Joe Short

Founder

Joe 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

CEO

Scott 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 Officer

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 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

COO

Tyler, 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 Officer

Originally 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

Eric Weber

General Manager

Charity Benoit

Pub Manager

Ethan Carter

Pub Manager

Ian Hart

Pub Manager

front of house staff

Alex Carter

Pubtender

Ali Frimodig

Pubtender

Alyson Ansell

Host

Beth Manning

Host/Pubtender

Bethany Tavolacci

Host

Cassidy Bush

Host

Danielle Laufersky

Pubtender

Emily Vreede

Pubtender

Eric Tranchell

Pub Tender

Grace Landis

Host

Hannah Durand

Pubtender

Jacob Johnson

Pubtender

Jason Page

Pubtender

Jenna Valentine

Pubtender

Jennifer Yung

Busser

Jon Steinhoff

Host/ Tours

Jonathan Chipman

Pubtender

Kathryn Pastotnik

Pubtender

Kaylieanna Becmer

Pubtender

Keagan Fischer

Busser

Keith LaBeau

Sound

Kennan Dawson

Pubtender

Kiersten Seaman

Busser

Lee Maynard

Host

Madison Glaser

Host

Mark Jones

Pubtender

Mary Graham

Host

Merissa Whitley

Pubtender

Myles Westerhof

Pubtender

Niki Martin

Pubtender

Noel Mann

Busser

Olivia Cook

Pubtender

Phil Wujkowski

Pubtender

Sam Meadows

Pubtender

Sarah Cole

Pubtender

Steven Folker

Pubtender

Taylor Krizmanich

Pubtender

Teegan Dawson

Busser

Tianna Hill

Host

Tiffany Clovis

Pubtender

Tom Golden

Pubtender

Kitchen

Mac Pickard

Back of House Operations Manager

Mackenzie (AKA Mac) is from a small farm town in Michigan called Springport. Mac has always been a moth to a flame for the service industry and worked in several restaurants throughout Mid- and Lower-Michigan while studying International Business at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. But it wasn’t until she met her husband, Tyler, that she grew a fondness for Short’s Brews and the quaint town of Bellaire. After three years of dating, the pair gathered their belongings on a whim and moved to Northern Michigan in a school bus they converted themselves. After getting her foot in the door as a host, Mac’s been unstoppable and has been a Pubtender, a floor manager, and has now taken the helm of our BOH operation. When you can’t find her at the Pub you can find her on her 30 acre farm with her micro zoo that ranges from Australian Shepherds, Mulefoot Pigs and even a Cockatiel.

Kitchen

Adam Benoit

Kitchen Worker

Andrew Hurley

Kitchen Worker

Ben Hurst

Kitchen Worker

Blake Ayoub

Dishwasher

Bobby Thoits

Kitchen Worker

Bryce Chapman

Kitchen Supervisor

Clifford Holland

Kitchen Staff

Gavin Bennett

Kitchen Worker

Harold Ahrens

Dishwasher/Clean

Jacob Riley

Kitchen Supervisor

Jeff Walkuski

Kitchen Worker

Kerry Viszmeg

Kitchen Worker

Lisa Lockman

Kitchen Worker

Megan Morris

Kitchen Worker

Michael Moody

Dishwasher/ Kitchen

Nash Grades

Kitchen Worker

Shane Talbot

Kitchen Worker

Stacy Somerville

Kitchen Worker

Tanner Dielman

Kitchen Worker

Todd Hill

Kitchen Worker

Tukumohe Naniseni

Kitchen Worker

Pub Brewing

Ryan Hale

Head Pub Brewer

Ryan is originally from Farmington Hills Michigan. While attending Eastern Michigan University to obtain a B.S. degree in telecommunication and film, he found a love of craft beer and homebrewing. Shortly after graduation, he landed his first job in the industry brewing at Arbor Brewing Company. During this time he and his now wife, who he met at Arbor, frequently visited Antrim County to stay at his family’s cottage on Torch Lake, and even became mug club members at Short’s. It was during one of those visits that his wife, Monica, heard a rumor that Short’s was looking for a front of the house manager and a brewer to add to the team. Long story Short, pun intended, they made the move north and started working for Short’s in December 2008. When not leading the pub brewing team, Ryan enjoys spending time on lakes, hiking, biking, snowboarding and hanging out with his wife and 2 children.

