Aaron Homoya is co-founder of Ash & Elm Cider Co., in Indianapolis, IN. He gets excited about introducing new people to the diverse world of cider, partnering with local orchards, and spreadsheets. But mostly, spending time with his wife, co-founder Andrèa, and their two young kids.

Alan Reed leads the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, an industry-driven organization that brings together some of the biggest names in food and beverage—including PepsiCo, Mondelez, McDonald’s, Kraft Heinz, and Conagra—alongside fast-growing innovators shaping what’s next. He works directly with the executives and decision makers who influence what consumers eat and drink every day. Under his leadership, the Network has become a hub where industry leaders come together to solve challenges, anticipate consumer shifts, and…

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…

Ashley Lindsay holds several degrees from the University of Hawaii and Oregon State University in Agriculture Sciences fields and Agricultural Education. Since 2017, she has been an Adjunct Professor at Chemeketa College – NW Wine Program, teaching various courses related to agricultural production and vineyard management. In 2015, Ashley and her husband Brian purchased and developed a 40 acre fallow farm. They planted 32 acres of heirloom Cider Apples and Perry Pears, creating Pleasant Valley…

Autumn Stoscheck co-owns, with her husband Ezra Sherman, Eve’s Cidery– a small orchard based cidery located at the intersection of the Northern Appalachian Plateau and the Southern Finger Lakes on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, in New York State. Autumn spends her days growing certified organic cider apples and making them into world class ciders.

Brent Miles-Wagner is the owner of Brown Hat Consulting, which he started in 2019 to provide an expert resource for new and expanding cider companies. He was the founding Head Cidermaker at Seattle Cider Company, where he wrote the business plan and developed their lineup of innovative and award-winning ciders. He then became Head Cidermaker at Sly Clyde Ciderworks, who engaged him to build their new cidery from the ground up. Last year he completed…

Brighid O’Keane is the Executive Director of the Cider Institute – previously Cider Institute of North America (CINA) – which provides global education and certification for cider and perry producers. Since 2017, she has judged at eleven international competitions and collaborated with cidermakers and researchers worldwide to advance cider quality and knowledge. Originally from Western New York, Brighid now lives in Western North Carolina and continues to follow cider wherever it takes her.

Robert “Chas” Runco provides licensing, regulatory, and commercial transaction advice to clients in the alcohol beverage industry. Chas advises large and small corporate clients on a variety of business matters. His practice focuses on advising wineries, breweries, distilleries, distributors, and retailers in regulatory and transactional matters. His experience in regulated industries has made him a preferred attorney for clients in the hospitality industry. He also works with trade organizations in regulatory and legislative capacities. By…

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.

Chris Leimena has had a love for food and hospitality for as long as he can remember. After graduating from culinary school he spent a decade honing his skills as a chef at some of Portland’s top culinary destinations. Chris has since managed the dining rooms of many of Portland’s premier restaurants. His deep appreciation for food and wine naturally evolved into a love for cider, and he has been enthusiastically sharing his knowledge and…

Clay Slaughter is the head cidermaker at Slaughter Orchard & Cidery in Bloomington, Indiana.  A natural educator, he frequently describes himself as a cider evangelist and loves helping people understand the source of their food. Beyond cidermaking, Clay enjoys helping businesses with legal and strategy issues.  He has over 16 years of legal experience and has served in a range of business roles including CFO, COO, and CSO.  He has experience in large corporations, successful…

Cortni Stahl is part of the Food Science Department at Cornell University. She is a laboratory technician in the Cornell Craft Beverage Analytical lab, where she runs beverage analysis for commerical and home wine, beer, cider, and kombucha producers. She also helps with extension courses at Cornell Agritech and is an instructor for the cider courses run by the Cider Institute of North America. Cortni is the founder, co-owner and head cidermaker at Star Cider…

Dion Stepanski is the co-owner and head cider-maker at Presque Isle Farm Cider in northeast Michigan. Dion and his partner Molly Stepanski began farming organic vegetables on his six-generation family farm in 2014. He started making cider from local foraged apples shortly after, and in 2020, PIF did their first commercial pressing. In 2022, they opened a taproom in Alpena, Michigan, and expanded their cider offerings. PIF produces a diverse range of ciders, from traditional…

