People Moves: Goose Island Creates Innovation Roles; Boulevard Hires HR Director

From left: Keith Gabbett, Paul Cade, Tim Faith, Mike Siegel, Quinn Fuechsl

Goose Island Creates Several Innovation Roles

Anheuser-Busch-owned Goose Island has created several innovation roles within the Chicago craft brewery. Filling those roles are:

  • Keith Gabbett, who previously served as brewmaster, and will take the newly created role of senior innovation manager;
  • Mike Siegel, who last served as R&D manager, and is taking the role of barrels and beyond beer innovations manager;
  • Quinn Fuechsl, who worked as R&D brewer, and is now taking the new role of commercial innovations manager.

Paul Cade will remain in the role of R&D brewer and report to Fuechsl, while Tim Faith will continue as global brand owner, reporting to Gabbett.

Goose Island is now looking to fill two open positions: R&D brewer and brewmaster.

“The craft beer industry is evolving at warp speed and drinkers’ thirst for innovation is leading that change,” Goose Island president Todd Ahsmann. “At Goose Island, we’ve always been innovators. We’re doubling down on what has made us successful for the last 33 years – investing in our team and putting them in roles that are hyper focused on creating beers they love and that our fans are craving.”

Chris Furnari Joins Athletic Brewing as Emerging Brands Manager

Chris Furnari, the former editor of Brewbound, has joined fast-growing non-alcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing Company as emerging brands manager.

“We’re super excited to have Chris onboard,” Athletic co-founder and CEO Bill Shufelt told Brewbound. “He’s somebody we’ve gotten to know in the beer and beverage world for the better part of a decade. With his entrepreneurial experience helping to build Brewbound (and hosting their events) and contributing to Forbes beer news, his vantage point over the entire beverage landscape makes him uniquely suited to guide our emerging brands division, starting with DayPack, our premium hopped seltzer and other long-lead research projects that will be consistent with our brand and mission.”

Furnari’s first day was May 10. He’ll report directly to Shufelt.

In a LinkedIn post announcing his career move, Furnari said he is “thrilled to be joining the incredible team at Athletic Brewing Company, which is reimagining the beer category by creating some of the most amazing nonalcoholic brews on the market.”

“So, after 10+ years of writing about the beverage business, I’m excited to finally experience what it’s like to be in the trenches building brands every day,” he added.

Athletic ranked fourth among the top 10 growth leaders in 2021 through early April, according to Bump Williams Consulting, citing NielsenIQ data. Off-premise dollar sales of Run Wild IPA are up 660% year-to-date through April 3, the firm reported.

Athletic launched Daypack hopped seltzer line in January.

In his eight years as editor of Brewbound (January 2011 through July 2019), Furnari was the driving force behind the publication’s daily beer industry news coverage and development of its in-person networking events.

After leaving Brewbound, Furnari led cannabis industry trade publication THCNet as editor-in-chief, while also freelancing for Forbes.

Boulevard Hires HR Director

Kansas City’s Boulevard Brewing Company has hired Stephanie Walker as its new HR director, the company announced last month on its “Commitment to Change” website.

Walker brings two decades of human resources experience to Duvel USA, the parent organization of Boulevard and Cooperstown, New York-based Brewery Ommegang. Prior to joining the craft brewing company, Walker ran HR for the University of Saint Mary, “implementing HR programs influencing the university’s overall mission, vision, and strategic goals.”

“Her many responsibilities included training plans; implementation of programs consistent with diversity and inclusion initiatives; health, wellness, and leave plan administrations; and overseeing the organization’s compensation plan,” the company said.

Walker previously served as human resources manager for Fujifilm for nine years and worked for eight years as an area manager of human resources for Apria Healthcare.

“Stephanie has already brought great energy and expertise to the brewery in her first few days,” the company wrote. “We welcome her to our team.”

Walker joins Boulevard following accusations of harassment and discrimination lodged by former employees. Several executives resigned their posts over the handling of the allegations.

A month-long independent external investigation into the Kansas City, Missouri-headquartered craft brewery’s operations determined that “harassment and bad behaviors did occur” and “employees weren’t always treated professionally and courteously.”

Boulevard founder John McDonald returned to guide the company, as did Julie Weeks as VP of communications and culture. Weeks had led marketing and communications for the brewery from January 2010 through June 2018.