Stony Creek Brewery Names New CEO and VP of Sales
Branford, Connecticut-based Stony Creek Brewery has hired Anheuser-Busch InBev sales and marketing vet Dan Shannon as CEO and David Morrice as VP of sales.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome both Dan and David to our family,” Stony Creek founder Ed Crowley said in a press release. “They are both clearly passionate about our beers, our ideals, and the philosophies we represent.”
Shannon’s beverage-alcohol career includes more than 20 years in sales and marketing roles at A-B and a role on the leadership team of Wanderlust Spirits (Helix Vodka, Askur Gin), which he joined in 2017. At A-B, which he departed in 2014, Shannon’s most recent role was senior director of national retail sales, in which he oversaw relationships with major chains such as Applebee’s, Hilton and Southwest Airlines.
“I wanted to be a part of the Stony Creek story, and to continue the commitment Ed Crowley, Sr. has to his mission, the team, and the community,” Shannon said in the release. “Stony Creek Brewery has an exceptional culture that is embodied by everyone in the organization. I am grateful to be a part of it.”
Before joining Stony Creek, Morrice was director of sales for Nashville, Tennessee-based Yazoo Brewing from April 2018 until March 2022. His career includes stints at Lexington, Kentucky-based Beer House Distributing and Diageo.
Stony Creek was founded in 2010 and produced 14,875 barrels of beer in 2020, the most recent year for which data is available from the Brewers Association (BA). The brewery’s footprint includes all six New England states and New York.
Dave Mevoli Named Fishers Island Lemonade COO
Dave Mevoli has joined ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail maker Fishers Island Lemonade as chief operating officer.
Fishers Island Lemonade, which shares its name with a New York island off the coast of Connecticut, was founded in 2014 and offers vodka- and whiskey-based RTDs and freeze pops.
Mevoli’s career in the beverage-alcohol industry includes nearly two decades in sales and marketing roles at wholesalers in the Sheehan Family Companies network, nearly three years at Duvel Moortgat USA, and two years at Austin, Texas-based Mighty Swell Hard Seltzer. At Mighty Swell, he served as national sales director and VP of sales and oversaw the brand’s expansion.
In 2019, Mevoli joined Bell’s Brewery as lead national key account manager and was promoted to national account director.
Ace Hard Cider Hires Joshua Heck for TX, LA, OK and AR Sales
Ace Hard Cider, has hired Joshua Heck as regional sales manager for Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Before joining Ace, Heck was a key account sales manager at Shadyside Beverages, maker of SunSmash Seltzer. His career also includes sales roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev, Western Beverage and Silver Moon Brewing.
“I already had a chance to meet many of the wholesalers, and see the Texas market specifically, and the opportunity there is incredible,” Heck told Brewbound. “I’m so excited for the future with this amazing company, and look forward to building long lasting relationships with retailers and wholesalers in the Central region.”
Sebastopol, California-headquartered Ace is the country’s oldest family-owned cidery and distributes to all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Vintage Wine Estates acquired Ace in November 2021.
Brewers Association Hires First HR Partner
The Brewers Association (BA) has hired Holly Haslam as its first human resources (HR) partner, the trade association announced on April 4.
Haslam will be responsible for expanding the BA’s HR resources, as well as creating the association’s first HR committee, according to a BA blog post.
“Providing human resource programs for independent craft brewers to help run their businesses better is critical for longevity and success in the industry,” BA president and CEO Bob Pease said in the post. “Holly will lead the charge, identify areas to be strengthened, and educate our members on everything from recruiting and hiring to retaining their work forces and having effective meetings.”
Haslam previously served as the human resources coordinator for Aslan Construction in Berthoud, Colorado. There she led the creation of the company’s HR training content, employee handbook and employee professional development program, according to the BA. Additionally, she volunteered as vice president of programming for the Boulder Area HR Association.
“Human resources are vital for any organization, regardless of their size,” Haslam said in the announcement. “I am grateful for the opportunity to develop content for brewery leaders that will offer them the support they need to manage HR in a way that makes sense for their team and the unique challenges they face. I look forward to listening to members of this community to learn what tools will be most valuable for them.”
