Janell Zurschmeide becomes first woman elected Chair
Richmond, VA – The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) held its Leadership Council election on Monday, August 31, at Bon Secours Training Center at its annual business meeting. Members voted in a new Chair, Vice Chair, Government Affairs Committee Co-Chair, and Farm Brewery Committee Co-Chair.
Janell Zurschmeide, Co-Owner, Dirt Farm Brewing became the first woman elected as VCBG Chair, and Porter Hardy, Co-Founder and President, Smartmouth Brewing Company joined her as Vice Chair. The immediate past Chair, Sten Sellier, Founder and President, Beltway Brewing Company, was elected as Government Affairs Committee Co-Chair, and Dave St. Clair joined the Leadership Council as the Farm Brewery Committee Co-Chair.
“Dependable and dynamic servant leaders are how great trade associations are built. We are fortunate that the 2020-2021 VCBG Leadership Council embodies those values” said Brett Vassey, VCBG President & CEO. “We are honored to have Janell Zurschmeide and Porter Hardy leading the organization, and we welcome Dave St. Clair to the team.”
The full 2020-2021 Leadership Council of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild is as follows:
Chair: Janell Zuschmeide, Dirt Farm Brewing, Bluemont
Vice Chair: Porter Hardy, Smartmouth Brewing Company, Norfolk
Government Affairs Committee Co-chairs: Sten Sellier, Beltway Brewing Company, and Hunter Smith, Champion Brewing Company
Tourism & Marketing Committee Co-chairs: Neil Burton, Strangeways Brewing, Sterling and Chris Burns, Old Ox Brewery, Ashburn
Farm Brewery Committee Co-chairs: Lisa Pumphrey, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, Goochland and Dave St. Clair, Swover Creek Farms & Brewery, Edinburg
Quality Committee Co-chairs: Kate Lee, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Richmond and Shawn Phillips, Spencer Devon Brewing, Fredericksburg
The Leadership Council will continue to recognize the following special advisors for the Virginia Craft Beer Cup, retail sales and wholesaler relations: Bill Butcher, President, Port City Brewing Co.; Duke Fox, Starr Hill Brewery; and Eric McKay, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.
The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (Guild) is an association of independent, small, and traditional breweries dedicated to growing the craft beer industry in the Commonwealth. The Guild is the state affiliate of the Brewers Association. For more information on the Guild, go to www.vacraftbeer.com.
Media Contact: Kaitlyn Crow