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AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer Stepping Down March 9th
America’s Horse, February 4, 2009 - The registration of more than 2 million of the now more than 5 million horses in the American Quarter Horse Association registry and a growth in membership numbers from 276,500 to more than 350,000 are examples of the success of the customer service- driven management model that Bill Brewer implemented during his 17-year tenure as AQHA Executive Vice President.
“I believed that by increasing the opportunities for people to enjoy their horses through member-based programs, the industry would grow because these programs would generate more members, which would increase the demand for our horses,” Bill says.
Now after 37 years of days, nights and weekends in a position that he never once considered a J-O-B, Bill has decided to step down.
“It’s time,” he says matter of factly. “It wasn’t – and still is not – a decision that was easy, but in the long run, it is the right thing to do, and this is the right time, diffi cult as that might be.”
Difficult is right. AQHA and the American Quarter Horse have been Bill’s passion for most of his adult life.
And that’s why Bill’s decision to step down as executive vice president has been more than a year in the works – because someone who has guided the day-to-day inner workings of AQHA like Bill has since 1992 doesn’t just announce such a decision and walk out the door.
“Th is is not something that I or the (AQHA) Executive Committee have taken lightly,” Bill told AQHA members at the 2008 convention. “We have had hours of discussions focusing on the questions of who, how and when. We have hired a management consultant to help us work though this process. Th e Executive Committee and I have done our best to do this thoughtfully and proactively.”
When he became executive vice president, Bill, the Executive Committee and the staff expanded AQHA’s business model from being primarily a breed registry to including a longterm initiative to grow membership.
AQHA developed the trail ride program, which features more than 100 rides each year all over the world; marketing alliances with reining, cutting, palomino, buckskin, snaffl e bit, equine veterinary associations and even dude ranchers; the Bayer Best Remuda Award, which recognizes the American Quarter Horse breeding programs of ranches all over North America; and breeder recognition and legacy awards for longtime American Quarter Horse breeders; the Bank of America Racing Challenge Program, which provides more racing opportunities for older American Quarter Horses; the development of America’s Horse as the offi cial member publication of AQHA; and a project Bill’s very proud of – the remodeling and grand re-opening of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, which puts the Hall of Fame members – horses and humans – front and center.
