Dirt to Exit

Joseph James Brewing Company, Southern Nevada

Co-founder; Director of Sales and Operations

Team: 3 to 20+
First exit (sold to private equity)
Stayed one year post-close under PE ownership

Industry

Food, Beverage and CPG

Functions

Revenue and Channels
Operations and Supply Chain
Regulatory and Government Affairs
Capital and Transactions
People and Organization

Blueprint

Site build from an empty lot to an operating brewery; three-tier channel map

Started with two partners and an empty lot. Built the brewery, the brand, and the distribution network, then sold the company.

Links in the chain we ran

Build notes

Opened under strict three-tier law: no on-site sales, not even our own beer at our own festivals.
Helped establish a brewers guild and its lobbying arm to change state law and local ordinance, opening the door to non-gaming taprooms. We led the charge; another organization finished it after the sale.
Educated health departments on brewing operations when regulators were unfamiliar with the industry.

Roadblocks cleared

State law and local ordinance banned on-site sales. We couldn't even pour our own beer at our own festivals.

ClearedHelped establish a brewers guild and lobbying arm that led the charge for non-gaming taprooms. Another organization finished it after the sale.

Health departments did not understand brewing.

ClearedEducated regulators directly and through speaking engagements.

International

China
Japan
Thailand
England
Mexico
Canada

Certified Public Accountant
MBA, Finance
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt