product Demonstration Showcase filled with vendors featuring innovative products and services for beer distributors,” said Craig Purser, NBWA president and chief executive officer, in a statement. 

With more than 100 exhibitors, this year’s Product Demonstration Showcase offers the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of new services and products. Attendees can discover new resources to help improve their businesses in a relaxed atmosphere, while enjoying a cold beer delivered by America’s beer distributors. 

Registration is available online at www.nbwa.org.