Jeff Ware
Purpose:
WNY breweries, and NYS breweries as a whole, are doing some incredible things. I am a firm believer that we are stronger together and the association has been a powerful tool to push us forward. The NYSBA has been a true advocate for all of us, and I would be honored to support its continued mission however I can. We have learned quite a bit over the years (often by screwing things up) as our brewery and beer scene have evolved. I believe that experience and knowledge gained would be an asset to the cause.
Bio:
Jeff Ware is the founder, owner, and President of Resurgence Brewing Company, a production brewery and beer garden in Buffalo, NY focusing on great beer and a great beer experience! Jeff is an entrepreneur with years of experience in sales and management across several industries. He has always had a passion for flavorful beer and returned to Buffalo in 2012 to open Resurgence after working in craft beer sales in Upstate and Metro NY.
Since opening the brewery in 2014, Jeff has been active in the WNY beer scene and a strong advocate for WNY beer. He was a member of the Board of the Buffalo Niagara Brewers Association for several years and chaired the Buffalo Brewers Festival. He is very active in the WNY community and beer scene. Jeff is a big proponent of the NYSBA and the positive impacts it has on our industry.
Jeff grew up in the Greater Buffalo area. He is a 2004 graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology holding a B.S. in Business Management. He currently resides in downtown Buffalo with his wife, Erin and his 3 children.
Jon Mager
Purpose:
Because of a caveat in NYS liquor law, Eli Fish’s only option for a liquor license was as a brew pub. This has brought many obstacles and frustrations within the current NYS licensing and SLA guidelines to my attention. However large a task it may be, my ideal objective to being elected to the board would be to help lobby and update some of the existing laws and guidelines, many of which burden the NY brewery industry every day. I know that many of my colleagues share the same or similar concerns, and I would openly seek out and welcome all input to work towards this goal.
Bio:
Jonathan Mager is co-owner and former head brewer with Eli Fish Brewing Company in Batavia NY. Jon is also the current president of Arctic Refrigeration of Batavia, which is also an affilicate member if the NYSBA. He graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 2005 with a Bachelor degree in Business and Management and graduated in 2013 from the American Brewers Guild in Middlebury Vermont. Jon has also served on the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce board of directors in various roles.
Along with his partners, Jon helped establish Eli Fish Brewing in 2018. Having designed and installed the brewing and mechanical systems, Jon leaned on both his brewing passion and mechanical experience. Jon brewed for the first two years, passing the role to now head brewer Adam Burnett. Since then, Jon has maintained a supporting role within the brewery to the stellar brewing staff.
In 2021, Eli Fish won the NYSBA Governors Cup. The same year, Eli Fish also took the gold in the experimental beer category, The silver in the barrel-aged sour category and the medal for best beer using at least 60 percent New York state ingredients.
Jon currently resides in Batavia with his wife Krysia and their two young daughters.
Eric Brown
Purpose:
Eric is known for bringing people together – whether over a sensory panel or homemade sourdough bread. He has worked for over a decade in NYC’s breweries, from small scale at Rockaway Brewing to internationally recognized Brooklyn Brewery. He brings a wealth of knowledge across all facets of brewing and is a natural teacher. Eric will bring a sense of community to our NYC breweries and foster a connection between the us and the broader NY State network of breweries.
Bio:
Eric Brown is the Head of Production at TALEA Beer. He joined TALEA after 6 years at Brooklyn Brewery culminating in his management of their Barrel program under Garrett Oliver. Starting at TALEA shortly after their 2021 opening, Eric spearheaded recipe development, team management, supply chain, and production scaling as the brewery has grown from around 1,000 barrels to 6,500+ in 2024. He holds a Bachelors from the Culinary Institute of America and lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with his wife and two sons.
Chris Cuzme
Bio:
Co-Owner and Brewer, Fifth Hammer Brewing Company
Chris Cuzme is a co-owner and brewer at Fifth Hammer Brewing Company, a vibrant establishment located in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York City. Known for its inspired and meticulously crafted beers, Fifth Hammer also stands out for its welcoming community atmosphere and open culture.
Chris’s brewing journey began in 2001 as a passionate homebrewer. He eventually served as President of the NYC Homebrewers Guild and the Malted Barley Appreciation Society before transitioning to professional brewing in 2011. He has held key roles at several notable breweries, including Wandering Star Brewing Company, 508 Gastrobrewery, Greenpoint Beer Works (KelSo & Heartland Brewing), Cuzett Libations, and Gun Hill. In pursuit of his dream, he co-founded Fifth Hammer, featuring a 15-barrel brewhouse and a spacious 2500-square-foot taproom.
An active member of the brewing community, Chris has served as Vice President and a member at large on the board of the NYC Brewers Guild. Currently, he holds the position of President of the MBAA District NY chapter. His dedication to the craft beer industry is evident through his organization of numerous festivals promoting craft beer, as well as hosting beer and food pairing events and educational classes alongside his wife, Mary Izett.
