New Belgium Brewing begins hiring Asheville management team

Here’s the press release from New Belgium Brewing:

Fort Collins, CO, December 10, 2013 -New Belgium Brewing has started building its Asheville team with an infusion of local talent. Recent hires include two professionals from Asheville, Gabe Quesinberry, Operations Support Manager and formerly of Mattern & Craig Consulting Engineers, and Susanne Hackett, Community Relations Specialist and former owner of outreach group Pollinate Collaborations.

Rounding out the team are New Belgium internal hires who will bring a level of expertise and company culture perspective to the Asheville process and structure: Brewing Manager, Business Manager, Distribution Center Manager and Liquid Center Manager. The first round of public hiring will be in early 2015.

Hires to date:

Community Relations Specialist – Susanne Hackett (West Asheville)
Susanne Hackett, entrepreneur and owner of Pollinate Collaborations since 2009, has been an integral part of the New Belgium Asheville planning team as a consultant since June 2012. With more than 15 years of communications and community development experience, she has worked closely with New Belgium co-workers, community leaders, media and neighbors developing and implementing New Belgium’s community engagement and communications process in Asheville. In January 2014, Susanne will continue her work in a full-time capacity with New Belgium, developing communications strategy and integrating New Belgium’s culture and policies with the Asheville community. A West Asheville resident since 2006, Susanne and her husband and dogs spend time on the trails and along the rivers.

Operations Support Manager – Gabe Quesinberry (Asheville)
A Roanoke, VA native, Gabe has more than 20 years of experience in planning, design, construction, and operations of a wide variety of development projects. A licensed engineer in Virginia and North Carolina, he worked as a Senior Manager for Mattern & Craig Consulting Engineers where he consulted with the City of Asheville and played a key role in the New Belgium site selection, City entitlements and the design of site and public infrastructure improvements. As Asheville Operations Manager, Gabe will oversee design, permitting, construction and commissioning of their Asheville Brewery and Distribution Center. Once the facilities are in operation, he will oversee all operational activities that support the making, packaging and distribution. Gabe and his family have lived in the Asheville/Buncombe area since 2006 and in his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, fishing and watching football.

Asheville Business Support Manager – Brendan Beers (New Belgium 2002, Warren Wilson grad)
While not currently living in Asheville, Brendan is no stranger to WNC. A Warren Wilson College graduate, Brendan earned a degree AND met his wife at the Swannanoa, NC school. He has been involved in various roles at New Belgium for last 11 years. Starting in the Warehouse and then moving into a role as a Buyer/Planner of Packaging Materials in the Supply Chain Department, Brendan then moved into a role as a Supply Chain Project Manager, responsible for coordinating project activities or business process improvement. Currently he is working on implementing systems in the Supply Chain to ensure a successful transition to the Asheville Brewery. Brendan is looking forward to moving back to Asheville. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two beautiful daughters and getting up early to enjoy the Front Range of Colorado on a run or bike ride.

Brewing Manager – Alex Dwoinen (New Belgium 1993)
Hired in 1993, Alex was one of New Belgium’s first employees. A 20-year veteran in the brewing industry, Alex has brewed, managed the brewhouse and worked on process improvement. He’s beginning to engage in the rich Asheville brewing community and looks forward to moving his family to Asheville. In his free time, Alex enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.

Packaging Manager – Philip Pollock (New Belgium 2008)
Philip has worked in the brewing industry for over 15 years. He is currently a supervisor for New Belgium’s Packaging Department and leads the department’s quality programs, beer sensory program and is involved with New Belgium’s New Beers and Packaging Group. Prior to joining New Belgium in the 2008, Philip worked for 10 years as Brewmaster for Maumee Bay Brewing Company in Toledo, Ohio where he played an integral part revitalizing the Buckeye Beer brand. He is an active member of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas and the American Society of Brewing Chemists. Philip enjoys spending his time outside of work camping, fishing and hiking throughout Colorado with his wife and two daughters. He is enthusiastically looking forward to developing the Asheville Packaging Department and continuing to enjoy his lifestyle in the Smokey Mountains.

Liquid Center Manager – Tyler Foos (New Belgium 2004)
Tyler Foos has been with New Belgium since 2004. He spent seven years working in and managing the Liquid Center in Fort Collins and in 2001 moved to a Field Branding position for the MidAtlantic. In 2013, Foos and his partner, also a New Belgium co-worker, moved to Asheville from Raleigh. They live in West Asheville. Originally from Wisconsin, he is an avid runner and cyclist.

ABOUT NEW BELGIUM BREWING

New Belgium Brewing, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, is recognized as one of Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work and one of the Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Businesses. The 100% employee owned brewery is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business as designated by the League of American Bicyclists, and one of World Blu’s most democratic U.S. businesses. In addition to Fat Tire, New Belgium brews eight year round beers; Ranger IPA, Shift Pale Lager, Rampant Imperial IPA, Sunshine Wheat, 1554 Black Ale, Blue Paddle Pilsener, Abbey Belgian Ale and Trippel. Learn more at www.newbelgium.com