CEO and Co-Founder of Uncle Nearest, Fawn Weaver, Inducted as an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta

Entrepreneur, author, and spirits industry trailblazer Fawn Weaver has been inducted as an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The announcement came during the Sorority’s 57th National Convention, where Weaver was recognized among eight extraordinary women whose careers exemplify Delta’s commitment to excellence, leadership, and service.

Weaver is the Founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest, Inc., the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in U.S. history and the best-selling Black American-founded spirit brand of all time. Under her leadership, the brand has earned over 1,200 industry awards and was named “World’s Best” Bourbon for two consecutive years. The 458-acre Nearest Green Distillery, named in honor of the formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to distill, is now one of the most visited in the world.

A two-time New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Weaver has appeared on The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, and NPR’s How I Built This. She is also a TED speaker and has been profiled by Forbes, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. In 2024, she was named to Forbes’ list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women.

Weaver is one of only five Black women in U.S. history to found and lead a $1 billion company. She is also the founder of Grant Sidney, Inc., which manages a multimillion-dollar real estate and investment portfolio. Her board service includes Endeavor Group Holdings (NYSE: EDR), and she holds a Harvard Business School certification in corporate governance.

Her induction into Delta Sigma Theta aligns with the Sorority’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust and foundational principles of Sisterhood, Scholarship, and Service. Weaver’s commitment to education, legacy, and empowerment reflects Delta’s mission to uplift communities through purpose and action.

“This year’s class of Honorary Members represents a powerhouse group of barrier-breaking women across politics, entertainment, business, sports, and social impact,” said Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. International President Elsie Cooke-Holmes. “Each one a force in her field and a reflection of Delta’s enduring mission.”

Fawn Weaver joins the 2025 line of Honorary Members including Donna Brazile, Danielle Brooks, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Toni Townes-Whitley, Swin Cash, and Dana “Queen Latifah” Owens.