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Board of Directors
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2023 Board Members
PRESIDENT (Officer)
Jim Thompson (jim@obc.beer) - Jim has been an OBC member since 2013. He has submitted over 200 entries competitions around the country and won 80 or so medals. He recently downgraded from a 1 barrel outdoor system to a 14 gallon Robobrew. Jim is a Certified BJCP Judge, and has been fortunate to brew his recipes or collaborations at Widmer Brothers, Ecliptic Brewing, Level Beer, Breakside, Modern Times and Fortnight Brewing in Cary, NC.
Jim first joined the OBC Board as Competition Chair in 2016, going on to serve as President in 2017 and 2018. Jim was elected President again in 2023.
Aside from homebrewing, Jim is a licensed private pilot with degrees in Audio Engineering and Culinary Arts, neither of which does he use. Jim is a serial entrepreneur and a disruptive technology evangelist.
VICE PRESIDENT (Officer)
Jeff Orr (jeff@obc.beer) - Bio Coming Soon
TREASURER (Officer)
Michele Lish (michele.lish@obc.beer) - I joined OBC in Nov 2013, just in time to attend my first OBC meeting, which was an election meeting and a vote on the budget. I have only missed a few meetings in the years I've been a member, and pride myself in being a very active volunteer: I brought food to meetings, have been on several committees, volunteered many times for events either to pour beer or staff the OBC booth, designed and generated the OBC challenge coins, and participated in some level for many competitions (bottle sorting, staff member, steward and even judged). I joined the AHA and attended Homebrew Con in Minneapolis in 2017 and not only attended the 2018 event in Portland, but was also on the OBC committee, and I did bottle sorting and was a steward for the beer competition. I attended every PNWHBC. Attending the training session was my reason for going, but I do admit I had a great time sampling some beer, visiting display booths and visiting some great brew pubs. I don't brew that often, but love brewing with other people because I always learn a lot. I've participated in Big Brew Day events and Learn to Brew events several times. In 2019, I decided that it was time to be on the OBC board because I felt I had exposure to so many aspects of our club that I would be a productive member of the board. I hope to continue as a board member for a few years, and ran for Events Chair. What a rewarding expereince that was. I then used my skills and experience gained from another nonprofit to run for Treasurer in 2020, which I have continued doing through the 2023 board. I enjoy so many aspects of the club and will continue to contribute to this group I have come to love.
SECRETARY (Officer)
Corrie Heath (corrie.heath@obc.beer) - Hi OBC! I started brewing 10 yrs or so ago, and it was joining OBC that convinced me to give it a try. I'm rejoining the board after a previous stint as competition chair. I took the class and became a BJCP judge, and enjoy judging when I have the opportunity. Whenever my wife and I travel, I always find what breweries may be nearby - I'm lucky she indulges me, although the chances definitely go up if there's good food available too. When I’m not working or doing something beer related, I also enjoy camping/hiking, reading, playing tennis, and hanging out with my wife and 3 cats. 
COMPETITION CHAIR
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Scott Nieradka (scott.nieradka@obc.beer) - I am Scott Nieradka, and your new Competition Chair. I have been a OBC member for around 7 years, and have been homebrewing seriously for around 8 years. I’m a BJCP National Judge, and will be co-teaching the BJCP training class again this year. I have an interest in brewing science, water chemistry, and mashing, and an interest in European lager styles. Originally from NJ, I've been living in various places in the Pacific Northwest since 2003; I’m an installation artist working in higher ed in art and technology; I earned my MFA in Printmaking from the University of Oregon. My other hobbies include analog electronics for musicians, gardening, and having long involved conversations with my cats. TBA
EDUCATION CHAIR
Bill Midkiff (bill.midkiff@obc.beer) - Hi, I joined the Oregon Brew in 2019 and have been brewing since 2015. My first beer ever brewed was a Crystal 20 SMaSH and you can guess how that turned out ( TERRIBLE). In the years since I've learned much more about beer and am turning it into a career path. I've brewed just about every style now with Hazy IPA and Belgian Wit being my two favorites to make. Let's make beer 49% Fruit Puree!!!
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
Dan Koperski (Dan.Koperski@obc.beer) - Greetings fellow brewers, judges, and friends! I look forward to serving this year as your Communications Chair. I've been an OBC member for almost 10 years and have been home brewing on-and-off since 1993. I brew using a partial-mash method, 10 gallon batches on my stovetop. Most of my home-brewed ales tend to be more hoppy than not and stronger ABV than they should be. I've been lucky enough to participate in judging and stewarding with some of the local competitions and find that it's helped me improve my outlook on beer styles and approaches to recipes and I will be supporting this years competitions in submitting and judging or stewarding as much as possible to help us represent the OBC!
EVENTS CHAIR
Chris Manzi (chris@obc.beer) - Bio Coming Soon
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR |
Bob Davee (bob.davee@obc.beer) - I always brew an annual fresh hop ale and then rotate to Farmhouse ales (especially clones of The Commons’ Urban Farmhouse ale!) with an occasional stout. As membership chair, I’m excited to bring the joy of homebrewing down to a stovetop scale with our members who don’t have a lot of space to brew, ferment and age their beer. My goal is to help us all get the most value from our membership whether you’re a newbie, apprentice or true artisan brewer/fermenter. I’m looking forward to being ‘in’ and ‘out’ with our in-person meetings again as we emerge from this pandemic. Shoot me an email and let’s chat. I’d love to hear your thoughts. |
BURGERMEISTER
Alex Parise (alex.parise@obc.beer) - Hello friends, I am this year's Burgermeister, and formerly the OBC Education Chair for 3 years. I've been homebrewing on and off for twenty-some years; I started homebrewing with my father, and have been brewing seriously for about five years. I've lived in Portland for seven years, and have also lived in Denver and New Jersey. I am a Certified judge in the BJCP program, and am co-teaching the OBC's BJCP study class for the second time this year. In my brew shed, I focus on European lager and commercially extinct styles, and am very interested in yeast and grain genomics, probably as a result of my otherwise-unused biochem degree. When I'm not brewing or judging beer, you can either find me working as a programming team director at a downtown startup, or volunteering on wilderness riparian restoration projects - after all, clean, pure water is CRITICAL for beer brewing. I look forward to having a taste, ten-minute judging session, or pint with you. Prost!