Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | May 2, 2022 | wbjournal.com P O W E R 5 0 M A N U F A C T U R I N G DAMIEN GOUDREAU, NATE LANIER, AND DEAN ROHAN CO-FOUNDERS & OWNERS TREE HOUSE BREWING CO., IN CHARLTON In fewer than 10 years, Tree House snowballed into the largest brewer in Central Massachusetts, and it shows no signs of slowing. The brewery produced 41,500 barrels of beer in 2020, 700 more than any other brewery in the region. At a time when other breweries struggled during the coronavirus pandemic, Tree House largely stood tall, thanks largely to its unique business model. The company doesn't distribute its beer anywhere but at its facilities, encouraging people to come visit its operations. This would seem to run contrary to craft brewery success in the pandemic, since taproom sales slowed while sales at retailers skyrocketed, but Tree House has built a loyal customer base, whose fans are more than willing to make the sojourn for a limited selection of beers. In January, Tree House opened its incredibly expansive 100,000-square- foot facility in Deerfield, marking the company's foray into the entertainment industry, as it includes a house theater currently booking the likes of folk singer-songwriter Graham Nash. The move means Tree House now owns and operates five facilities: a brewery, coffee roastery, and distillery in Charlton, breweries in Monson and Deerfield, a taproom and brewery on Cape Cod, and a farm fermentory in Connecticut. Rohan, Lanier, and Goudreau are notoriously media-adverse and are quick to give credit for Tree House's success to the brewery's employees. Yet, the co-founders set the tone for brewery and seem to constantly have expansion on their minds. It's hard to know what could be next for the entrepreneurs. Goudreau and Lanier purchased a 50-acre parcel next to their Charlton headquarters for $2 million in February, hinting at continued growth for their beer empire. KIMBERLY GOLINSKI PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER WORMTOWN BREWERY LLC, IN WORCESTER Residence: Warren Colleges: Franklin Pierce University, Quinsigamond Community College, Becker College When she was appointed president of Worcester's largest brewery in August, Golinski was joining a leadership team stripped down by controversy. Four of Wormtown Brewery's five male leaders stepped back from business operations in July after allegations of workplace sexual harrassment circulated on social media. Golinski has already pushed forward a new image for the brewery as one of the very few women in brewery leadership in the region, and her work promises to shake up the male-dominated industry. She has committed to creating socially conscious products, starting with the She Hoppy beer, which focuses on women in the beer industry. Proceeds from the beer's sales go toward various community charities to help women and children. She is first-ever president of the 28,000-barrels-per-year brewery, as the former leadership team consisted of managing partners and a chief financial officer, and she comes to the brewery with experience as the office manager at Central Massachusetts' largest brewery, Tree House Brewing Co. in Charlton. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? Pride, passion, connection, devotion, diversity, culture. Those are just a few incredible reasons and thoughts that come to mind quickly. As I work and grow in this community, I know that I will find so much more. This community continues to amaze me. I believe Worcester is setting the bar for the surrounding communities when it comes to all of those attributes, and that bar is set high. n Alfresco: I am an outdoors woman: I enjoy archery and fly fishing. I also have a 1970 Chevelle I enjoy taking to car shows all over Massachusetts. RALPH CROWLEY JR. PRESIDENT & CEO POLAR BEVERAGES, IN WORCESTER Residence: Worcester Colleges: Bowdoin College, Clark University In standings alone, Polar Beverages is a defining force in Worcester. The 140-year-old company is Worcester's second-largest manufacturer at 800 employees, and the largest independent bottling company in the United States, with 2,000 workers worldwide. Its competitors are giants like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, but Crowley has unfalteringly pushed his family's business forward, releasing seasonal flavors and partnering with Boston brewery Harpoon to launch hard seltzer Arctic Chill. The hard seltzer industry holds tremendous promise for Polar, as the industry surpassed $14 billion in February, a 17% annual increase in revenues. Crowly is a part-owner of the Worcester Red Sox, and he was the first Worcester-based investor in the minor league baseball team after it announced in 2018 its plans to move from Pawtucket to the Canal District. As current WooSox ownership has openly discussed selling the team to a new entity, Crowley could play an important role in keeping a local connection in the WooSox owners' box. Crowley also owns, with his four siblings, the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton, giving him a vital role in three of Central Massachusetts' biggest brand names. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? Worcester is a very livable city. The best workforce we have anywhere in the country. The central location allows us to ship Polar products efficiently in the Northeast. That is the business aspects. There are a lot of social, cultural, and sports assets around Worcester, including the great skiing at Wachusett. n Ralph recommends: Polar Orange Dry and Grapefruit Seltzer are my favorites. PHOTO | COURTESY OF WORMTOWN BREWERY LLC

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