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…

Gidon Coll is the Founder and President of Original Sin Cider. Established in New York in 1996, Original Sin is among the early modern American cider companies. Today, Original Sin Cider is distributed in 27 states across the U.S. and exported to Japan. In 2012, Mr. Coll launched the Hudson Valley Apple Project on his family’s former dairy farm in Ancram, New York. This distinctive two-acre orchard is home to more than 160 apple varieties—including…

Greg Peck is an Assistant Professor of Horticulture in Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science. He has conducted research in fruit-crop production systems in California, Washington, New York, and Virginia. Dr. Peck’s academic training spans horticulture, plant physiology, soil science, entomology, food science, plant pathology, ecology, agricultural economics, and education. His research program is designed to support and improve the sustainability, productivity, and profitability of tree-fruit producers. Current projects focus on hard cider production,…

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…

Haritz Rodriguez, aka Ciderzale, is an independent journalist and marketing consultant in the agrifood field with a special focus on cider. He has recently joined the EDA Drinks & Wine Campus team as the main educator on cider within the university of gastronomic sciences Basque Culinary Center. Haritz works for different local and international agents in the world of cider, participates as a judge in cider competitions and co-organizes festivals and fairs such as Sidrama…

Jamie Hanson is the Orchard Manager at Seed Savers Exchange, overseeing the care of nearly 1,000 historic apple trees throughout two eight-acre preservation orchards in Decorah, Iowa. Her interest in apple growing began with the study of pomological history in coastal Maine, shaping her expertise in preserving and promoting historic apple cultivars. Focused on innovative collection management, Jamie and the team at Seed Savers Exchange are combining new technologies with time-tested practices to re-examine how…

Jason Cassidy is the cidermaker at The Cider Farm in Madison, Wisconsin where he is fortunate to work with the best organic French and English cider apples in the Midwest. He finds the combination of hands-on work and the seasonal nature of working in concert with the orchard deeply rewarding. Jason got serious about cidermaking after being diagnosed with Celiac disease. He found most of the commercial ciders available to him severely lacking, while others…

Jennie Dorsey is the Education Operations Director for the American Cider Association. She is also a founding member of Pomme Boots Society for women in the Cider Industry and has held numerous positions since she first entered the Cider Industry over a decade ago. Jennie actually began her journey in the coffee industry where she was a nationally ranked competition barista and trainer specializing in sensory analysis with a focus on food pairings.  The skills…

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…

John Behrens is the Founder and President of Farmhaus Cider Company located in Hudsonville, Michigan. This company was founded in 2015 and has gone on to win many national and international accolades and awards. John began his first term as President of the Michigan Cider Association in 2018. Previously, he worked as a Certified Public Accountant for over 10 years at BDO USA and Steelcase. John holds an MBA from Grand Valley State University, in…

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…

Kate Pinsley began her cider journey with a pint of Original Sin served in a sketchy bar in the East Village. Her next stop was the Finger Lakes with its bounty of upstate cideries. In the course of completing her master’s thesis on apple tannins at Cornell University, Kate learned cidermaking and became quite the cider nerd. Kate is now the Senior Director of Beverage at Schilling Cider in Seattle, leading the cider production and…

Kyle Sherrer is a seasoned cider entrepreneur and the founder of Graft Cider and Hudson North Cider Co., two innovative brands rooted in New York’s Hudson Valley. He began his cider journey in 2011 by co-founding Millstone Cellars in Maryland with his father, later relocating to New York to launch Graft in 2016, known for its wild yeast-fermented, dry ciders. In 2020, Kyle expanded his vision with Hudson North Cider Co., a cider on the…