Luke Whitley

Pub Brewer

Short's Mart

Aliza Huffman

Sales Associate

Jasmine Taylor

Sales Associate

Lindsay Nelson

Supervisor

Lindsay Olexa

Merchandise Manager

Samara Walraven

Sales Associate

Suzanne Morrison

Sales Associate

Production Brewing

Aaron Smith

Production Brewer

Aaron grew up in Greenville, Michigan. While attending Ferris State University Aaron began perfecting his skills as a homebrewer and discovering the newly emerging craft beer market. After graduation he made his way to Northern Michigan where he worked for a local television news station. The four years he spent in Northern Michigan prior to working at Short’s included many trips to Bellaire where he fell in love with all things Short’s. After sharing his homebrew with several Short’s employees, Aaron joined Short’s in September of 2010 as a Packaging Line worker, after a few months Aaron moved his way into the Cellar, and then in the spring of 2011 he began brewing for Short’s. According to Aaron, “The best part of working at Short’s is the limitless possibilities of what beer can be and constantly developing new and unique methods to create the highest quality beers.” When not brewing, Aaron enjoys gardening, traveling, and exploring the beauty of Northern Michigan with his wife, MaryJo, and two dogs: Winston and George.

Curt Guntzviller

Production Brewer

Curt, an Elk Rapids native, originally started his career in law enforcement. He soon realized his real passion was for brewing, this lead him to pursue a career at Traverse Brewing Company. Having met Joe during his employment with TBC, Curt approached Joe in 2008 about brewing at the Elk Rapids Production facility once it opened. With no exact date set for the production facility to open, Curt took the opportunity to work alongside Leah and Woj in the pub deli. He then moved to washing kegs in the pub’s basement, followed by cellaring and packaging at the pub.  The day finally came when the production facility became a reality, Curt then joined Tony and Steve where his passion became a fruition. Curt helps to head up the of brewers in Elk Rapids. As an avid outdoorsman, Curt is proud to call Elk Rapids home to him, his wife and 3 kids. When not brewing, Curt can be found hunting, fishing, or planning for the next epic Superbowl party.

Andy Brumbaugh

Cellar Worker

Chris Campbell

Cellar Worker/Brewer

Cory Fisher

Cellar Worker/Brewer

Drake Manwaring

Cellar Worker

Eric Vreede

Cellar Worker/Brewer

Erik Anderson

Cellar Supervisor

James Miller

Cellar Worker/ Brewer

Tyler Krych

Production Brewer

David Pegouske

Quality Technician

Zachary Andrews

Quality Technician

Anthony DiGiovanni

AM Packaging Supervisor

Gabe Sinclair

Packaging

Hartley Comfort

Packaging

John Greiner

Packaging

Jonathan Smith

Packaging

Michael Szczypka

Packaging

Ransom Comfort

PM Packaging Supervisor

Tom Simmonds

Packaging

Wendy Vanderwoude

Packaging

Warehouse

Cody Voss

Warehouse

Rory Hayden

Shipping and Receiving

Pull Barn

Rachel Payne

General Manager

Originally from Grand Rapids, Rachel moved to Bellaire in 2013 to join the Pub team. She moved into the Liberation department as the Northern Michigan Sales Representative a few months later. In the position, she shared her love for Short’s Brewing with customers throughout Northern Lower and Upper Michigan. In early 2020, she opened up Short’s beer distribution in Colorado, where she lived for two years selling Short’s Brewing and Starcut Ciders around the Rockies and Denver. Now you can find her managing the Pull Barn in Elk Rapids. When not slinging brews, Rachel can be found with her partner, Marty, and their good boys (Griz and Max) hiking Leelanau County, biking Glacial Hills, paddling through the chain of lakes, and on the slopes in the winter.

Zac Zeigler

Manager

Zac grew up in Clio Michigan just outside of Flint.  Zac has worked in the craft brewing industry for 15 years, 7 of those years have been at Short’s. For the last few years, he has been managing the pull barn.  When not at work Zac likes to go sailing, swimming, and hiking.

Amy Smith

Pubtender

Erin Fox

Pubtender

Kerry Kinery

Pubtender

Kristin Ebert

Pubtender

Madeleine Hatch

Pubtender

Ryan Shore

Pubtender

Beer Liberation

Jon Wojtowicz

Chain Specialist

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.

Officially coming on board back in Feb 2007, Woj has spent time in many various roles with the company including Deli and Pub Manager, Beer Liberator, and Unofficial Short’s Historian. A lover of music, Chicago style hot dogs, and of course beer, he has successfully managed to incorporate all of these passions into many different avenues here at Short’s!