Mary Ann Caram Leaves COOP Ale Works for Bacardi
Mary Ann Caram has left her role as marketing director for Oklahoma City-based COOP Ale Works for a new position as director of digital commerce, pure play and digital media at Bacardi.
Caram shared the news in a post on her LinkedIn profile last week. She began the new role Monday, and is “excited to work across [Bacardi’s] amazing portfolio of brands and alongside a team who is already rewriting the script for the spirits industry,” she wrote in the post.
Caram joined COOP in April 2021, a month before the brewery launched Sonic Hard Seltzer, featuring the fast-food chain’s proprietary beverage flavors. As marketing director, Caram led the marketing strategy for Sonic Hard Seltzer as part of a “new product innovation team,” as well as “established marketing operations from the ground up,” according to her LinkedIn.
Before joining the bev-alc industry, Caram spent more than eight years in media and marketing roles for the luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen.
Molson Coors Nominates Leroy J. Williams, Jr. for its Board of Directors
Leroy J. Williams, Jr., former global chief information officer for can manufacturer Ball Corporation, has been nominated for Molson Coors Beverage Company’s board of directors as an independent director, the company announced last week.
Shareholders will vote to elect to Williams during the company’s annual meeting of stockholders on May 18.
Williams now serves as CEO of CyberTekIQ, an information technology consulting firm, which he founded in 2016. Williams spent more than a decade at Ball, after serving various cabinet level positions in Colorado, including secretary of technology and acting executive director for the department of labor & employment, according to a press release.
“[Williams] is a strong leader who brings tremendous experience to the boardroom,” Pete Coors, chair of Molson Coors’ board of directors, said in the release. “His background in both cyber security and business development will help provide great strategic counsel to the company as we continue to evolve.”
“Having served the state of Colorado, I know firsthand the economic benefits local breweries bring to their communities, and I look forward to working with Molson Coors to help continue its growth,” Williams added.
Bent Water Hires New COO and Head Brewer
Lynn, Massachusetts-based Bent Water Brewing has appointed industry veteran Drew Yeager COO and head brewer.
Yeager joined Bent Water in February, after more than seven years at Nashville-based Fat Bottom Brewing, where he most recently held the positions of director of brewery operations and brewmaster. Yeager has also worked as a brewer for Foothill Brewing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Dogfish Head in Milton, Delaware.
Bent Water has grown for five consecutive years, including a 22% increase from 5,712 barrels in 2019 to 6,996 barrels 2020, the most recent production year published by the BA.
“The growth Bent Water achieved over the past few years is just the beginning,” Yeager said in a press release. “We have some big plans for the remainder of the year – introducing new beers, series, and initiatives; refining our internal processes to see even greater efficiencies; and going even deeper into the regions where we’re already available. It’s going to be an exciting year.”
Canopy Promotes 2 Members to Executive Management and Fills 4 New Senior Leadership Roles
Canadian cannabis firm Canopy Growth Corporation has appointed six new members to its executive management and senior leadership teams.
Judy Hong, former VP of investor relations, has been promoted to chief financial officer. Hong joined Canopy in 2019 after more than two decades at Goldman Sachs & Co.
And Jonathan Di Tosto, former VP of supply chain, has been appointed COO, after joining the company in May 2021. Prior to Canopy, Tosto spent 16 years at George Weston Limited, most recently as the VP of planning and logistics.
Andrew MacCorquodale, who previously held the position of COO and has worked for Canopy for more than five years, will transition to a strategic advisory role, according to a press release.
“As Canopy evolves, so does our leadership team and I’m pleased to welcome both Judy and Jonathan who have demonstrated their capabilities as leaders to drive our business forward,” CEO David Klein said in the release. “As we enter our new fiscal year and continue our focus on accelerating growth and advancing on our path to profitability, I feel strongly that we have the right team and strategy to realize our important ambitions for the benefit of our customers, team members, and shareholders.’’
Additionally, four new strategic roles have been added to Canopy’s senior leadership, which will be filled by “seasoned executives who previously held leadership roles at Constellation Brands,” who will “help Canopy achieve its business goals in the U.S. cannabis market in four focused areas: commercial sales, marketing, operations, and strategic alliances,” the company wrote in the release.
Klein himself joined Canopy from Constellation in January 2020, after nearly five years as CFO.