Our Team
James Stutsman
Director of Marketing and Member Recruiting
James knows this industry and the headwinds brewers are facing. His experience includes 15 years in the industry with stints as Director of Marketing and Sales for Kansas City Bier Company and Marketing Manager for Deschutes. Then he co-founded and served as head brewer for City Barrel Brewing Company where he helped build distribution, open two restaurants and win a GABF medal in the process. Better yet, he loves helping brewers navigate the time-sucking maze of sourcing and negotiating with vendors. Right on!
Contact: james@brewersalliance.org
Peter Licht
Director of Supplier Relations
An upstate New Yorker, Peter traveled to California in 1989 just in time for the craft renaissance. He never looked back. He graduated from the UC Davis Masterbrewers program, passed the prestigious Institute of Brewing (London) Associate Members Examination. Then spent 28 years as a BrewMaster for a number of breweries, most recently Hermitage Brewing in San Jose. As the IBA’s Director of Supplier Relations his role is to use his brewing and purchasing expertise, and extensive supplier relationships to build new and stronger savings programs for members.
Contact: peter@brewersalliance.org
Matt Hopkins
Executive Director
Leading the alliance as the Executive Director is Matt Hopkins. Matt didn’t get his start in beer, unless drinking a lot of it while getting a degree in Business Management counts. Matt spent most of his formative years working for one of the largest golf retailers in the mid-west where he developed a broad range of operational skills, all readily applicable to the IBA. His experience includes team building, sales and marketing, sourcing, system development and even ecommerce. But after 7 years heading the IBA, Matt’s done more than gotten his beak wet. He is truly immersed in the craft beer industry and the challenges facing independent craft breweries today.
Contact: matt@brewersalliance.org
Marty Ochs
Director of Member Relations
Marty’s a craft veteran who ferments positive change wherever he goes. He spent two years wearing many hats at Resident Brewing. He’s worked for a consultancy helping create growth strategies for breweries. He done on-premise programming for Miller and helped Oskar Blues and Ninkasi build sales and distribution. He took Brew Pipeline from a mere idea to a game-changer in craft distribution. He’s taught sales and distribution strategy at Portland State University. And he’s the perfect guy to help you get the most from your IBA membership.
Contact: marty@brewersalliance.org