News
Seidman College of Business graduates shine in the beer industry!
February 21, 2019
Get your pretzel necklaces and warm layers of clothing ready - the MI Brewers Guild 14th Annual Winter Beer Festival is just around the corner! At this outdoor festival, held at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, there will be nearly 1,000 different beers available to sample, from over 150+ Michigan breweries. The festival is a highlight of the winter season and has grown substantially since it began. Individuals are invited to embrace the cold weather, with several bonfires and heat lamps to warm up near.
There are many roles involved in running a brewery, including several in the business-arena, such as sales, marketing, finance, distribution and many others. Located in Beer City, USA, the Seidman College of Business has several graduates involved in shaping the future of the Beer Industry.
Marc Venegoni, a National Account Manager at Founders Brewing Co., is also a Seidman graduate (2002, Marketing). He has held previous roles in buying, sales and analytics – all grounded in beer. Founders Brewing Company is a cornerstone of the Michigan beer scene. It is one of the most recognized breweries in the United States, and its product has a large amount of international distribution as well. The brewery has been involved with the festival ever since its inception. Venegoni, a 14-year beer industry veteran, endorsed the event, “It is a unique group of people because there is a lot of comradery amongst the competition to create new and exciting beers that not only represent their specific brewery, but also Grand Rapids.”
Another Seidman graduate, Joel Kamp (2006, Finance & Accounting), is the CEO of Pigeon Hill Brewing Company. Joel began homebrewing and fell in love with the craft. He made his passion his line of work and has been involved in the beer industry for 5 years. Pigeon Hill Brewery has a taproom located in downtown Muskegon, where a brewing history of the city is showcased. Joel shared that the brewery is about to complete it’s second production expansion in 5 years, also in downtown Muskegon. When asked about his thoughts of the Winter Beer Festival, he confirmed that “it is the largest outdoor winter party around.”
Kris Spaulding, the Sustainability Director and Owner of Brewery Vivant, earned her MBA from the Seidman College of Business in 2016. Brewery Vivant is proud to be the first LEED certified commercial microbrewery and a Certified B Corporation, as sustainability is a large part of the brewery’s identity. The brewery is on target to roll out a new project this spring, which is a casual tasting room with a focus on flavor exploration, located in the same building as Brewery Vivant’s warehouse in Kentwood. With regards to the upcoming festival, Kris shared “Participants embrace Michigan's cold winters and have fun with it. People take pride in attending the festival regardless of what the weather looks like, although the colder the better to make for a better story later-on (as long as you are properly dressed!).”