Your employees know how to brew and sell great beer, but they likely lack knowledge about running the financial side of a brewery. Do your employees know how hard it is to make money and generate cash? Do they know what they can specifically do to influence business outcomes? In this seminar, learn how brewery owners are incorporating financial literacy into their cultures to teach employees the strategies and actions that drive a brewery’s profitability.
Related Resource: Brewers Association Cost of Goods Sold Manual
Learning Objectives
- Establish why financial literacy for all employees is important for your brewery
- Identify leadership characteristics that drive financial literacy
- Discuss how to help employees see a line of sight from their everyday actions and decisions to creating business success
- Learn how to communicate with employees about how to run a brewery business
- Hear real examples of what’s working and the challenges of bringing financial literacy to employees
About the Speakers
Larry Chase, Great Game of Business Certified Coach
Ray Johnson Group
When companies want an ownership culture that includes trust and engagement along with positive financial impact, Larry Chase helps make it happen. He coaches them in building a people operating system involving business literacy that leads to growth for both individuals and the business. Prior to being a Great Game of Business Certified Coach, Larry was a professional brewer for 23 years.
Larry has been a frequent speaker at the Craft Brewers Conference®, including leading a panel discussion on brewpubs using open book management. He served on the Brewers Association (BA) board of directors (BOD) from 2013 to 2021. During six of those years he was the BOD treasurer and chair of the BA Finance Committee. Beyond beer and business coaching, you'll find him vying for "Dog Dad of the Year" and filling Chief Support Officer duties for his wife's professional speaking business.
Thor Cheston, Co-Founder
Right Proper Brewing Co.
Thor Cheston (he/him) is the co-founder and co-owner of Right Proper Brewing Company in Washington, D.C. While studying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) exam after graduating from Georgetown University, Thor confessed to his family that he did not want to be a doctor. Instead, he wanted to follow a passion for beer with the goal of owning his own brewery. With seven years of hospitality experience, Thor and his wife, Leah, co-founded and opened their brewpub in 2013. Two years later, Thor and his partners opened a production brewery to supply beer throughout D.C. and Virginia. When he takes a break from teaching employees about the business, Thor is hanging out with his wife and kids or watching auto races.
Greg Parker, Vice President
Iron Horse Brewery
Greg Parker (he/him) is a displaced soul who found a home at Iron Horse Brewery in Ellensburg, Washington for about 17 years as the wannabe founder and reluctant leader. His life changed when he read the book Reinventing Organizations. It led him down the path of building a new culture at the brewery that eventually included financial literacy for all employees.
Kevin Wright, Co-Founder & Brewmaster
Third Space Brewing
Kevin Wright (he/him) has worked in the craft brewing industry for the past 15 years. He is currently the co-founder and brewmaster at Third Space Brewing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to brewing, Kevin received his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He then attended the University of California, Davis Master Brewers Program where he graduated at the top of his class and earned the Institute of Brewing and Distilling's JS Ford Award. In addition to the technical side of brewing, Kevin enjoys the challenges of building a business and developing team members. Outside of brewing, he enjoys spending time with his family of three young children and attending lots of kids' sporting events.
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