Atlanta’s Monday Night Brewing today announced the promotions of long-time employees Rachel Kiley and Kayla Rumpfeldt to the roles of chief operating officer and chief marketing officer, respectively.
As part of the move, Monday Night co-founder Jonathan Baker, who had served as CMO, will transition to CMO emeritus and remain involved in the direction of the brand.
“As we look ahead to our company-wide goals and plans for growth in 2021 and beyond, we’re excited to announce an organizational restructure that will position Monday Night to better live out our core values and purpose of deepening relationships over some of the best beer in the country,” CEO Jeff Heck wrote in a company-wide communication.
In her new role as COO, Kiley will be tasked with overseeing sales, production and the company’s taproom and brewpub operations. She joined Monday Night’s sales team in 2012, before being promoted to sales director and most recently VP of operations.
“As COO, I look forward to using my experience and relationships to amplify the great work our teams are doing, and continue to create space for deepening relationships over some of the best beer in the country,” Kiley said in a release. “Smart work, grit, and a genuinely outsized love for beer and people have gotten us where we are. There is no greater project than continuing to chase those passions.”
“As our first employee, Rachel has been with us on this journey from Day One. Not only does she know the business inside and out, she also lives and breathes our values,” Heck added. “Her background in hospitality and knowledge of the many facets of a distributing craft brewery will be invaluable in her new role.”
Meanwhile, Rumpfeldt will lead Monday Night’s marketing and private events, while also “stewarding” the brand. Rumpfeldt joined Monday Night in 2018 as a special events coordinator before being promoted to marketing director in August 2019 and VP of brand experience in April 2020.
“As Kayla has grown with Monday Night, it’s become apparent that her quest for ‘better,’ her firm grasp on the brand, and her aptitude for marketing are exactly what our brand needs to take the next step,” Heck said.
“The Monday Night brand is exhilarating to work on because it seamlessly melds drinking and culture,” Rumpfeldt said in the release. “I’m beyond excited to leverage my cross-functional experience within the company to steward the brand experience as we move into our tenth year of brewing. Out of the gate, I’ll be focused on growing our hard seltzer brand, Narwater — which is one of the best liquids in the category, and has immense opportunity across our current distribution footprint and beyond.”
Monday Night’s offerings are distributed in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Yonder Cider and The Source Add Cider Maker
Monique Tribble has joined Wenatchee, Washington-based Yonder Cider and The Source Cider as cidermaker.
“I’m really looking forward to barrel work and experimenting with all the cool apple varietals we have access to,” Tribble told Brewbound. “We have some gorgeous, empty wine barrels waiting to be filled with cider.”
Tribble will make cider for both Yonder Cider and The Source, which launched earlier this year by cider industry veterans Caitlin Braam and Tim Larsen. The Source Cider is a business-to-business enterprise that provides raw juice, fermented cider and blends to other cideries, while Yonder is a consumer-facing brand.
Before joining Yonder and The Source, Tribble held cidermaking positions at Wandering Aengus Ciderworks, Seattle Cider Company and Republic of Cider. An Oregon native, Tribble began her career in hospitality in Alaska, where she developed a love for wine that led her to Lange Estate Winery and later to cider.
Tamar Banner Becomes Head Brewer at To Øl
After more than two and a half years as production manager of BrewDog’s U.S. operations, Tamar Banner has exited the company to join Danish microbrewery To Øl as head brewer.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for me and I feel very fortunate to get to join the European craft brewing community,” Banner told Brewbound.
In her time at BrewDog, the company’s U.S. operations grew from 30,000 hectoliters to 80,000 hectoliters.
Prior to joining BrewDog’s U.S. operations in Columbus, Ohio, Banner worked for more than 11 years at New Belgium Brewing, last serving as a brewing supervisor for about five years. Banner started her career in the brewing industry in 2001 as a brewer for Harpoon Brewery in Boston and Vermont.
Throughout her nearly two decades in the brewing industry, Banner has worked in the brewhouse, cellar, packaging, quality, and management.
Banner is a certified Cicerone and holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University. She is finishing her master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling Science at Heriot Watt University in Scotland.
Aqua ViTea Builds Out C-Suite
Vermont-based kombucha maker Aqua ViTea has expanded its c-suite leadership team with three new additions. The hires include Chris Gallant as chief sales and marketing officer, Steve Konczal as CFO and Chip Nolin as COO.
As well, the company has hired Bill Keighley as sales director for its alcoholic kombucha line AfterGlow.
According to a press release, Gallant joins Aqua ViTea from a position as interim CEO of cold brew coffee brand KonaRed, where he oversaw the brand’s acquisition by a strategic buyer earlier this year.
Konczal has held positions with Lhasa Craft Beer, Graze, Lunch Bundles and Unreal Brands and previously served as CFO of Heineken Americas. Nolin has held positions at bodywear brand Commando and personal care company Seventh Generation, while Keighley served as director of sales and distribution at Red Bull.
“Aqua ViTea is growing at three times the category rate, and we plan to capitalize on this momentum by strengthening our presence as a top national brand within the next couple of years,” said founder Jeff Weaber in the release. “We are focused on building our distribution partnerships, expanding our retail presence, and activating the brand in the market, especially as kombucha continues to gain popularity.” — Brad Avery
Island To Island Brewery Founder to Join Pink Boots Board
Danii Oliver has won a seat on the Pink Boots Society board of directors for its 2021 term, according to a press release.
Oliver, who founded Island to Island Brewery in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn in 2015, relocated to Texas, where she joined the Pink Boots Society’s North Texas chapter in early 2020 and was inspired to run for the organization’s national board.
“The diversity of the women in Texas craft beer is widespread, from sales reps to marketers; brand ambassadors to cellar women; designers to taproom staffers; owners to consultants. The women in Texas were also relentless about making me feel welcomed,” Oliver said in the release. “When I expressed my concerns about women of color not being represented in Pink Boots Society, leadership at the time assured me of their heartfelt desire to allow me to carve out space for more inclusion and not have me fill a token space.”