What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?

I’m co-founder and president of Borderlands Brewing in Tucson, Ariz. My career in the industry began in Fort Collins, Colo. where I got my BS in microbiology. At the time, Anheuser-Busch provisionally hired science majors to work in their QA/QC lab.

What’s new at Borderlands Brewing?

We’re partnering with another brewery in town (Sentinel Peak Brewing) to open a new co-op production facility. We also just completed a comprehensive sustainability program and are partnering with other local brewers and Audubon Arizona to raise awareness about the serious water situation we’re facing in the Western states.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?

Knowing that someone always has your back, is ready to lend a hand when needed, and wants to see everyone succeed.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.

Noche Dulce vanilla porter and ice cream!

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?

Getting my PhD in microbiology and immunology at Loyola University Chicago.

What’s your favorite beer from another brewery?

2 Below from New Belgium Brewing.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?

We went to Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico for an event at the U.S. consulate. They were showcasing 10 binational collaborations produced by American and Mexican breweries as part of the USDA’s Cochran grant. We served our collaboration with Buqui Bichi Brewing, Sonora’s first craft brewery.

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?

Travel! I love visiting new places, learning about other cultures, and tasting new beers, of course!