ASBWA President Craig Brewton serves as the President and CEO of AquaOne, a leading bottled water and beverage company based in Texas. He joined the company in February 2007 as Controller, tasked with managing the acquisition of Clearwater in Lubbock, TX — a move that doubled AquaOne’s size at the time. Following the passing of AquaOne’s founder, Matt Murff, in 2010, Craig was appointed President and CEO. In 2019, Craig and his wife Lexie purchased the company from the Murff family trust, continuing AquaOne’s legacy of customer-focused service.

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AqualOne was founded in September 1998 in Tulia, Texas, by entrepreneur Matt Murff. The company was built on the vision of providing high-quality, customer-oriented bottled water services to the Texas Panhandle. Initially an Ozarka distributor, the company transitioned to bottling its own brand by 2000 and has steadily expanded its offerings. Today, AquaOne provides bottled water, coffee, electrolyte products, and vending services. The company operates five locations — Amarillo, Abilene, Forney, Lubbock, and Wichita Falls — with four bottling plants and 39 full-time employees.

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A native of Amarillo, Texas, Craig graduated from Amarillo High School before attending West Texas A&M University, where he earned dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance. He passed the CPA exam in 2003, successfully completing all four sections in one sitting. Before joining AquaOne, Craig built an extensive background in accounting and finance — spending eight years with Johnson & Sheldon in Amarillo before serving as CFO for a regional pump company. His strong financial expertise and leadership skills eventually led him to AquaOne.

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Craig and his wife, Lexie, who is originally from Canadian, Texas, have been married since 2002. They have two children: Ryder, who studies Theater and Finance at Oklahoma City University, and Presley, a senior at Amarillo High School who plans to pursue nursing. The Brewtons are an active family, often traveling across the Midwest for Presley’s club soccer tournaments and supporting Ryder’s passion for theater.

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When he’s not at work, Craig enjoys sports — particularly watching football and golf — and spending quality time with his family. Much of his recent downtime has been devoted to traveling for his daughter’s soccer games, and he values every moment before she leaves for college.

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Service and Involvement with ASBWA

Craig has been involved with the bottled water industry for many years, joining MABWA (now ASBWA) in 2008. He values the organization’s vast network of knowledgeable professionals who are always willing to share insights and support one another. Craig credits industry mentors, such as Steve Raupe, for helping guide him through key leadership decisions early in his tenure. He emphasizes that ASBWA’s greatest strength lies in its members — their collaboration, shared expertise, and willingness to help each other succeed.

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Craig describes the bottled water industry as both “shrinking and exciting.” Consolidation among large players has created challenges for smaller companies, but it also opens opportunities. AquaOne’s agility and strong customer focus, he believes, give it a competitive advantage over larger, slower-moving corporations. He also advocates for collaboration among small and mid-sized bottlers to better serve multi-state customers.

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According to Craig, two of the biggest challenges facing the bottled water industry are the decline of small, family-owned businesses and the increasing strain on water sources. He notes that younger generations are less likely to take over family businesses, leading to more acquisitions by large corporations. Additionally, environmental issues such as PFAS contamination, microplastics, and aquifer depletion — particularly concerning in regions like Amarillo with limited precipitation — pose serious long-term risks.

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Craig encourages all ASBWA members to stay engaged:

“Get involved. We all have businesses to run but take time to share your feedback and concerns. We want to make this organization the best in the country — and that starts with our members being vocal and active. Let’s also celebrate our successes; there are so many in this industry doing amazing things for their employees and communities.”