Kerry Lynch

Sales Director & Copywriter
Kerry is a Michigan native and a bit of a nomad, with ties to just about every corner of the US in one way or another. After many years of being a Short’s Brewing superfan, she joined our team in 2016 as the first Liberator to introduce our beer to the good humans outside of Michigan, including Ohio, Indiana, and Florida. Spreading the magic of Short’s into the universe is a real passion for Kerry, and getting to lead the charge of rad, quirky, hard-working people on our sales team is a true delight. In 2022, Kerry and her husband Patrick moved back to West Michigan from Indiana, getting as close to Lake Michigan as fiscally possible and bringing with them their dog, Gordon Bombay (Quack! Quack! Quack!), and two cats, Blanche (yes, she’s a Golden Girl) and George Michael (he’s got Careless Whiskers), along with a weird amount of house plants. If you’d like to have a beer with her, just grab a can of Melt My Brain — it’s Kerry’s screaming face you’re holding every time you enjoy the best shower beer in the Short’siverse.

Ben Darcie

North and Southwest Michigan Liberator

John Pollock

Indiana Market Manager

Matt Shields

Ohio Market Manager

Suzanne Abrams

Chain Specialist

Tom Coyne

SE Michigan Liberator

Marketing

Christa Brenner

Marketing and Brand Director

Christa loves northern Michigan, so much that she left a career in the ad biz working with some of Michigan’s biggest and best brands to lead our marketing and creative department. Originally from Mancelona, she moved to Grand Rapids for college and ended up sticking around. She cut her teeth in hospitality, working many years at San Chez Bistro and drinking many beers at HopCat with her now-husband, Jake.

She’s got two awesome human kids and a few furry babies (pandemic kittens are a thing). She’s a cool mom who loves dancing and live shows, fashion and friends, hiking and travel. She hates cheese, it’s a long story. In her spare time you’ll find her scouring thrift shops for vintage treasures or on the beach.

David Weidner

Content Creator and Community Coordinator

Laura Wittbrodt

Graphic Designer

Tyler Pickard

Project and Event Manager

Human Resources

Elizabeth Dewey

HR Manager

Elizabeth is from Elk Rapids and loves all that northern Michigan has to offer (though winters could be a tad shorter). She enjoyed living in the UP while earning her associate’s degree from Northern Michigan University before earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology from Olivet College. With 11 years of experience working in HR, Elizabeth was excited to join the Short’s team in 2019. When she’s not working on corralling the Short’s team, Elizabeth enjoys to run, ski, play sports, or camp with her husband Ryan and their 3 kids.

Brian Josefsberg

Human Resources Payroll Coordinator

Maintenance

Bob Underhill

Maintenance

David Stuck

Maintenance

Matt Hughes

Maintenance

Renay Sowulewski

Cleaner

Scott Hendrickson

Maintenance

Administrative

Austin Radebaugh

Logistics & Warehouse Manager

Often referred to as the Lord Of The Trucks, Austin has not always sat on the logistics throne. Born in the woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, miles from the nearest town, Austin’s beginnings were humble. He grew up with three older brothers. Austin graduated from Cornerstone University with an extremely useful Philosophy degree in 2013. After college, Austin was heavily recruited by the fortune 500 company Expeditors International, where he worked for three years. After realizing his potential in the logistics world was far greater than he initially imagined, Austin broke his corporate chains and started working at Short’s in 2018. Since his move back to the great north, Austin hasn’t looked back. When Austin isn’t organizing deliveries of delicious Short’s beer, you can most likely find him being a champion on the soccer field or cooking up your next favorite meal. Austin loves spending time in nature and near the water, which is why Short’s is the perfect fit.

Tim Reicha

Purchasing Manager

Born and raised in Traverse City, Tim is proud to call northern Michigan his home. In the early years of Short’s, Tim and his family traveled the scenic drive around Elk and Torch Lake to the pub to enjoy live music, great beer, and food. In 2013, Tim was finishing up his degree in Elementary Education when he got his first taste of Short’s life while volunteering at Short’s Fest. Little did he know that volunteering for many events would eventually lead him to head up Short’s Festival and Events department before moving into the purchasing role. Tim and his wife, Erin, have two adult sons. Nate is working on his Master’s degree and lives with his family in Grand Rapids. John and his girlfriend, both recent University of Michigan grads, live and work in Boston. Tim serves on the Boards of the Friends of Glacial Hills and the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association, he truly cares about the impact the many area trails have on the health and appeal of our communities. He and Erin spend much of their free time outdoors, biking (even in the winter on groomed fat bike trails that Tim helps maintain), hiking, camping, and paddleboarding.

Administrative

Aaron Greenman

Accounting Assistant

Heather Rothstein

Innkeeper

Jeff Willecke

Senior Application Developer

Marisa Kent

Administrative Support/ Reception

Sarah Moir

Administrative Manager