Upcoming IEDC Webinar: Fermenting Success

International Economic Development Council

Date:

Wednesday December 14, 2016

Fermenting Success: Capturing the Economic Opportunity of Craft Beverages

Date: December 14, 2016

Time: 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

Price: $95 for IEDC members, $135 for Nonmembers

Registration Deadline: December 14 at 11:00 a.m. ET

Craft beverage production - cider, beer, spirits, wine, and even mead - has seen tremendous growth in recent years. In both urban and rural areas, these beverage producers are not just manufacturers, but often tourism destinations as well. They create jobs, increase the tax base, and offer exporting and supply chain opportunities. Economic developers can play an important role in helping these homegrown manufacturers and destination magnets start up and expand. In this webinar, you'll hear how communities have helped these entities grow by facilitating partnerships, providing workforce assistance, addressing policy barriers and more.

Speakers:

Paul Gerola
Economic Development Director
Port of Walla Walla

Paul Gerola has served the Port of Walla Walla since November 1996, around the time the area’s wine industry began to grow. Wine has since become a very successful cluster for the region, with more than 20 wineries. Paul has collaborated on oenology workforce development programs at the community college, wine incubators, distribution and supply chain facilitation, real estate projects related to wine and more.

As Economic Development Director, Paul is responsible for implementing Walla Walla County's economic development plan. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Planning from California State University, Fullerton. Paul has experience specializing in economic development, redevelopment and municipal finance in both the private and public sectors.

Courtney Mailey
Founder and Owner
Blue Bee Cider

Courtney founded Blue Bee Cider in downtown Richmond, Virginia in 2012. After working in economic development for 12 years, she left the corporate grind in 2010. She knew she wanted to pursue work in the agriculture industry and felt that cidermaking was the best fit for her personality.

Courtney attended cider school at Cornell University and apprenticed with Albemarle CiderWorks, learning the ins and outs of running the business, managing the tasting room and staff, production techniques and best orchard management practices.

In 2016, Blue Bee Cider relocated and expanded its cidery, investing more than $1 million to renovate historic city stables and triple production of its award-winning hard cider. Blue Bee Cider will purchase more than 850,000 pounds of Virginia-grown apples and berries over the next three years. The Commonwealth of Virginia partnered with the City of Richmond and Blue Bee Cider to bring the project to fruition. “Having great partners at the state and local level has made it possible for Blue Bee Cider to show what a community-oriented, urban cidery can be like,” according to Mailey.

Don C. Schjeldahl
Principal
DSG Advisors

Don Schjeldahl is founder of DSG Advisors, a consulting practice that assists corporate clients in developing location strategy and site selection for manufacturing, distribution, and office facilities. Prior to this, Don served for 27 years as a site consultant and practice leader for The Austin Company, Cleveland, OH. Don recently spent 18 months working for Sierra Nevada Brewing on their Mills River, NC brewery construction project where he supported sustainability initiatives. Mr. Schjeldahl has for more than a decade focused on markets associated with the new energy economy and corporate sustainability. Mr. Schjeldahl has performed or directed nearly 300 location strategy assignments, working throughout North America, Mexico, and Europe.

Posted November 3, 2016