Board Member
At the ripe age of 18, I knew I wanted to own a brewery one day so I set my sights on getting a formal business education, double majoring in finance and entrepreneurship. My college education allowed me the opportunity to work in investment banking where I was able to begin honing my financial and business skills. After a couple of years of working in finance, I made the move to San Diego to begin learning the professional brewing trade and business. I worked at Pizza Port Carlsbad, Green Flash, Oggi’s, and The Bruery learning everything I could from the owners, managers, and brewers. While at The Bruery I became very close friends with Travis Smith and we decided to open a brewery together. We opened Societe in May 2012 and have strategically grown our business to what it is today; a San Diego only (99.9%), draft-only, self-distributed brewery with a large focus on wholesale business rather than tasting room/retail. Currently, I serve as the CEO of Societe and am tasked with upholding our brewery’s philosophy, leading management, and executing our strategy. My background from Wall St. combined with professional brewing has given me a tremendous foundation to operate this business from both practical and philosophical levels.
Ultimately, though, craft beer is my passion. It’s what fuels me (figuratively) and I want to do all that I can to help strengthen not only Societe but also California craft breweries. I am able and willing to humbly serve the CCBA and its members to continue the efforts that Tom and all of those involved past and present have worked so hard to create.
