One pub brewer seat is open for a three-year term or the completion of a vacated term. Pub brewers are defined as those who sell more than 25 percent of their production on-site and operate significant food services.
Note: Only your vote in your voting membership class will count.
Pub Brewer Candidates
Click on the candidates for more details.
Rich Courtemache
Owner/Brewer, Block North Brew Pub
Aitkin, Minn.
I am a committed and active owner of a successful brew pub in rural greater Minnesota. By harnessing the energy of the community, we have been able to diversify our reach through COVID and become a nimble and creative asset for our Community by supporting local charities, developing a music culture/venues, festivals, and setting a foundation for other businesses to succeed. I am a trained leader, manager, and fiscal officer with the drive to promote others. I would strive to continue to grow, diversify and include others in the discussions that promote our industry.
I have worked in local government on diverse boards, manage several divisions of a County, I have been president of a local homebrew non-profit, on the United Way Board of Directors, and opened two restaurants before and after the pandemic. I am a driven detail-oriented individual who brings projects to completion. I have managed a multimillion dollar trust fund. I seek consensus. Helped create the Forest to Tap (F2T) outreach of water, forestry and beer.
The inconsistent brewery laws are complex and have created an uneven playing field. Brew pubs are a small component of the entire industry and need a voice at the table. The membership needs to continue to find benefit and value in the organization. Finding ways to be inclusive and diversify while not marginalizing membership. Changing demographics and generational differences of the population.
Our industry is still on a economic growth cycle. The success and engagement of breweries into our communities and the social growth that is possible. Our industry is respected as professional and inclusive. Success in craft brew culture.
Spencer Churchill
Owner and Executive Chef, Round Man Brewing Co.
Spooner, Wis.
We’re an industry of self-starters, entrepreneurs, and individuals fighting to secure our dreams. We continue to be bonded by our shared endeavors, shared successes, and shared Saturday night service traumas. Having lived the tumultuous highs and the “stare-blankly-at-the-ceiling” lows that a tourism-based business offers, I have developed the experience and innovative attitude needed to affect powerful, progressive, and meaningful change to an industry faced with an otherwise dubious future. With this presently in mind, my name is Spencer Churchill, owner of Round Man Brewing Co. and I would like to submit my self-nomination to the Brewers Association Board of Directors.
As an active member of a Northern Wisconsin city of about 2,500 people, I’ve developed a compassion and understanding towards not only small business operation, but also the microcosms of rural and underrepresented regions. Continuing to engage fully and altruistically within our communities is paramount to the success of industry as whole. Equipped with this knowledge, I will continue the advocacy for those who may not carry the biggest stick or hold the loudest voice.
Staffing challenges, economic turbulence, shelf-space… The Brewer’s Association is home to much smarter and better-equipped members to identify those. My skillset lies in the ability to pivot. The ability to get resources in the hands of BA members quickly. Saturated by information, I have found BA resources challenging to navigate and routinely hyper-technical. Providing quick, boiler plate access to information and resources that promote growth within our industry is a primary objective of my candidacy.
Oh man… what a fun question. Through the general turbulent nature of our last 3-5 years, I feel like many in the food and beverage industry have disremembered the core of what we are. We’re an industry of pioneers, doers, and make-shit-happen-ers. The opportunities in our industry are ever-present when equipped with an attitude that tells you just as much. Innovation in all capacities is the foundation of this industry. I aim to exploit that.
Jess Griego
Chief Operating Officer, Bosque Brewing Company
Albuquerque, N.M.
I began my career in craft beer in 2012 with Bosque Brewing Company as one of six employees, serving beers and panini pressed sandwiches, producing ~600 BBLS/year. Over the last 11 years, I have had a front row seat in and have helped grow the company to 9 locations throughout the state of New Mexico with ~400 employees, and also became an equity partner in 2019. I believe that I can bring a unique perspective to the Board in the Brewpubs seat, whether that be representing the smallest, single location brewpubs to those running full service multi-unit operations.
