Marty Nachel

Illinois

Motto: “Every beer is an education”

Aaron Gore

South Carolina

Amanda Bruns

Secretary

Amanda Bruns is the Founder/Chaos Coordinator of Ale Advised, a beverage consulting firm, as well as the Executive Director for the Wisconsin Brewers Guild. A Certified Cicerone and relationship theorist, Amanda has spent the last decade in both craft beer and non-profit and enjoys when the two worlds have the opportunity to collide. She is passionate about giving back to an industry that has given her so much and is also involved in organizations such as Pink Boots Society, Women on Tap CIC, and The British Guild of Beer Writers.

Lisa Morrison

Oregon

Board Member at Large

Jay R. Brooks

Historian & Biographer

Jay R. Brooks has been writing about beer for over 30 years. He is currently a syndicated newspaper columnist for the Bay Area News Group with his bi-weekly column, “Brooks On Beer,” which appears in at least half-a-dozen papers. Mr. Brooks studied brewing at U.C. Davis and has judged beer competitions on every continent (except Antarctica). He has written and contributed to several beer books. In early 2015, Brooks developed and taught a Beer Appreciation course for Sonoma State University. Brooks co-founded San Francisco Beer Week, the North American Guild of Beer Writers, and also started the Bay Area Beer Bloggers. In 2014, Brooks was made an honorary “Knight of the Brewers Mash Staff” in Belgium, knighted by the Belgian Brewers Guild.

A longtime journalist, Lisa Morrison cut her teeth early in the craft beer scene, reporting for any publication that would let her write about the subject.  She has taught beer classes for women and mixed audiences and hosted a beer radio show/podcast called Beer O’Clock.  In addition to writing “Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest,” she has contributed to several other beer books and guides.  A local and internationally experienced beer judge, Lisa was the first woman to be inducted into the Oregon Beer Hall of Fame.  She owns Belmont Station beer store and bar in Portland, Oregon.

Matt Simpson

Board Member at Large

Georgia

Matt Simpson founded The Beer Sommelier® craft beer consultancy in 2007, has four certifications (including BJCP, Siebel/Doemens, and KCBS BBQ Judge), was a GABF and World Beer Cup judge for 10 years (being honored with table captain several of them), has won multiple homebrewing awards, including the National Homebrew Competition, and created Beer AID® digestive supplement.  He's written dozens of articles and columns on beer, and contributed to/consulted almost every national media outlet and publication in the U.S. in that regard.  He also really likes whiskey.

John Fladung

Art Director and IT Expert

John Fladung has been a part of the craft beer scene for well over 20 years. His experience in the industry includes beer writing, retail management, brewery sales & marketing and podcast hosting. A graphic designer by trade, John was a partner in several Metro NYC ad agencies dating back to the mid 90’s. He is currently the co-founder and General Sales & Marketing Manager for Coastal Brew Works in New Jersey, co-host of “The Lager Room Guys” craft beer podcast, co-host of the “And A Chaser” spirits & beer pairing podcast, and still writes the occasional beer article from time to time. John is also a big cocktail enthusiast, loves Bourbon almost as much as he loves Gin, and grills a mean bratwurst!