Manufacturing | Food & Beverage
Founder and president
New Glarus Brewing Co. | New Glarus
Deborah Carey and her husband, Dan, founded New Glarus Brewing Co. nearly 30 years ago. As a gift to Dan, Deb raised the capital for the startup brewery, and in 1993 the couple negotiated to rent a New Glarus warehouse in exchange for stock in the fledgling company. The couple sold their home, raised $40,000 in seed money, and, after approaching local news outlets about the business idea, they brought in another $200,000.
Today, New Glarus ranks 12th among the top 50 largest craft brewers in the country, according to the Brewers Association. In a state known for its beer, it ranks second among all breweries, trailing only Molson Coors in production. It produced about 230,000 barrels of beer last year.
It is also one of the older craft brewers in the country, having established itself decades before the explosion of new microbreweries in the 2010s.
Best known for its Spotted Cow label, New Glarus limits its distribution to the state of Wisconsin. In the mid-2000s, the company opened a new $21 million Bavarian village-like facility in New Glarus, which draws over 100,000 visitors annually.
Deb serves as president, while Dan is master brewer. She was recognized by then-President Barack Obama and the White House as a Champion of Change for her entrepreneurship.
Education: Bachelor’s, Carroll College (Helena, Montana)