With a deep commitment to representing the interests of NYC brewers, Chris is eager to serve at the s
tate level. He understands the unique challenges of operating a brewery within the city limits and aims to advocate for solutions that benefit all brewers in today’s dynamic beer market.
Andrew Burman
Purpose:
Andrew Burman is the co-founder of Other Half Brewing, a Brooklyn-based brewery known for its innovative approach to craft beer. He has played a key role in shaping the company’s brand and direction, focusing on high-quality, hop-forward beers, particularly IPAs. He has also guided the company in growth from a single tap room, to the 6 we have today in the state, plus one in DC and one in Philadelphia. Other Half is renowned for its collaborations with breweries worldwide and has helped define the New York City craft beer scene over the last 10 years.
Bio:
Before starting Other Half, Andrew was a chef for 15 years in NYC. He graduated from L’academie De Cuisine in Maryland and continued his education by getting a Master’s degree in Food Studies and Systems from New York University. He is currently the CEO of Other Half Brewing and has been responsible for the growth and strategy over the last 7 years.
Ivan Dedek
Purpose:
I was passionate about homebrewing for many years, and after a lengthy career in sales, both in the States and abroad, I decided to return to the U.S. to study at Oregon State University. During my time there, I interned for a summer at Brewery Ommegang. After earning my Bachelor of Science in Food Science with a specialization in Fermentation Science and a minor in Chemistry, I took a four-month internship in Research and Development with Sam Adams. Upon completing my internship, I became a second shift supervisor at Shmaltz Brewing, marking the beginning of my brewing career in New York. After 18 months, I moved on to become the head brewer at Oyster Bay Brewing on Long Island, where we won a New York State silver medal and were voted the best brewery in Nassau County for three consecutive years. Following that, I had a brief stint as the Director of Brewing Operations at LIC Beer Project before joining Meier’s Creek and moving to Syracuse 3 months before opening. For over four years, I have served as Brewmaster and Food Scientist, and I was recently promoted to Director of Brewing Operations. I am scientifically driven brewer and am an active member of MBAA and ASBC. I am dedicated to educating my team and others; I have spoken annually for five years at Cold Spring Harbor’s Yeast Genetics and Genomics course and presented at the NYS Brewers Association conference. Additionally, I am part of the NYSBA conference committee.
I believe my experience and passion for the industry would make me an asset to the board and I will work hard to advance the goals of those breweries in our region and our state.
Kristen Lyons
Purpose:
Some of you may know me from my four years as an At-Large Board Member but I would like to share why I’m eager to take on a new role that lets me more directly represent the breweries of our vibrant region.
I entered this industry just like many of you, driven by a love for great beer and the amazing people who make it. I started as a small brewery owner bootstrapping my business into existence, and we are currently expanding to seven times our original size. Over the past decade, my passion for this industry hasn’t dimmed one bit, even as the tailwind of modern-era craft brewing has shifted to a headwind of market maturation, changing consumer preferences, rising costs, and growth of competing product categories.
But here’s the thing, I believe these challenges create opportunities. They’re pushing us to be more creative, more efficient, and more in tune with what our customers want. As your representative, I want to focus on how we can trim up and tack quickly upwind:
I want to bring my collaborative spirit and hands-on experience back to the board as the East Central Region Board Member. As your representative, I promise to be a voice for breweries of all sizes, with a special focus on helping us all navigate these challenging times and emerge stronger. If you think my experience, passion, and vision align with what you want to see in a board member, I’d be honored to have your vote. Together, we can tackle the challenges ahead, seize new opportunities, and ensure that New York’s brewing scene continues to thrive and innovate.
Thanks for your time, and as always, cheers to great New York beer!
Bio:
Kristen Lyons’ journey embodies the spirit of innovation and community that defines New York’s craft brewing scene. Rooted in rural upstate New York, Kristen’s path took her through service in the Air Force before bringing her back home, driven by a passion to make a difference in her community.
As an early advocate for Farm Brewery legislation in New York, Kristen played a crucial role in spurring agricultural growth through local brewing. She founded Binghamton Brewing Co., the first farm brewery in Broome County, showcasing the potential of the Farm Brewery License.
Under Kristen’s leadership, Binghamton Brewing Co. weathered the pandemic and has expanded to a larger facility and continues to set its sights on future growth. Kristen’s approach goes beyond brewing great beer; she has fostered vital relationships with industry partners, producers, and legislative leaders to drive the growth of craft brewing across New York State.
Kristen’s background as an Industrial & Systems Engineer and Program Manager in the Aerospace & Defense Industry brings a unique perspective to the brewing world. She applies her expertise in managing large-scale programs to both her business and the broader industry, fostering collaboration and driving growth through a systems-thinking approach to problem-solving and innovation.
With her technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and deep industry knowledge, Kristen looks to continue to help shape the future of New York’s craft brewing scene.