Michigan Brewers Guild Expands Staff; Shannon Kuchera Hired as Communications Manager

The Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) – which is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2012 – has expanded its staff to include a Communications Manager. Shannon Kuchera of Ann Arbor started in mid September and assists with many of the day-to-day operations of the organization.

“We are very excited about bringing Shannon on board,” says Executive Director Scott Graham. “Our organization and the overall industry are growing quickly and we need to be able to better serve them on multiple levels. Shannon’s addition to our team will allow us to do that.”

Kuchera, who also moonlights as a mosaic tile artist and owner of Mosaic Geek, worked for nearly four years as an online marketing coordinator and search engine optimization specialist at Fluency Media in Ann Arbor; was a national account coordinator for Warner/Elektra/Atlantic Corp at Borders in Ann Arbor; and remains active with the Chelsea Center for the Arts and Ann Arbor Art Center. She also taught English for two years in Moscow, Russia and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan.

“The enthusiasm around craft beer in our state is such an exciting, positive thing, and only promises to grow,” Kuchera says. “I'm thrilled to be joining the Michigan Brewers Guild and look forward to my role supporting the industry and spreading the love of great Michigan beer.”

In addition to its two staff members, the Guild operates with an active five-member board that is charged with developing the direction of the organization’s events, marketing, legislative initiatives and overall operation.

The Guild
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes well over $24 million in wages with a economic contribution well over $133 million. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the community of brewers, to increase the sale of Michigan Craft Beer, to contribute culturally and economically throughout the state, and to monitor and assure a healthy brewing industry. By working collaboratively with proponents of craft beer, the organization strives to achieve 10% share of all beer sold in Michigan by producing world-class events, increasing public awareness, educating consumers, and encouraging responsible consumption.

MICHIGAN BREWERS GUILD TIMELINE:

1997 – Creation of Michigan Brewers Guild
1998 – Inaugural Summer Beer Festival – July (Greenmead, Livonia)
2000 – Summer Beer Festival Relocates (Frog Island, Ypsilanti)
2004 – Summer Beer Festival Relocates & Expands to 2 Days (Riverside Park, Ypsilanti)
2005 – Inaugural Winter Beer Festival – February (Old Town, Lansing)
2007 – Winter Beer Festival Moves to Grand Rapids (Fifth-Third Ballpark, Comstock Park)
2008 – Inaugural UP Fall Beer Festival – September (Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette)
2008 – Inaugural Detroit Fall Beer Festival – October (Eastern Market, Detroit)
2012 - Detroit Fall Beer Festival expands to 2 days

For more information, including a list of Michigan craft breweries, log on to www.MiBeer.com.