APRIL 25 WORKSHOP - SPEAKERS
Speakers bios are listed alphabetically, by surname, with thanks for their volunteer contributions in support of the Great Lakes and water conservation
Andy Brewer, Briggs of Burton, Inc. Andy Brewer has worked in the kegging industry since 1979, having trained as an engineer with the Ministry of Defense in the U.K., completing a 4-year apprenticeship in electronic/general engineering, and national certificates from the Bromley College of Technology. In 1979, Andy joined APV Burnett and Rolfe as a technician installing kegging lines for breweries in Europe, North America and Australia, later transferring to the U.S. office as Kegging Manager. Since leaving APV in 1991, Andy worked as a consultant for Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, City Brewing as well as designing kegging systems for the microbrewing industry. Andy is currently the Keg Product Manager for Briggs of Burton, Inc., working with North American breweries since 1999. His unique skill set allows him to offer audits, design services, installation, programming, troubleshooting and training, helping clients realize both significant productivity improvements and also reductions in energy, water and waste.
Karen Hobbs, Senior Policy Analyst, NRDC Water Program, Karen joined the
Water Program last summer as a senior policy analyst based in the Chicago office. Karen served as First Deputy Commissioner for the City of Chicago Department of the Environment, where she oversaw the development of the Chicago Climate Action Plan. She was also the
Director of Research for the Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology, and, during the Clinton Administration, Associate Director of the White House Task Force on Livable Communities and Director of the American Heritage Rivers Initiative. Karen has a master's in public policy from the University of Chicago.
Michael Kallenberger, Tropos Consulting
Mike Kallenberger has more than 30 years of experience in developing brand strategies based on insights into consumer behavior and trends. After his career at the Miller Brewing Co., he founded Tropos Brand Consulting in 2010. Kallenberger also occasionally teaches Consumer Behavior at the University of Wisconsin. He is a frequent speaker at conferences including the IIR annual Future Trends Conference and the Craft Brewers Conference. He is also a regular editorial contributor to NEW BREWER magazine.
Florian Kuplent, Urban Chestnut
As brewmaster and co-founder, Kuplent uses his nearly two decades of brewing experience to develop craft beer. Born in Munich, Germany where beer culture is a national pride, Florian developed a passion for artisan craft beer. In 1994 he was accepted as a 'brewer's apprentice' at Brauerei Erharting, the first apprentice in decades. From there he enrolled at the Bavarian College of Food and Beverage Science, and later at the prestigious brewing University of Munich-Weihenstephan, where he earned a Master’s degree in malting and brewing science. His dedication to the brewing arts eventually lead to Anheuser-Busch, where he was influential in developing the Michelob craft beer series.
Evan Meffert, Bell’s Brewery
Working closely with Bell’s Production Manager, Evan’s select projects focus on energy, water, and waste management, including conservation, reuse, and recycling. He approaches these process performance initiatives from a background in Sustainability and Reliability and has gained working knowledge in compressed air, water, steam, process cooling, waste, and HVAC systems. Evan is interested in the intersection between craft quality, sustainability, and maintenance in manufacturing. He pursues the development of statistically verifiable continuous improvement initiatives that determine business competitiveness through opportunity cost assessment.
James Ottolini, Schlafly Bottleworks
Ottolini credits his late grandfather who set him on his career path. “He made home brew during and after Prohibition. His equipment was some of my original equipment (at home),” says Ottolini, 43, director of brewery operations at St. Louis Brewery Inc., aka Schlafly Beer. Ottolini, who goes by “Otto,” arrived at Schlafly a few months after St. Louis Brewery opened The Tap Room in 1991. Now he oversees brewing at Schlafly’s Bottleworks in Maplewood, where Schlafly produces an increasing volume of craft beers. His efforts helped the brewery produce more than 30,000 barrels last year, through brewhouse expansion and the addition of an automation controls system.
Fred Scheer, Voith Meri Environmental Solutions, Inc.
Scheer started his brewing career in Germany, where he served an apprenticeship as brewer and maltster. In 1976 he received his brew- and maltmaster degree from the Technical Academy DOEMENS in Gräfelfing (Munich), Germany. His work experience has included a variety of technical, packaging, and brewing positions throughout Europe. He was also in charge of planning and operating breweries (including one soft-drink plant) in Europe and in the United States. Scheer is an active member of the MBAA and the chair for the MBAA Global Emerging Issues Committee, president and BOG member for MBAA District Mid-South, and a member of the ASBC. Scheer serves on the Environmental Committee for the Institute of Brewing in London.