People
Joe Short
FounderJoe grew up in Rapid City and graduated from Kalkaska High School. He began working in the hospitality industry at a young age as a waiter at the Dockside on Torch Lake. Joe began homebrewing while attending Western Michigan University. After beginning his professional brewing career with stints at the former Traverse Brewing Company in Elk Rapids, the former Michigan Brewing Company in Webberville and the former Jackson Brewing Company (later Zig’s Kettle and Brew), Joe decided to return to northern Michigan and start his own brewery. Since then, Joe has worked every position at Short’s. Don’t be surprised if you stop by our pub and find him pouring beers and taking orders. Behind the scenes, however, Joe spearheads the creative process, any construction or expansion projects, marketing, special events and overall direction of the company. Joe is married to Leah Short, and they have two sons.
Scott Newman-Bale
CEOScott moved to the U.S. from England in 1999 after a successful career as a Database designer for EA Sports. While attending college at Michigan State University, Joe and Scott met through a mutual friend. Scott’s background in business and real estate has been a tremendous asset to Short’s, earning him the nickname “The Magician.” While Joe’s focus was directed towards “the next big thing to excite craft beer fans in Michigan,” Scott was the guy who found a way to fund such projects and make them financially viable. In this way, Scott came on board at Short’s as a silent partner. By 2007, Short’s had grown to a point where it required Scott’s attention full time. In addition to his work at Short’s, Scott has also become a major advocate for craft brewers throughout the nation. He currently serves as President of the Michigan Brewers Guild, Member of the Brewers Association Government Affairs Committee, and has traveled throughout the U.S. advocating for craft breweries and brewers. When he isn’t working, Scott enjoys calling soccer “football” and tons of other English things like that. Scott resides in Traverse City, Michigan with his two daughters.
Tony Hansen
Chief Innovation OfficerTony 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 while experimenting with homebrewing, biofuel production and organic farming. Joe expressed an inspiring vision of what brewing could be and the need for help in the brewery. During one of the homebrew club meetings, Joe offered Tony a part-time job as a pub brewer. In 2007, as Short’s started to experience rapid growth, Joe began focusing on expansion and Tony’s role 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. Today, Tony designs the beer, the branding and the names for many of our beers.
Tyler Glaze
COOTyler, a native-Californian, attended Cal Poly before dropping out as a senior to stress out his parents and make the move to Michigan a year later. After spending a single summer on Mackinac Island, Tyler made the trip to Bellaire and joined the Quality Team as an intern in 2011. After getting the Short’s quality lab beefed up and completing the UC Davis Master Brewers Program, Tyler became a partner and Director of Quality at Short’s in 2014. Since then, he’s been helping many departments as efficiently as possible, officially becoming Short’s Chief Operating Officer in 2019. Tyler resides in Traverse City with his lovely wife Kendal, their handsome dog Beau, and a fridge full of Juicy Brut.
Rachel Brege
Chief Financial OfficerOriginally from Rogers City in Northeast Michigan, Rachel earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Central Michigan University. After graduation, Rachel worked for eight years in public accounting in Traverse City and became a Certified Public Accountant. Looking for a change, she found herself at the Short’s family doorstep. Having always been a Northern Michigan native and loving all things outdoors, she naturally fell in love with Short’s “get outside and play” mindset. If you can’t find her on the trails, a lake, or exploring our National Parks, Rachel’s chasing after her eleven nieces and nephews.
pub management
