What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?
I’m the CEO and co-owner of Creature Comforts Brewing Co. here in Athens, Ga. As CEO, my role is to cast vision, set strategy, and prepare us for the obstacles ahead. Before joining the founding team at Creature Comforts, I held senior roles covering a variety of disciplines (retail sales, distributor management, field marketing, corporate finance, pricing strategy, and investor relations) at our large industry competitors (Diageo and Miller Brewing). After 12 years of senior experience at two of the largest beverage alcohol companies in the world, I moved my seven-month pregnant wife and our kids into my parents’ house to chase a dream of starting a craft brewery.

What’s new at Creature Comforts?
We’re preparing for our first expansion beyond our home state to the Los Angeles area with a 3,000-sq. ft. taproom and 10,000-sq. ft. production facility slated to open in Summer 2021. Los Angeles stood out because of its large craft beer community, the success of numerous independent, small craft breweries and California’s brewery-friendly state laws. We are also in the application process for becoming a certified B-Corp, which is extremely exciting. Finally, we are adding another 7x340bbl tanks to our brewery in February as we continue to grow our sales through distribution.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?
Craft beer has always been an incredibly collaborative industry and we’re so honored by the opportunities we’ve had to work alongside so many industry peers we respect on collaborative beers and community impact initiatives. It’s inspiring to be a part of such a supportive community surrounded by so many talented, creative, and vibrant breweries.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.
Tropicália and ribs.

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?
Being a father to 3 children.

What’s your favorite beer from another brewery?
Pivo from Firestone Walker.

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?
Outside of my time at Creature Comforts, family time is most important. I also enjoy running, playing soccer, and reading in my spare time.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?
Santa Rosa, Calif. We got to hang out with Vinnie and Natalie, sampled Russian River, and visited wine country on my wife’s 40th birthday trip.