Meet the team
Jennifer Newman: CEO/Co-Owner
With a longstanding passion for craft beers and the craft brewing industry, Newman tried her hand at homebrewing, but quickly realized her taste for the craft didn’t translate into tasty beers. So, at YLBC, Jen leaves the brewing to the masters, but takes the lead from the trenches as head business maven.
Jen joined the Young Lion project in August 2015. In her role as Founder, Newman assumes all operational responsibilities including strategic planning, vendor relations, HR, budgeting, licensing, strategy, sales – and of course, beer tasting. Before fulfilling her dream to launch a brewery, Newman worked for more than 20 years in business Initially as a business analyst (Price Waterhouse LLP, Scholastic, Cox Communications, and LiDestri Foods) before co-founding three successful start-ups:
DbSecure, Application Security and Techrigy.
Alicia Wolk: Founder
Alicia Wolk, a Rochester native, is not only one of the founders for YLBC, but is also the branding brains behind the business, bringing the concept from ideation to ready-to-pour.
Her experience spans from behind the bar, to the board room, with a passion for marketing and hospitality to match. With a keen eye for aesthetics and form, she’s brought the brewery to life and will continue to help grow the brand for years to come.
Dan McCumiskey: BrewMaster
With 14 years of brewing expertise, Dan McCumiskey, a native of western NY and a graduate of Finger Lakes Community College, brings a wealth of knowledge to Young Lion Brewing Company. He honed his skills through prestigious programs like the American Brewer’s Guild Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering Program and the Siebel Institute's Advanced Brewing Theory. Dan's passion for craft beer began during his college days in Canandaigua. He's returned to his roots, having worked in notable breweries across the country, and is excited to lead Young Lion's brewing endeavors. His profound understanding of brewing techniques, equipment, and maintenance, as well as his role as the former Brewing Manager (Hot Side) at Genesee Brewing Company, make him an exceptional Head Brewer. Join Dan on his innovative brewing journey and savor the excellence of his world-class creations.
Cody Griffith: Taproom Manager
A Canandaigua native with nearly 10 years of hospitality and service industry experience, this guy has seen it all. Starting out bar backing at busy local establishment’s fresh out of high school, then moving up to bartending at dozens of weddings over the last 4 years. Cody has been at Young Lion for the last 2 years in a multifaceted capacity including on the production team shadowing our brewers, working in the tap room, private events in the loft and offsite samplings. Chances are if you have a question about YLBC, he has the answer! Always eager for a new challenge, Cody has landed his role as Tap Room Manager, where he can help lead our tap room staff to new heights. “So lets raise a glass and always drink local”.
John O’Flaherty: Facility Manager
It’s a satisfying storyline to see a homebrewer graduate from the basement to the brewhouse. John has done exactly that for Young Lion Brewing Company. Here since day one, John does everything from being a brand ambassador – to Taproom beertender – facility maintenance – to official brewer. Add in his constant collaboration with our head brewer and you can expect to see a lot of John O’Flaherty’s creativity on our beer list.
Kregg Schuster: Sales Representative
Kregg Schuster, a native of Western New York, now resides in Canandaigua with his wife and three young children. After graduating from the University at Buffalo, Kregg has spent the past fifteen years in a variety of roles in the beverage industry. His experience includes working as a merchandiser in Buffalo, wine sales in Florida, and a bar manager in Washington, DC. He has spent the last five years working as a craft beer sales manager in the Finger Lakes. Kregg is extremely excited to join the Young Lion team to help share their amazing beers with customers around the region.
Josh Elias: Taproom Co-Captain
If you've been to the Young Lion taproom, you were probably greeted, with a big smile, by our Taproom Co-Captain, Josh. Josh helped us launch YLBC in 2017, and his jokes have kept us laughing since day one. Along with his previous role with Business Services Division at Corning Incorporated as a Project Manager, Josh has over seven years of food industry/bartending experience. "I truly enjoy working at YLBC; it's not just a brewery; it's family."