People
- Joe Short - Joe began home brewing whilst a student at Western Michigan University and found his calling in the fermented arts, which led him to his first professional brewers position at Traverse Brewing Company. After a summer there Joe moved to Michigan Brewing Company to more extensive training under Dan Rogers (now at Big Rock Chophouse). After eight months, Dan Rogers recommended Joe for the head brewers position at Jackson Brewing Company (later Zig’s Kettle and Brew). After two years in Jackson, Joe needed the creative freedom and independence and decided to try his luck with his own brewery close to home. So in 2002 the idea of Short’s Brewing Company was formed, and after a long 18 months of construction, in April, 2004 the doors were officially opened. Since then Joe has worked every position at the company from mopping the floors and cleaning the toilets (which he still does occasionally) to pouring beers and taking orders. Joe spearheads the creative process, marketing, special events and overall direction for the company
- Leah Short - Leah is from out west. She spent time obtaining a degree in exercise physiology and was an EMT for the ski patrol. After years of working and playing hard in the mountains, she was ready to move toward a more solid career path. What better than spending a summer in northern Michigan for one last hurrah at living the dream? Long time friend, Joe Short had opened up a microbrewery in Bellaire. Since Leah had always supplemented her lifestyle with employment in the food/beverage hospitality industry, she hit him up for a summer job. The rest is history. When asked why she moved to Michigan, Leah will say, “It’s all about a boy.” She also loves the lakes and woods, and has somehow changed career paths from medicine to running a local pub.
- Scott Newman Bale – Scott originally moved to the US from England in 1999 after a successful spell working as a Database designer for EA Sports. Upon arriving in the US Scott enrolled at Lansing Community College and later transferred to Michigan State. Joe and Scott met during Scott’s senior year at college through mutual friend Josh Jones. The idea and location of the brewery was established but construction had not long begun, upon hearing Joe’s passion and vision Scott came on board as a silent partner. During the next few years Scott established a number of Real Estate based companies in the Detroit area adding support to Shorts wherever needed. In October 2007 Shorts was at a crossroads and more attention was needed on business aspects so Scott started helping more on a daily basis. Over the next few months Scott transitioned more and more into the brewery eventually coming aboard full time as the CFO. Scott is responsible for making sure Joe has the resources to continue his madness and financial planning on behalf of the company.
- Tony Hansen – Tony met Joe Short while attending a homebrew club meeting at the pub in late 2006. At that time, Tony was cooking at Boone’s Long Lake Inn; but was experimenting with homebrewing, biofuel production, and organic farming while contemplating possible career changes. Joe expressed an inspiring vision of what brewing could be; and the need for help in the brewery. That night, Joe made Tony an offer that he couldn’t refuse: a part time job as a brewer ninja. In 2007, as Short’s started to experience rapid growth, Joe began focusing on expansion and Tony’s role as brewer ninja quickly transformed into a lead brewer position at the pub in Bellaire. In 2009, when the expansion was complete, Tony moved over to the production facility. Tony manages production operations in Elk Rapids and oversees pub production along with R&D brewing.
- Jon Wojtowicz – Jon, or “Woj,” was originally from the suburbs of Chicago and first started coming to Michigan with his family for summer vacations. Upon graduating high school Jon enrolled in Western Michigan University to pursue a degree in Earth Science Education and Environmental Science. This is where he first met Joe Short through some mutual friends and also tried some of the earliest versions of “Short’s” brew. After graduation Jon decided he wanted to live in Northern Michigan and already had some friends there who happened to be opening a brewery. Getting established in Northern Michigan was not easy, jobs were few and far between, with the most readily available ones being in the hospitality industry. Over the next few years Jon honed his skills in all aspects of the restaurant industry particularly as a chef. Then in the winter of 2007 Jon was approached by his now good friend Joe about coming to work for him at his brewery. Now three years later Jon still fills the roll of Field Representative or as Joe likes to call it “Beer Liberator.”
