Two of our Founding Board members, Susan Fink & Trevor Ross, are moving in different directions. Now that they have retired from the Board, that means there are 2 seats up for election.

The path to the Board is through volunteership. Each of these candidates has contributed their time and energy to assisting KBI with moving forward significant projects. Please vote for 2 candidates. The ballot has been sent to each company. Each company has one vote. Everyone will need to vote until quorum (51%) of members have voted.

Each candidate has provided a short bio and paragraph.

We are pleased to announce our candidates for the KBI Board.

 

Chris Ollis
Founder
Spring Branch Kombucha, T1
Springfield, MO
 www.drinksbk.com

Our transition from a Brewery In Process to a Tier 1 producer was often chaotic and disorganized, but it was also a deeply rewarding accomplishment. My wife, Jessica, and I co-founded our Missouri Ozarks zbased brewery in 2017. We have learned many valuable lessons about starting a business and becoming part of an emerging industry. As members of KBI, we are committed to producing high quality products and building a brand which pulls customers towards healthier decisions. It would be an honor to serve on the KBI Board of Directors at this important time for our industry. As a brewer who’s still figuring out the best ways to run my own business, I would be a strong advocate for other small breweries on the board. I look forward to collaborating with other members, and one day hope to become a trusted resource.

My professional background is in finance, and I hold the Certified Financial Planner TM certification with 22 years of experience managing investment portfolios for individuals and organizations. Our kombucha business evolved from my beer brewing hobby. After reading The Big Book of Kombucha, I made a few batches and I was hooked. It didn’t take long before I was producing 10 gallons at a time and carrying multiple flavors on tap in our home kegerator. It might have remained a hobby if Jessica hadn’t started sharing it with friends. Soon the demand from other people began to outstrip our ability to produce, and we’ve been trying to catch up ever since!

 

Amelia Winslow, MS, MPH
Director of Project Management
Health-Ade LLC , T4
Torrance, CA
www.health-ade.com

As Director of Project Management at Health-Ade Kombucha, Amelia oversees New Product Development, Sustainability and Community Impact. She has also been integrally involved in Research & Development and Communications. Since she joined Health-Ade in 2016, the company has reduced landfill waste by 30%, become the primary supporter of a garden education program for youth at seven underserved Los Angeles schools, and played a significant role in KBI’s lobbying efforts. Before joining Health-Ade, Amelia founded the blog Eating Made Easy and worked as a personal chef and nutritionist. She holds Master’s Degrees in Nutrition and Public Health from Tufts University in Boston.

For the last two and a half years, I’ve been working tirelessly alongside Hannah on KBI’s lobbying initiative, as our organization works to pass the KOMBUCHA Act. I have truly enjoyed collaborating with dozens of kombucha companies across the category as we unite for a common cause, and believe in the power our companies have if we work on projects collectively. As a board member, I would leverage my lobbying experience as well as my experience as Director of Project Management at Health-Ade, to help execute projects that move our industry forward and protect its interests.

 

Corey Wood
Founder
ELIXIR Kombucha, T1
Louisville, KY
http://www.elixirkombucha.com

Corey is native to Louisville, Kentucky, where Elixir Kombucha is located. Corey grew up skateboarding and playing guitar with his friends (including Ryan, now his partner in Elixir). He met his wife (and partner in Elixir), Danielle, while in high school. They both attended University of Louisville, where Corey received a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which led to a career as an ICU nurse. The intensity of work was offset by a love for reading, writing and home-brewing kombucha. Now, as head of operations at the award-winning Elixir Kombucha, Corey has overseen the scale of the brew from 9 gallons to 1000 gallons and counting.

I would be honored to be a tier 1 board member for KBI. Kombucha brewing was a hobby for me for years before it became a business. While a passion for brewing an authentic, consistent and healthful product will always be top of mind for me, I also understand the importance of building a profitable business and contributing to the strength of our industry. I will carry this passion into my board seat and be a voice for the tier 1 members in our industry, should I be chosen. My company also continues to play a crucial role in the legislative efforts for our industry on Capitol Hill. This has given me a unique perspective on the big issues facing the kombucha industry as a whole. Please accept my candidacy for a KBI board seat.

 

Amy Zeigenfuse
Oregonic Tonic, LLC, T1
Portland, OR
www.oregonictonic.com

I’m originally from Baltimore, but have been living in Portland for 13 years. After a 10+ year career as an RN and LMT, I joined the Oregonic Tonic kombuchery team in December 2016. This small business was started by my husband Dave and his daughter Ally in 2013. We just moved into a second, larger facility as our business continues to grow. We owe part of this growth to KBI. We’ve been members since 2014. We value the evidence based information KBI gathers as well as the networking opportunities. I think it’s really important to have Tier 1 members represented on the board. A large part of KBI’s base are T1 and emerging brands. I’ve been through many of the growing pains these brands will experience and feel like I will be able to representative for them.