What do Jason Perkins, Allagash Brewing Company’s award-winning brewer, Annette May, the first woman to become a Certified Cicerone^Ⓡ , Douglass Miller, a member of the Cornell University faculty, and Fran Caradonna, CEO of Schlafly Beer, all have in common? They have all shared the benefit of their experience and insight with aspiring, advancing, and entrepreneurial craft beer professionals as mentors in the Brewers Association mentorship program.

“Mentoring is a great way to give back and make a positive impact in someone’s life. It provides opportunities to enhance one’s coaching, leadership, interpersonal skills, and mentorship is an engaging way to build professional networks,” says Alana Koenig-Busey, Brewers Association DEI project coordinator and program director for the mentorship program.

The Brewers Association is excited to announce the start of the spring 2022 cohort of the Mentorship Program, which will see 34 participants embark on the next steps to furthering their education and careers in craft brewing.

The spring 2022 cohort, which kicked off on March 14, is the third to date of a 12-week virtual program that endeavors to increase diversity among those who participate in, lead, and own business in the craft brewing community. Mentors like Perkins, May, Miller, and Caradonna work with program participants to provide structured monitoring and advocacy aimed at removing professional barriers to entry or advancement.

Three professional tracks to help focus mentorship based on each participant’s interests and level of professional experience:

• The aspiring professionals track is for individuals new to the craft brewing community or who have little or no work experience in the industry.
• The advancing professionals track is for individuals who currently work in the industry and want to advance, expand, or change their career trajectories. Further specializations within this track include production, guest experience, or brewery administration.
• The brewery start-up track is for individuals who aspire to start a brewery and have taken steps to do so, or breweries less than a year old.

The fall 2022 cohort of the mentorship program will kick off in September. However, those interested in becoming mentors in the program don’t have to wait to apply. “We are in need of mentors in all specializations in the industry and we accept applications from potential mentors at any time,” says Koenig-Busey. Those with experience in technical brewing, serving and tasting beer, guest experience, brewery safety, event planning and management, human resources, front-of-house management, leadership, brewery operations, marketing and branding, sales and distribution, finance and accounting, quality, or business plan review are encouraged to apply to be a mentor for a future cohort.

The Brewers Association envisions a craft brewing industry that provides unmatched opportunities for learning, professional development, employment, entrepreneurship, belonging, and empowerment to everyone regardless of identities, experiences, or perspectives. Applications to participate in the fall 2022 cohort will be accepted in the summer. Learn more about the Brewers Association Mentorship Program.