Board of Directors
The NYSBA is controlled by its members and led by a Board of Directors. The Board members represent every region of the state in both size and location of their breweries. Elections take place in November with rotating seats.
President – Hutch Kugeman, Brewery at CIA | Hudson Valley Region
Hutch began his brewing career at the award-winning Pelican Pub & Brewery in Pacific City, OR. In 2002, he moved across the country to take a position at Great Adirondack Brewing Company in Lake Placid, NY. While at Great Adirondack he received several GABF, World Beer Cup, North American Beer Awards, and TAP NY medals and was featured in Beer Advocate Magazine. After 8 years at Great Adirondack and a stint at Ithaca Beer Company Hutch moved to the Hudson Valley in 2010 as founding brewer at Crossroads Brewing Company in Athens, NY. During his 5 years at Crossroads the brewery was recognized with multiple medals at GABF and World Beer Cup as well as the Matthew Vassar Cup for Best Brewery in the Hudson Valley in 2010. In 2015, Hutch was selected for his current position working with Brooklyn Brewery and the Culinary Institute of America at the newly built Brewery at the CIA, a combination production and educational facility. At the CIA, Hutch works with culinary students to create beers for the restaurants and student commons of the campus that reflect the high standards of the school while teaching the students more about brewing and the world of craft beer.
Vice President – Dawn Schulz, Prison City Pub & Brewery
Dawn Schulz is co-owner and CEO of Prison City Brewing, in Auburn, NY. She & her husband Marc, opened Prison City Pub & Brewery in 2014, and recently expanded with a second location that operates as a production brewery, taproom, & event space.
Dawn has a BS in Business Management & Economics. She is a BJCP Beer Judge & Certified Cicerone®, she runs a GPO Chapter in Auburn, a member of CNY Women Ties, Craft Beer B&B, and serves on the Pink Boots Society scholarship committee.
For Dawn, opening Prison City Brewing was about building a community with which to share her love of craft beer, and the culture & experiences of the craft beer industry. Through countless events, educational workshops, beer clubs, and tasting opportunities, both the OG pub & new taproom are serving to fulfill that mission.
Secretary – Jeff Ware, Resurgence Brewing Company | Western Region
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.
1st Past President & Present Treasurer – Rich Vandenburgh, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company | Long Island Region
Elected to the Board of Directors for the New York State Brewers Association in 2013, Rich is a lifelong beer enthusiast. He and best friend John Liegey founded Greenport Harbor Brewery in 2009 in an old firehouse located in the seaside harbor village of Greenport on the East End of Long Island. Greenport Harbor Brewery has two brewing locations on the North Fork that include a restaurant, beer gardens and expansive lawns. Rich believes in protecting the authenticity and integrity of Independent Craft and the Think NY, Drink NY spirit. Rich, who is also an attorney, has an extensive background in real estate management, construction experience and operations.
He has served as President of the Greenport Village Business Improvement District for more than seven years as well as being active in other community organizations and local municipal agencies. Rich has lived on the East End of Long Island with his wife, Ann and their two boys for more than 30 years.
Paul Komsic, Ghost Brewing Company | Long Island Region
Meet Paul, a dedicated and passionate advocate for Long Island’s ever-growing brewing community. He began his professional journey at Brickhouse Brewery (Patchogue, NY) where he held a position as a Chef for three years, then honed his brewing skills for the following six years as both an Assistant Brewer and Brewmaster. In early 2019, he began to transition over to Ghost Brewing Co. (Bay Shore, NY) and by December, the doors were open. He is no stranger to sharing his expertise and support, has previously served on the Long Island Brewers Guild, and is always eager to nurture and display his love for the community.
As he vies for a seat to represent Long Island on the New York Brewers Association Board, Paul brings a wealth of experience, a boundless passion for craft beer, and a deep-rooted commitment to fostering both connections and growth within the brewing community. With hopes to shorten the perceived distance between Long Island and the rest of New York State, he intends to continue cultivating relationships to help grow this community together.
Micah Krichinsky, Strangebird Beer | West Central Region
With his formal education in microbiology and biochemistry, Micah brings an astute scientific background to brewing. After interning at the District Chophouse Brewery in Washington, DC during graduate school, he knew he wanted to become a brewer. After grad school, he got a job at Capitol City Brewing Company in Washington, DC. Micah left Cap City to attend the Master Brewer’s program at U.C. Davis. He was recruited to work at Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware, while at U.C. Davis. Micah was a brewer at Dogfish Head for five years.
The craft beer market is more mature now, forcing craft breweries to step up our game in QAQC. If elected to this position, Micah will use the platform to emphasize the importance of quality to member breweries with an eye towards efficiency and cost savings. Micah will continue to promote the quality beer currently being produced in the W-Central Region.
Kevin Mullen, Rare Form Brewing | Capital District Region
Kevin Mullen is the owner and head brewer at Rare Form Brewing Company, a farm brewery in Troy, New York. Kevin started in the industry as a bartender for a craft beer-focused bar in Colorado in 1998. Since then he has lived and breathed the craft beer culture working with brewers in Colorado, Washington, and New York. With more than seven years of nonprofit administration experience, Kevin has started three nonprofits, currently sits on the board of two, and did post-graduate work on the effectiveness of nonprofit boards. Since Rare Form has opened, Kevin has been a part of numerous NYSBA events and lobbied at the capital to represent the needs of all breweries in New York.
Paul Mrocka, Paradox Brewery | Northeast Region
Paul Mrocka, at 65 years young, has a life story that reflects his remarkable journey from the skies to the world of craft beer. With a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and a Minor in Marketing, Paul dedicated many years to a distinguished career as a Senior International Pilot at Honeywell International.
In 2013, while still actively working for Honeywell, Paul embarked on a bold entrepreneurial venture by opening Paradox Brewery. What started as a modest 1,400-square-foot brewery has now evolved into a state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot brewery and restaurant. Simultaneously managing his role at Honeywell and the growth of Paradox Brewery, Paul showcased his remarkable ability to juggle and excel in multiple spheres.
After his retirement from Honeywell in 2020, Paul continued to focus on his role as the President of Paradox Brewery, where he remains the driving force behind its ongoing success.
Chris Cuzme, Fifth Hammer Brewing Company | NYC Region
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 state 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.
Kristen Lyons, Binghamton Brewing Company | East Central Region
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.
Kristen Lunkenheimer, Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing Company | Central Region
Kristen began her craft beer journey in 2013, co-founding Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing Co. with her husband. LCBC, Cayuga County’s first post-prohibition brewery, opened in 2014 as a farm brewery and expanded in 2018 with a Sodus Bay location. Known for classic styles, they won the 2022 Governor’s Cup for their Berliner Weisse. Kristen and her husband now manage the brewery full-time, mentoring a team of 12.
Before brewing, Kristen spent 15 years in manufacturing, holding leadership roles in Operations, Supply Chain, and more. She holds degrees in Engineering and Manufacturing, and serves on local tourism and farm boards.
“As your newly elected Central Region board representative, I’m excited to bring my passion and leadership to serve our brewing community. I’m committed to representing all facets of the region through collaboration, open discussions, and strategic planning.
With a forward-thinking approach and a focus on building strong partnerships, I look forward to working together to increase the visibility and consumption of local beer. Cheers!” – Kristen
Jeff O’Niel, Industrial Arts | At-Large Seat
