Our Staff
OFFICE TEAM
Dan Mitchell Owner
Hi, my name is Dan Mitchell, and I’m the founder of Ithaca Beer Company. For the past ten years we have been working to create the best brewery in the Finger Lakes region. I’ve lived in Ithaca for 15 years now. I’ve been around the Finger Lakes since I was 5, spending every summer on Keuka Lake, living in Penn Yan for two years, and eventually going to and graduating from Cornell. There is no better place to live.
I set out to build a craft-brewery to the Finger Lakes region that its residents would be proud of. That is my goal. Please help me to reach my goal by letting me know how we’re doing.
Thanks, and Cheers!
Amanda McGonigal Office Manager
Known by some as “Kenya(as in can-ya do this or that),” and “Commander,” by others, Amanda is the central artery for Ithaca Beer. Very little transpires at the brewery without passing through Amanda! In addition to Office Manager, Amanda also serves as the company psychologist – hence her third nickname “Lucy” from the Peanuts Gang – and offers a sympathetic ear to all.
Prior to joining the Ithaca Beer crew in 2006, Amanda worked for 18 years with Purity Ice Creamery. Amanda loves yogurt, tv and movie comedies. When she’s not working at the brewery, Amanda is busy keeping up with her two pre-teen daughters, husband, and home life in Lodi, NY.
Allison Graffin Marketing Director
Allison grew up out west, in Portland, Oregon and gradually made her journey eastward with a 4-year layover at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Alongside her studies, she also developed a fondness and respect for fine crafted ales. She enjoyed frequent sometimes weekly brewery tours at the Lake Front Brewery. Allison has a background in advertising and marketing, an affinity for obscure indie music, an insatiable sweet tooth, and an encyclopedic knowledge of world candies. Allison joined the Ithaca Beer crew in 2008. Trial by fire, she planned the 2008 Ithaca Brew Fest, and never left! Allison works on all things under the creative umbrella from adv, pr, brand dev. and graphic design to maintaining the website, newsletter, social networks, orchestrating the Ithaca Brew Fest or other special events…and she even finds time to keep the company candy jar stocked with seasonal and year round sweets!
In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, cooking or reading about food she wants to cook, geeking out over packaging design, gardening and backpacking.
BREW HOUSE
Coming Soon.
Hailing from Union Springs, NY, Bill has been a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer for a number of years. His intrigue of the art and science of brewing keeps him motivated to expand his own knowledge and understanding of the beverage. Great beer is on his mind 25 hours a day! Bill makes the drive down from Auburn where he lives with his wife Jesse, dogs Rhea & Winston, and cat Melvin.
Richie Shallcross Brewer
Richie is our Okie from Tulsa, Oklahoma. This cosmic cowboy landed in Ithaca in 2005 looking for wisdom, truth, and most of all, adventure.
Anyone will tell you that this small town on the shores of Cayuga Lake can supply just that. However, as is the case most often with us sentient beings, he had but the slightest idea of where the winds would blow him. During his final year at Ithaca College he attained employment at the Ithaca Beer Co. While rocking out the tasting room on the weekends and sporadically being a set of helping hands for the production crew during the week, Richie learned about the magical world of craft beer and the joy it can bring to mankind.
He now spends his days brewin’ up your tasty beverages and furthering his interest and knowledge of the ancient art and science of brewing beer. When he is not hiding out in the brew house you might spot Richie around town on long runs, pickin’ his banjo, or hopelessly rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs… and remember folks: “Do not cease to drink beer, to eat, to intoxicate thyself, to make love, and to celebrate the good days.”
PRODUCTION
Bill Janisko Production Manager
With a brewing history at both Smuttynose and Long Trail, Bill comes to the Ithaca Beer family with great beer on his mind. With a passion for delivering the highest quality product to our loving fans, Bill concentrates his energy on keeping the breweries well used packaging line and machinery in top condition as well as handling day to day operations in and throughout the facility.
Bill lives in T-Burg on the old family farm with his wife Patina, sons Dylan and Tanner and aging brood of dogs, Scout, Corina and Wilson.
Scotie Jacobs Production Crew
Description coming soon!
Jesse Darrow Production Crew
Description coming soon!
SALES TEAM
Marc Schulz Sales Manager
Self professed beer geek, I come to Ithaca Beer with 15 years experience in the brewing industry. I have spent time at the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, the Boston Beer Company, managed a restaurant or two and have recently become a Certified Cicerone Beer Server. All said and done, I LIVE and BREATHE CRAFT BEER! I am also a locavore and believe in supporting local farms, growers, restaurants, cheese makers, bakers and candlestick makers.
I am welded at the side of my soul mate, Dawn and forever bonded to the souls of the two coolest kids on the planet. When I am not working, I am watching the sports team from my general area kick the team for your general area’s (bad word)!!
Eric VanZile Sales Rep (New York City, Pennsylvania, New Jersey)
Eric our elusive sales representative, you never know where he’ll turn up next. He travels to all the different territories where Ithaca Beer is available helping to promote our fine selection of brews and spreading the spirit of the Finger Lakes. Eric is always working to help everyone experience the Ithaca Beer lineup. On the rare occasion when he isn’t out on the road he lives in Newfield, NY with his three pit bulls.
Chris Marriott Sales Rep (Upstate New York)
Description coming soon!