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…

Māris Plūme is the cider maker behind Mr. Plūme Cidery in Latvia. He began his cider journey as a trainee at Domaine Dupont in France and Distelberger Cider (Most) in Austria, where he learned traditional European cider-making techniques. Since 2010, Māris has been experimenting with diverse methods and styles, earning numerous awards across Spain, Germany, Norway, Madeira, and local competitions. Each autumn, he leads an “apple safari” to discover and preserve native Latvian cider apple…

Matt Kaminsky is an orchardist and farmer from Western Massachusetts whose specialties include wild apples, grafting and topworking, & cider-orchard silvopasture (integration of sheep into cider apple orchards). He created the Annual Wild and Seedling Pomological Exhibition, an annual showcase of novel apples and pears, and its literary byproduct Pomological Series, a photographic pomology book series, now in its 5th Volume, describing and documenting the hundreds of fruit submissions to the Exhibition over the years.…

Nichola Hall has a Ph.D. in Yeast Physiology and a BSc(Hons) in Microbial Biotechnology. Dr. Hall has held various positions in the wine industry: Director of Microbiology at Bronco Wine Company, Ceres, CA (2002-2007), Technical Consultant at Vinquiry, Inc., Windsor, CA (2007-2009) and is currently at Scott Laboratories, Petaluma, CA employed as General Manager for the Fermentation and Enology Department (2009-present). From 2009-present, Dr. Hall is a co-winemaker at Mathew Bruno Wines and is very…

Nick Gunn is a native of Oregon, born and raised in Eugene. In 2000, Nick earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies with minors in Biology and Geology from the University of Oregon. With a passion for sustainable agriculture and fermentation, Nick planted a cider apple orchard with his wife Mimi in 2003. Shortly after in 2004, Wandering Aengus Cider was born with a goal of producing world class european styled ciders as well…

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…

From humble beginnings designing tap handles during the early days of craft beer’s emergence, Oceania Eagan (aka “Oce”) quickly became known in the industry for her ability to build brands through her artistic vision and functional execution. With a unique mix of business acumen and creative problem solving at her core, Oce founded Blindtiger Design, embodying her passion for contributing to the dynamic industry to support brands that thrive. Bringing an unmatched depth of knowledge…

Patti Wilcox co-founded Gravity/Awestruck Ciders in Sidney, New York and spent the last 12 years taking it from zero to a 30+ person team. After a 2023 restructure, she turned to AI to rebuild operations and grow sales. She helps fellow cideries, wineries, and breweries navigate AI, translating buzzwords into ready-to-use, beverage-specific workflows that augment people, not replace them.

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…

Steve Selin is the owner-orchardist-cidermaker at South Hill Cider in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Steve has been foraging apples and making cider since 2002. For South Hill Cider, Steve sources fruit from varied sources such as wild pippins and abandoned trees, his own cider orchard, leased orchards, and a contract-orchard planted in cider apples. He directly manages 20 acres of apples. South Hill Cider, founded in 2013, has a tasting room…

Steven Trussler is an education specialist at Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada where he develops and delivers programming for the cider and wine industries. Before his current role, he worked as commercial winemaker and in a beverage alcohol analytical lab.

Todd Little-Siebold is a professor of history at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. He teaches class on a wide range of topics, including one on the history of apples. His class “The Cider Project” was a year-long experiment in teaching the history and techniques of making hard cider. He has spent the last fifteen years tracking down, researching, and helping to preserve heirloom apples in downeast Maine. He has collaborated with…

Tom Oliver of Oliver’s Cider and Perry is a cider & perry maker and farmer in Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire in the UK. He grows many varieties of cider apple and perry pear and produces a wide range of ciders and perries from his own fruit, as well as cider apples and perry pears from a select group of partner farmers and orchardists in the county. The ciders and perries are made from 100% fresh pressed…

Wes Hunter is the cidermaker and co-founder of 1818 Farm & Cidery in the Ottawa Valley, where he crafts ciders that reflect the region’s diverse soils and cool northern climate. With a background in the wine industry and as a sommelier in the Okanagan Valley, Wes brings a deep understanding of balance, texture, and terroir to his fermentation work. His approach bridges wine influenced techniques and inspiration from their 2.5 acre organic farm. Wes has…