Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Hannah Ferguson from D.O.P.E. Cider House and Winery in Ohio.

Hannah Ferguson was born and raised in Youngstown, OH. Hannah has been a home wine and cider maker for 10 years. She started D.O.P.E. (Dwelling On Positive Energy) Brands LLC in 2017. To expand her knowledge in the industry in 2018 she became an assistant brewer for a local brewery and stayed in the position for 2.5 years. Hannah is the first female black brewer in the state of Ohio, she is also the first black female owned cider and winery (she is the head wine and cider maker) in the state of Ohio DOPE Cider House and Winery opened August 20, 2022. DOPE Brands, LLC is not only a cider and wine manufacturer, but we are a lifestyle brand that takes pride in creating connections and experiences uniquely through cider and wine. Most importantly D.O.P.E. is about Dwelling On Positive Energy and empowering underrepresented minorities in the industry as well as enthusiasts.

Monique Tribble from Yonder Cider in Washington

A lover of all things fermented, Monique Tribble was born in the heart of Oregon Wine Country. After college, she headed to Alaska to help run a small bed and breakfast. It was there, not Oregon, that she discovered and honed her love of wine. After long days at sea, fishermen would come to the B&B for dinner, drinking and sharing with Monique their best bottles. It’s in these moments, in the most unexpected of places, she discovered her favorites – Oregon Pinot Noirs – were from the very place she grew up and knew she had found her calling. Monique returned to Oregon to work at Lange Estate Winery in the tasting room and cellar to take her new found passion to the next level. Also spending time at Firesteed and a winery in Arizona, Monique quickly began exploring what other fruit she could ferment. The answer was apples and she jumped on as the head cidermaker at Wandering Aengus Ciderworks, followed by time at Seattle Cider Company as lead cidermaker and Republic of Cider as director of production. Now Head Cidermaker at Yonder Cider, Monique spends her days dreaming up and creating new fermentations, continuously exploring new varietals and the characteristics they impart. A passionate cook and avid record collector, she hopes to one day open an operation of her own, honoring her late grandparents whom she pressed apples with throughout her childhood.

Y. Dave Klawer from Alma Cider in Washington

Dave Klawer is a cidermaker, orchardist, Certified Pommelier, cider advocate, educator, and enthusiast. Dave’s desire to spend more time outdoors, his interest in growing tree fruit, and his joy of fermentation led him to pursue a Master’s Degree in Agriculture. His dream is to grow and supply NW cidermakers with world class cider fruit, and high quality fresh pressed juice. When Dave is not focused on cider, he spends time with his wife and kids, and he continues to work his 20-year career as a registered nurse. Dave and his wife Heather co-founded Bitters & Sharps. A family owned wholesale nursery and orchard management company located in the beautiful Skagit Valley of NW Washington. Bitters & Sharps specializes in and consults on cider fruit production, custom grafting, orchard design, and orchard planning. Dave’s ambitions are driven by his desire to craft the best possible cider and perry products. He believes knowledge sharing and collaboration within the cider community is essential to elevating NW ciders and the cider category in general. Lastly, he really, really likes cider.

Richard Yi from Brooklyn Cider House in New York

Brooklyn Cider House started out of a love for Basque ciders, and that passion remains. However, their focus has evolved and cidermaker Richard Yi, son of founder and cidermaker Peter Yi, is excited to part of the team now creating their own twists on classic cider styles and pushing the boundaries of what cider can be. Richard and the team are excited to experiment with different aging vessels, like amphora, and explore co-ferments. Investing in innovative, passion-driven projects has always been at the core of the company and Richard can’t wait to try the fruits of their labor. In addition, the Yi family has an orchard that is filled with heirloom varieties of apples that they use in their ciders.

And featuring cider from Casa de Oro Cider in California

As a Latinx owned & operated cidery Casa de Oro Cider is uniquely positioned to celebrate the diverse cultural & ancestral heritage that the Americas have. They feel it is their responsibility to preserve & contribute to that legacy and with every drop of cider their patrons drink, they too are a part of this experience. Their ciders focus on elevating Mexican ingredients to work in concert with traditional cidermaking practices. They produce high ABV wine-like ciders that strike a balance with the big and bold characteristics that their ingredients provide. They let their cider ferment naturally, meaning while we monitor the process we have minimal to no intervention throughout the entire process allowing the native yeast, fruit, and adjuncts to fully express themselves. This results in an unfiltered, still, dry, rich, unctuous cider. Theirs cider offer the natural variations from season to season and terroir to terroir making each batch release special.

Marcio Buffolo is from Brazil where he graduated with a degree in biology from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a Master’s degree in cell biology. After moving to Utah in 2013, Marcio worked as a scientist at the University of Utah in the Metabolism and Diabetes Department. After a few years, he moved to the fermentation industry where he worked at Shades Brewing for over 6 years. He is now the Head Cidermaker at Mountain West Hard Cider. He is a professional beer judge and cider judge who hold a Certified Cider Guide designation. He is also a professor for the MBAA Malt & Beer course.

