What’s your current position at your brewery?
I’m co-founder and president of Left Hand Brewing in Longmont, Colo.
What’s new at Left Hand and what’s next on the horizon?
New lab, expanded cooler, more sales people, and new equipment happening this year. The coming years will see competitive challenges increasing as the craft brewing space gets ever more crowded. We’re all going to have to work hard to keep our beers interesting and flavorful and give meaning to our brands. We have a few ideas that we think will be fun and will also allow us to continue to have a positive impact on the communities in which we work, live, and play.
How long have you served on the BA board of directors?
What’s it like to serve on the board?
It’s exciting to be involved at the heart of the craft brewing business with brewing icons and leaders with a common purpose—to advance and protect craft brewing for the greater good. There’s a lot of debate and many decisions that are struggled with far more than some members may actually realize! It is a privilege to serve BA members in this role. It’s a lot of work and very rewarding.
What challenges and satisfactions have you met during your board service?
Dealing with the growth of the BA while the industry it serves has also experienced explosive growth has been satisfying. Being involved in the project to find more space for BA staff and to remove space requirements as a hindrance to providing member services was great. An ongoing challenge is the tug of war over the craft brewing definition and attempts by outsiders to co-opt the independent craft brand equity built through the efforts and passion of entrepreneurs for their own purposes. The board intends to defend true, independent craft and continue to explain why it matters.
What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery and the BA board?
I love to travel with my family and to show them other parts of the country and the world. I like to ride my bike, swim, fly fish, see live music, jump out of airplanes, and discover amazing food, beers, and wine wherever I may be.