Board of Directors
Heather Kraemer
Founder of the Vermont Brewers Association
Greg Noonan
Association Director
Marketing & Promotions Manager
Hannah Goldman
Board of Directors and Officers 2023
Joe Lemnah (President) – Burlington Beer Co. – 2-year term
Bob Grim (Vice President) – Foam Brewers – 2-year term
Heather Kraemer (Secretary) – Kraemer & Kin
Seth Howard (Treasurer)– Drop In Brewing Co. – 2-year term
Geoff Sewake – Whirligig Brewing
Matt Cohen – Fiddlehead Brewing Company – 1-year term
Scott Gawitt – Vermont Pub and Brewery – 1-year term
Kara Pawlusiak – Simple Roots Brewing – 3-year term
2022 Committee Members
Diversity and Inclusion: Newly formed committee in 2022
Geoff Sewake (Chair) – Whirligig Brewing
Joan Bulzacchelli – Hermit Thrush Brewery
Jake Ryan – Zero Gravity Craft Brewery
Scott Miley – Zero Gravity Craft Brewery
Events and Marketing: The purpose of the Events Committee is to increase traffic to our brewer’s taprooms and further cultivate and engage Vermont craft beer lovers by hosting events throughout the year. The purpose of the Marketing Committee is to facilitate internal and external communications for the VBA, and to promote and strengthen the culture of craft brewing in Vermont.
Kara Pawlusiak (Chair)– Simple Roots Brewing
McKenzie Bearup – Foam Brewers
Amy Lieblein – Switchback Brewing
Terry Thompson – Prohibition Pig
Joan Bulzacchelli – Hermit Thrush Brewery
James Branagan – Hermit Thrush Brewery
Kayla Steinmetz – Rutland Beer Works
Finance: The purpose of the Finance Committee is to develop and review fiscal procedures, create an annual budget and ensure accurate tracking, monitoring, and accountability for funds.
Dan Sartwell – Black Flannel Brewing Co.
Marty Bonneau – Goodwater Brewery
Sean Lawson – Lawson’s Finest Liquids
Membership and Governance: The purpose of the Membership and Governance Committee is to oversee VBA Board development and to ensure the effective operation of the leadership structure as well as to explore expanding membership benefits.
Avery Schwenk (Chair) – Hermit Thrush Brewery
Government Affairs: The purpose of the Government Affairs Committee is to assure a healthy brewing industry within the state by developing and articulating to the industry a consensus from within membership as it relates to regulatory, legislative and governmental affairs.
Allen Van Anda (Chair) – Lost Nation Brewery
Mike Czok – Bent Hill Brewery
Shaun Hill – Hill Farmstead Brewery
Bill Mares – House of Fermentology
Bob Montgomery – Hill Farmstead Brewery
Matt Nadeau – Rock Art Brewery
Paul Sayler – Zero Gravity Craft Brewery
Sustainability: The purpose of the Sustainability Committee is to assess the current environmentally sustainable practices of our members with an examination of wastewater treatment as a priority.
Dan Sartwell (Chair) – Black Flannel Brewing Co.
Patrick Ackerman Hovis – Hermit Thrush Brewery
Meghan Chambers – Efficiency Vermont
David Fitzgerald – Mill River Brewing BBQ & Smokehouse
Heather Kraemer – Kraemer & Kin
Anna Novine – Zero Gravity Craft Brewery
Mike Sardina – Hill Farmstead Brewery
Technical and Education: The purpose of the Technical and Education Committee is to provide education and training to member brewers with the goal of improving and maintaining the highest quality standard of beer brewed in this State.
Scott Gawitt (Co-Chair) – Vermont Pub and Brewery
Steve Parkes (Co-Chair) – Drop-In Brewing
Will Scull – Hermit Thrush Brewery
Scott Shirley – Lawson’s Finest Liquids
Amy Todd – Zymology Labs