The Massachusetts Brewers Guild is pleased to announce that it has hired Kristen Sykes to be its first Executive Director. The Guild, which was founded in 2007, promotes craft brewing and protects the interests of craft brewers in Massachusetts.
“We are excited to have Kristen represent the Brewers Guild and to help fulfill our goal of promoting Massachusetts craft beer throughout the Bay State,” said Rob Martin, Guild President and President of Ipswich Ale Brewery. “Her passion for craft beer and experience in the non-profit world are going to help us take the Guild to the next level.”
Ms. Sykes has had a long-time love affair with craft beer. She has been homebrewing since 2002 and is a certified beer judge through the Beer Judge Certification Program. Kristen is also the Founder and President of the Boston Area Beer Enthusiasts Society (BABES), a women’s beer club founded in November 2011. She was an organizer of the Boston-Sustainable Business Network’s Hyper-Local Brew Fest this past summer and is also a Slumbassador for Somerville Brewing Company.
“I am thrilled to be promoting the fantastic breweries in the state of Massachusetts. The quality has never been better, the range of styles has never been greater, and the number of breweries has never been higher,” said Kristen Sykes
In her work with the Guild, Ms. Sykes will organize the successful Mass Brewers Guild Fest, which takes place annually at the end of August in Boston. She will also help launch a long-anticipated Massachusetts Beer Trail, advocate for Guild legislative priorities at the State House, as well as strengthen the ties between farmers and brewers in the state.
Kristen has had a long career working on the conservation of land, waters and trails for organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club.