Over my time at Bosque Brewing Co., I have been responsible for developing and/or operating the Taproom Ops, Sales, Marketing, HR, and Events departments of the company and have participated at the state level for many years at the NM Legislature defending small brewers and businesses. I am always happy to share my specific experiences with these topics, pitfalls to avoid, challenges to consider, and opportunities to look out for.
There is no question that many of our members are facing a variety of challenges that sometimes seem insurmountable. While there are many external factors outside of our control that some may argue are leading to a declining industry, I would focus attention and energy towards optimizing internal controls within our own companies as well as within the BA. This includes company wide practices & procedures, financial practices and controls, & hospitality/training initiatives.
Small and independent craft brewers have made their mark on beer by producing innovative products and by providing spaces where people want to and enjoy being together. Obviously the pandemic took its toll on our ability to showcase that in many ways, but is arguably even more desired now by consumers when deciding where to spend their money. Innovation and hospitality are still our strengths, we just have to remind the world of it.
Jeff Frederick
President/CEO, Brew Republic Bierwerks
Woodbridge, Va.
I’ve spent my life working to bring people together, and we are fortunate to work in an industry that is well suited to do just that. We work everyday and create a product that folks can come together and enjoy, together. As a community, the BA facilitates us pooling our common interests and challenges to speak with one voice while making tangible progress in advancing our brands and businesses, and given my experience as a former policy make/legislator and as an owner/operator of a brewery active in distribution and taproom sales, I think I can contribute to our collective success.
I’ve been an entrepreneur, starting and running businesses for 25 years, and I’m a former three-term member of the Virginia House — where I served on multiple standing committees, as well as a number of boards and commissions, including as Chairman of the Virginia Small Business Commission. Additionally, I was elected statewide as a party chairman, and served on a national political committee. And, importantly, I’ve owned and operated a brewery for over 7 years.
Declining distribution while taproom/brewpub consumption increase in popularity — navigating these and other changes in our marketplace, as well as being dogged at creating a more favorable legal and regulatory environment are paramount. Most specifically, I think the challenges we face with our distributors and distribution laws are the most pressing. My background/experience in gov/politics, as well as owning a brewery with both taproom and distribution sales is well suited to advocate for our membership.
Let’s keep making great beer, and let’s keep creating opportunities to bring folks together. Today that might mean opening up new taprooms; tomorrow that might mean figuring out how we can better take advantage of any self-distribution opportunities or have more productive relationships with distributors.
Marcus Baskerville
Director of Brewing, Weathered Souls Brewing Co.
San Antonio, Texas
My Name is Marcus Baskerville, Director of Brewing for Weathered Souls Brewing Co. after 3 years of serving on the BA board of Directors, I have come to realize how important this position is. Through the last 3 years I have learned that there is still so much work to be done in this industry from the ground up. The brewing industry has so much potential for growth and future greatness. We are at a pivotal point in our industry, with the implementation of new beverage skus, to recent closures and the grand importance of diversity.
The most important thing that I bring to the table is a diverse perspective. The brewing industry has so many untapped markets due to lack of marketing, bro culture and etc. I came into the board from the outside looking in and was able to bring to attention things that were never up for consideration or thought., I present a strong voice to the underrepresented and those who have felt that they have been unheard.
The biggest challenges are, the creation of new skus taking up tap and market space, and the lack of diversity that we still currently face in the industry, I will still continue to push for DEI centric programs, initiatives.I will continue to challenge the BOD to look past our standards and our past and look forward to what the future may hold. I will also make an effort for the AHA to harvest new brewers.
The biggest opportunities is diversity diversity and let me say it again, diversity! At a point where we have seen slow down of taprooms and purchasing power. It is time for the industry to embrace diversity, embrace under represented groups and work together to bring a new fold to the Independent Craft Beer scene.
Remember!
- Only one ballot per member brewing company will be counted (NOT one vote per location).
- Voting member criteria are described by the BA bylaws (no breweries in planning, contract breweries, etc.).
- Ballots will be accepted through Oct. 31, 2023.