CANOGA PARK, Calif. — Fireman’s Brew, a Los Angeles-based craft beer company founded by two firefighters, today announced that it has further strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointment of industry veteran Don Lake as Executive Vice President, National Sales.
With sales and marketing leadership experience across craft, import and domestic beer brands, Lake brings to Fireman’s Brew a wealth of experience in the industry, having previously held key leadership positions at Anheuser-Busch, Coors Brewing, Labatt USA, The Gambrinus Company, and Warsteiner-USA.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Don join the Fireman’s Brew team as our new EVP of National Sales,” said Robert Nowaczyk, founder of Fireman’s Brew “He brings with him both a wealth of beer industry knowledge, as well as experience in rapidly growing craft beer brands.”
An entrepreneurial business leader, Lake most recently served as President of Warsteiner-USA, where he oversaw national sales and marketing for one of the world’s oldest and most respected German breweries. Prior to this role, as National Director of Sales for The Gambrinus Company, Lake directed U.S. sales efforts, generating over $1.5B in annual revenue and rapidly expanding the distribution network of its craft beer portfolio including Shiner, Trumer Pils, Bridgeport, Pete’s and Moosehead brands. During his fourteen year tenure at The Gambrinus Company, Lake was instrumental in helping the company grow to become the fourth largest U.S. Craft Brewery by volume.
“Don has been living and breathing all things beer for nearly 40 years, driving the growth behind some of the major players in the beer industry,” explained Roger Baer, Chief Executive Officer of Fireman’s Brew. “His impressive background, first-hand experiences and expert knowledge will play an integral role in helping Fireman’s Brew as we continue to expand our distribution footprint.”
In his new role with Fireman’s Brew, Lake will leverage his extensive industry knowledge and proven sales leadership track record to lead the continued expansion of this fast-growing craft beer brand into new markets. Over the past nine months, Fireman’s Brew has expanded distribution for its three handcrafted beers beyond its home state of California into Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Iowa, Virginia, Oklahoma and New York.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to join Fireman’s Brew” commented Don Lake, “With a compelling brand story, a portfolio of three award-winning craft beers and an intrinsic firefighter community connection, we have the potential to build Fireman’s Brew into a national brand.”
Conceived by two Los Angeles-based firefighters after extinguishing a brushfire in the local mountains, Fireman’s Brew grew out of their vision to create a premium line of handcrafted ales and lagers that would quench their thirsts after an exhausting day on the firelines. Fireman’s Brew collection of micro-brewed beers are created using only the finest of all-natural ingredients to deliver bold, full-flavored, traditional tastes and easy drinking refreshment. In addition, the company is committed to giving back to the firefighter community upon which it was founded by donating a portion of company proceeds to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation — the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to honoring fallen firefighters and providing assistance to their surviving families.
In addition, the company also recently announced a private offering of stock for California residents.
About Fireman’s Brew
Extinguish Your Thirst! with Fireman’s Brew, a premium line of micro-brewed beers created by two Los Angeles based firefighters. Based in Canoga Park, CA., Fireman’s Brew has quickly become one of the fastest growing craft beer brands in California.
Created using only the finest of all-natural ingredients, Fireman’s Brew offers a selection of three microbrewed beers for off-duty refreshment. Originally created by firefighters for firefighters, Fireman’s Brew is committed to giving back to the firefighter community and donates a portion of its proceeds to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in Emmitsburg, MD.