When the Answer Has to Be Right.
No shortcuts. No excuses.
Since 2003, CQ&A Consulting has helped wineries, distillers, importers, and beverage alcohol businesses navigate one of the country’s most highly regulated industries with disciplined execution, clear accountability, and practical problem-solving.
Built Alongside the Modern Beverage Alcohol Industry
CQ&A Consulting’s roots trace back to the earliest days of modern direct-to-consumer beverage alcohol compliance.
Founded by President Deanna Leon, CQ&A has supported wineries and beverage alcohol businesses through some of the most transformative regulatory shifts in the industry’s history.
From the market expansion that followed the landmark Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court decision to the operational complexity introduced by South Dakota v. Wayfair and economic nexus enforcement, CQ&A has helped clients navigate change with clarity, precision, and practical execution.
This history gives our clients something few firms can offer: deep institutional knowledge shaped by real-world regulatory evolution, not theory.
Leadership That Understands the Details
Compliance advisory services are built on trust, precision, and accountability. Our clients rely on CQ&A not simply for strategic guidance, but for disciplined execution where details matter and accuracy is non-negotiable.
Deanna Leon | President
Deanna Leon brings decades of executive leadership experience spanning accounting, finance, operational compliance, systems implementation, and beverage alcohol regulatory leadership.
Before specializing in beverage alcohol compliance, Deanna built her professional foundation in corporate real estate finance, serving in financial controller leadership roles with responsibility for accounting operations, financial management, systems implementation, staff development, training, and operational support.
Her transition into the beverage alcohol industry came during the formative years of the modern direct-to-consumer market, where she became deeply involved in helping wineries navigate the regulatory expansion that followed the landmark Granholm v. Heald Supreme Court decision.
Since then, Deanna has helped guide clients through some of the most transformative regulatory shifts in the industry, including South Dakota v. Wayfair, economic nexus enforcement, licensing expansion, regulatory reporting complexity, compliance operations, and systems implementation.
Known for her practical leadership, institutional knowledge, and unwavering client commitment, Deanna has built a reputation for helping beverage alcohol businesses navigate complex compliance environments with confidence, precision, and accountability.
Jim Spaugh | Vice President
Jim Spaugh brings Big Four public accounting experience, Fortune 100 corporate leadership, global indirect tax expertise, and operational transformation experience to CQ&A’s executive team.
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Jim’s professional background spans accounting, tax, finance, internal audit, enterprise systems implementation, and operational process improvement across manufacturing, logistics, financial services, and other highly regulated industries.
Prior to joining CQ&A, Jim served in leadership roles supporting complex domestic and global indirect tax operations, including responsibilities spanning the globe as a global indirect tax subject matter expert. His experience includes leading enterprise SAP FICO implementations, partnering directly with finance and IT teams on systems design, testing, training, and operational execution.
With a foundation in internal audit and regulatory risk management, Jim brings a practical, real-world approach to helping our clients balance operational realities, compliance obligations, and business risk with precision, responsiveness, and disciplined problem-solving.
Why Clients Choose CQ&A
Specialized Industry Focus
We focus exclusively on beverage alcohol compliance, delivering specialized expertise few generalist firms can match.
National Regulatory Expertise
From domestic producers to internationally headquartered beverage alcohol businesses with U.S. operations, CQ&A provides disciplined support across indirect tax, licensing, product registrations, and regulatory reporting.
Operational Execution
We do more than advise. We execute recurring compliance obligations with precision, discipline, and accountability.
Scalable Partnership
From emerging brands to complex multi-entity operators, CQ&A scales alongside clients as an extension of their business.
Ready to Get Compliance Right?
When the answer has to be right, experience matters. Whether you need ongoing compliance support, licensing guidance, or help navigating operational complexity, CQ&A is ready to support your business.