Lester Jones serves as the Chief Economist and Vice President of Analytics for the National Beer Wholesalers Association. He has more than 20 years of experience in industry research, survey methodology and applied business economics. He most recently served as Chief Economist at the Beer Institute, where he developed and executed significant research initiatives that helped shape America’s beer industry. In addition to his decade of work at the Beer Institute, Jones previously worked for Arbitron Company (Nielsen) in Columbia, Maryland, and the Regional Economic Studies Institute at Towson State University in Maryland. Jones has a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Delaware and is a Certified Business Economist.

Chris Gerling is a Senior Extension Associate in the department of Food Science at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York. He works with the craft beverage industry to create educational programs that support the growth and improved quality of premium wines, ciders and distilled spirits. Chris is a member of the Cider Institute of North America’s executive committee.

John Bunker has been tracking down, identifying and preserving apples for fifty years using a combination of field work, historical records, identification keys and now DNA technology. John collaborates with historians, orchardists, scientists and cider makers from throughout North America and beyond. He is a member of the Historic Fruit Working Group of North America as well as the founder of Fedco Trees and The Maine Heritage Orchard. He lives among extensive gardens and hundreds of fruit trees with Cammy Watts on Super Chilly Farm in central Maine.

Eleanor Leger and her husband and partner Albert founded Eden Ice Cider Company in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in 2007. There they produce specialty ciders, including ice ciders, aperitifs, and naturally sparkling hard ciders from 100% locally-grown apples. Eden’s specialty ciders are distributed in 18 states and the District of Columbia. It is the first cidery in the US to received the Slow Food ‘Snail of Approval’ for being good, clean and fair. Their ciders have won numerous gold medals and 90+ point ratings, and have been recognized in The Art of Eating, Food & Wine, Edible Manhattan and “The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine”. Eleanor & Albert grow over 40 varieties of apples at their holistically managed farm, where they live with two border collies, and occasionally receive visits from their two grown children.

Amanda Stewart is an Associate Professor of Food Science & Technology at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, USA. Dr. Stewart addresses challenges in applied food and beverage fermentation science through an integrated research, teaching and extension program. Cider chemistry and cider fermentation are a major focus of her research, and she has been a regular speaker on cider science at regional and national conferences. Dr. Stewart holds a PhD in Food Science, MS and BS degrees in Agricultural & Biological Engineering and a BS in Biochemistry, all from Purdue University. Prior to academia, she worked in the wine industry in Oregon and New Zealand, and in engineering for sustainable development.  Dr. Stewart is a proud member of the CINA teaching team since early 2020.

Caitlin Braam is the founder and CEO of Yonder Cider and The Source Cider, based in Seattle and Wenatchee, Washington. She has worked in the beverage industry for more than 15 years, working with cideries, breweries and wineries of all sizes. Passionate about helping businesses grow, she spends her days working with producers, talking with growers and introducing consumers to the world of craft beverages. Before starting Yonder Cider and The Source Cider, she was president of Seattle Cider Company and brand strategist at Angry Orchard, as well as a freelance beverage business consultant focused on marketing, branding and public relations. A Certified Cider Professional and WSET Level 2 graduate, Caitlin spends her free time traveling the world and dreaming up Yonder’s next creation.

From growing up in the epicenter of New York State apple production to driving some of the US’s most ambitious and industry leading cider programs, Ryan Burk has spent his life around apples and cider. He helped establish and lead Virtue Cider in Michigan and elevate America’s largest cider maker, Angry Orchard, taking the brand to new successes on both the national and local stage with the Innovation Cider House in Walden NY, where he focused on terroir driven ciders that have won awards around the world. As dedicated industry professional, Ryan has served on the board of The American Cider Association and is a founding board member of The Cider Institute, the US’s premier science-based education platform. He has been recognized for his advocacy, innovation and collaboration by Imbibe 75 People to Watch, Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 and The Buena Cofradía de los Siceratores de Asturias. Ryan is now making cider under his own label Occam Cider Co.

Particularly known for her skill at tasting and blending, Nicole LeGrand Leibon has been cited as one of the best cider judges because of her generous feedback. As the first cider-specific hire for Farnum Hill Ciders and Poverty Lane Orchards in 2000, she helped create a style that honored the terroir and the fruit, while gaining renown for the best ciders in America. In 2018, while finishing her 19th harvest at Farnum Hill Ciders, Nicole went on to expand her skills to distilling. She became the Assistant Distiller at SILO Distillery in Windsor, VT, as well as Head Cidermaker. In her first year working solely with dessert and heirloom varieties, her cider won acclaim and was a Finalist for the 2020 Good Food Awards. Deeply experienced in cider, from orchard to package, Nicole has been there for industry growth from its tiny beginnings to the juggernaut it is today. She has traveled extensively to taste and judge cider, and to teach sensory analysis. Previous gigs as brewer and yeast lab tech. Super powers: sense of smell and ability to break glassware. Cider blend consultant LeNose Knows. Nicole is also a board member for the Cider Institute.

When Johan Sjöstedt founded Pomologik the goal was clear, the mission was to give the apple recognition as the grape of the Nordics. A work that is still in progress but has come a long way. Committed to spontaneous fermentation and always searching for new wild varieties, the quest for new terroir expressions is a core raison d’être. By innovation and breaking new grounds within the Swedish craft cider community Pomologik has become one of the leading forces in the cider revolution. Pomologik started the first Nordic Craft Cider Festival in Sweden to bring producers closer to consumers and start the groundwork for a closer Nordic community. It’s now an annual event in July and takes place at Johan’s family farm. His background as a sommelier and wine journalist has served him well both in terms of quality control and blending but also when it comes to judging panels.

As one of the founding cidermakers, Aaron Homoya is responsible for your original favorite Ash & Elm Cider Co. flavors. He is especially interested in forging long-term partnerships with Indiana’s apple producers and hopes to one day have an orchard of his own to supply the company with heirloom apples. He gets excited about introducing new people to the diverse world of cider, partnering with local orchards, and spreadsheets. He enjoys spending time with his family and traveling to other cider-producing regions.