Brewed to Last: Lessons from Surviving Tough Times

This panel will discuss how the changing landscape of the craft beer industry can be overwhelming, and unsettling. However, it can also force new strategies, cooperation, and adaptation! Additionally it will explore how be an entrepreneur requires passion. TONNES of passion. Steve Jobs famously spoke about passion being the only thing that pushes you forward when most rational people would give up. But what happens when passion is not enough? This talk will share the journey, lessons learned, and takeaways from one entrepreneur who refused to give up in the face of certain death. The new found levels of resilience and determination have resulted in an important entrepreneurial mindset, how to become “UNBREAKABLE!”

Ben Leon

Dandy

Ben founded Dandy brewing with three friends in 2014 as the tiniest brewery in the province, brewing on a self-built 3hl system. Over the last 10 years, while weathering a number of ups and downs in the industry, the market, and the world, the brewery has grown into what it is today with product available province-wide, and in unique markets across the country.

Kirk Zembal

Blindman

Kirk is co-founder of Blindman Brewing from sunny Lacombe. He has an MSc from EDHEC in France and a UAlberta MBA and is a 2023 Nuffield Agriculture Scholar. He blew the engine on their '79 van, The Dream Machine, so now they drive in shiny new vehicles with no souls.

Chris Carroll

Ol’ Beautiful

Co- Founder of Ol' Beautiful Brewing Co, established in 2017. Main focus within the business is sales, marketing and taproom oversight. Family guy who likes to go up mountains in his spare time. The lighter the beer the better for this guy.