Renaldo Haynes Sr. (a.k.a. Ren) is a home brewer looking to transition into professionally and legally selling meads. His love of mead developed from his home brewing experience. Once he transitioned to mead making he discovered his true passion to create and express himself artistically. He has watched in awe as strangers lined up to taste him meads at the Barrel and Flow Festival. In the future, he aims to gain knowledge of cidermaking while incorporating elements of that into his mead making and further change the view of his culture in the industry while showcasing his talents in mead making. Ren is also a proud husband, father, and maker of meads. He is a self-described “Blerd” (Black Nerd), and enjoys sci-fi, fantasy, and comic books, Black history books, hip hop, jazz, and R&B music, and especially anything Batman related. He also enjoys reading, watching anime, and spending time with his family while enjoying a good mead or cider by an evening fire in his yard. 

Joanne Mumbey is a Certified Cicerone®, founder of BeyLoved Pairings LLC and currently bartends at Green Bench Brewing Co. which produces beer, cider and mead. She is originally from Uganda, and because of the global nature of her parents’ work she was able to experience various cultures and their cuisines. Her curiosity and love for so many cuisines led her to attend Culinary School at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, where she grew a passion for craft beer. During her time at Green Bench, her first taste of a farmhouse cider opened a whole new world to her and piqued her interest in cider. From that time on she has sought out cider trainings and tastings at Green Bench and beyond to learn more about this wonderful drink. She recently launched BeyLoved Pairings LLC, where she hosts curated beer and food pairing experiences with a focus on diverse cuisines that are typically overlooked in the traditional drinks’ pairing spaces. With this scholarship, she is excited to gain her Pommelier certification to expand her food pairings to include cider.

Jonathan A. Osei, National Urban Fellow and Workforce Development Fellow at Project for Pride in Living in Minneapolis, blends his Arizona roots and Ghanaian-Black Southern heritage to fuel his passion for community work and craft beverages. His journey in the nonprofit social impact space is intertwined with his love for diverse cultures and flavors.

While studying in the Triangle area, Jonathan’s interest in the craft beverage scene blossomed, with Durham introducing him to a variety of craft drinks that broadened his palate. This experience sparked a particular fondness for cider, beginning with Bold Rock Cider and later, Bull City Ciderworks.

In Washington, D.C., Jonathan’s enthusiasm led to his roles as a DC Brand Ambassador for Artisanal Brewing Ventures (and a Beertender at his neighborhood brewery, City State Brewing), sharing exceptional craft beverages. He is committed to diversifying the craft beer and cider industry, actively promoting (DMV) Black brewers through the Black Brew Movement and fostering inclusivity and collaboration. Jonathan’s goal is to enrich the craft beverage culture with diverse flavors and perspectives, bringing people together to enjoy unique and delightful beverages.

Lisa Suarez-Tadus has been making wine since 2011 after a successful television news career in Colorado and Canada. She enrolled in a food and wine school and joined two brother winemakers who just started a winery in Ontario. Her experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake gave her a foundation in winemaking she brings home to Colorado. Today, Lisa is in a new chapter for her wine label, Suárez Wines. She planted more than 1500 cider and cider-crab apples in high density on her farm in Boulder County and is now preparing to dip her skills into producing cider.

Whitney Williams is a food and drink content creator, gym rat and cider enthusiasts from Portland Oregon. She operates an account on Instagram called @workout.to.eatout_pdx where she shares her experiences in the gym and at restaurants and tap houses around Oregon. She has always loved cider and during the pandemic found herself seeking more knowledge around the cidermaking process and becoming a cider club member at many cideries in Portland. Since then, she has been spreading the word about the complexities of cider to anyone who will listen. She hopes to translate her love for cider into hosting and educating people about cider through cider pairing dinners at local restaurants, cider centered events and working with cideries in Portland, Oregon. She hopes her presence in the  cider world will inspire other women of color to get involved and chase their dreams.

Olivia Pener’s passion for food and drink, and the way they bring people together, was ignited as a small child whose large family always gathered over meals in the kitchen. That flame was stoked by her experiences growing up in her family’s restaurant and being surrounded by multicultural foodways in St. Louis, MO. Now, after almost 20 years in the service industry and the nonprofit world, she brings her fervor for people and palates to the American Cider Association as their “Cider is for Everyone” Scholarship Coordinator. A recipient of the scholarship herself, Olivia was welcomed into the world of cider with open arms. She is excited to contribute to the growth and evolution of the cider industry as a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and dynamic environment for all. She lives in Mid-Missouri with her two cats, Felix and Nermal, and her Chihuahua mix, Swiper.