Doors Open + Beers & Networking

Panel I: State of the Industry

• Sam Calagione

  , CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

  

  Sam Calagione

  CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

  Sam Calagione is the founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware and Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He also owns the Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware. Sam is a 2016 James Beard Award recipient was named one of Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business. The Wall Street Journal has called Sam "a Pioneer of bizarre brews."

• Donn Bichsel Jr.

  , Chief Commercial Officer, Revolution Brewing

  

  Donn Bichsel Jr.

  Chief Commercial Officer, Revolution Brewing

  Donn Bichsel Jr. has been in the beverage industry in some capacity for over 25 years and is in his 18th year on the supplier side. He has been with Revolution Brewing since the production facility first started brewing in the spring of 2012. Donn has spent time with SAB, Goose Island, Heineken/Star Brand Imports and, prior to joining Revolution, he worked with Dogfish Head. Donn is most proud of the Revolution Brewing internship program. Created in 2013 with eight people, it has now grown to add an additional twenty positions seasonally between June and August, and in 2018 it welcomed its fifth class. The yearly program creates people management opportunities for the sales and marketing team, along with a path to stay within the beer industry. He lives in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood with his wife, two daughters and a 100-pound Chocolate Labrador who thinks he is a lap dog.

• Matt Fraser

  , President & COO, CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective

  

  Matt Fraser

  President & COO, CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective

  An experienced executive in craft beer, Fraser joined the CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in July 2015 after spending eight years at Lazard Freres in its middle market advisory group. As CFO, Matt lead all financial matters in collaboration with CANarchy brewery executives including financial reporting and analysis, forecasting and overall budget management. Matt was elevated to Chief Operating Officer (COO) in January 2018 and in May 2018 his role expanded to President of the collective. As President and COO of CANarchy, Fraser leads all business operations in collaboration with the brewery partners and founders across the portfolio of craft breweries, including Cigar City Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery, Perrin Brewing, Squatters Craft Beer and Wasatch Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing Company and Three Weavers Brewing.

• Sam Calagione, CEO, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Donn Bichsel Jr., Chief Commercial Officer, Revolution Brewing
• Matt Fraser, President & COO, CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective

Beers & Networking

Panel II: Exploring Innovation in the Brewing Business

• Patrick Rue

  , Founder and CEO, The Bruery

  

  Patrick Rue

  Founder and CEO, The Bruery

  Patrick Rue is the Founder and CEO of The Bruery, located in Orange County, California. The Bruery -- along with Bruery Terreux and Offshoot Beer Co. -- are widely known for being flavor driven, innovative, and style defying, which in many ways is influenced by Patrick’s love of food and culinary arts. Patrick started his career in brewing after graduating from law school and hasn’t looked back. He is one of 16 individuals to achieve the rank of Master Cicerone.

• Jeff Heck

  , Co-Founder, Monday Night Brewing

  

  Jeff Heck

  Co-Founder, Monday Night Brewing

  Jeff Heck co-founded Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia with his two partners in 2011. The company began when a small group Bible study started homebrewing in his garage socially. In his role as CEO, Heck oversees all aspects of Monday Night’s operations and strategy with the aim of fulfilling the company’s purpose of “deepening human relationships over some of the best beer in the country.” A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Heck graduated from Harvard University and spent over 10 years in private equity and M&A before co-founding Monday Night. He and his wife of 14 years have four children and live just a mile from the brewery in Atlanta.

• Blaine Landberg

  , Founder, Calicraft Brewing Company

  

  Blaine Landberg

  Founder, Calicraft Brewing Company

  Blaine Landberg is founder and CEO of Calicraft Brewing Co., an innovative craft beverage company based in Walnut Creek, California. Opened in 2012, Calicraft takes inspiration from the ingredients, places and people of California. With over 18 years of beverage industry experience, Landberg has a strong track record of creating innovative beverages and brands, first with Honest Tea and now with Calicraft. Through Calicraft, Landberg focuses on thoughtful innovation - whether its using locally sourced ingredients such as anise hyssop and wine pomace, engaging in community events and collaboration, or developing new categories of beverages like Sparkling Ales – Calicraft seeks to answer the question: What if beer was created in California?

• Patrick Rue, Founder and CEO, The Bruery
• Jeff Heck, Co-Founder, Monday Night Brewing
• Blaine Landberg, Founder, Calicraft Brewing Company

Beers & Networking