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Rhonda  Kallman

Rhonda Kallman

CEO of Boston Harbor Distillery, Co-Founder Boston Beer Company, Breast Cancer Survivor & Entrepreneur

Rhonda Kallman

CEO of Boston Harbor Distillery, Co-Founder Boston Beer Company, Breast Cancer Survivor & Entrepreneur

Biography

Rhonda Kallman has nearly four decades of experience in the alcohol beverage industry and is considered one of America’s beverage industry thought leaders. Kallman was instrumental in paving the way for craft beer acceptance by making it available throughout the US while educating consumers on American craft beer superiority. In addition, as the pioneering women in the beer industry, she was able to lead the way for other women to earn the respect and credibility they deserve.

In 2012, Ms. Kallman founded Boston Harbor Distillery, creating proprietary craft spirits that integrate rich history, distinctive experiences, beverage culture and Boston pride into each bottle it produces. Housed in a pre-Civil War era building overlooking Boston Harbor, this urban distillery serves as an educational facility, event space and production facility that hand crafts Boston’s finest spirits.

In 2001, she founded New Century Brewing Co., to produce and market innovative American craft beer styles. After losing a well-publicized battle with the FDA over adding trace amounts of caffeine to beer, New Century Brewing closed in 2011.

In 1984, she cofounded The Boston Beer Company (NYSE:SAM), now the most successful and influential craft beer company in the US. Ms. Kallman served as EVP, overseeing sales & marketing as well as the company’s human capital. Rhonda built the most admired sales organization in the industry. She was a member of BBC’s management committee, executive committee and board of directors. In addition, she innovated many of the company’s most successful styles and brands.

As a testament to her impact, she was honored by The Institute for Brewing Studies with its Recognition Award for being the “Pioneering Woman in the Beer Industry.” A few of her distinctive awards and recognitions include being featured as INC. Magazine’s “25 Entrepreneurs We Love (and what makes them great) along with other luminaries like Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, Larry Page/Sergey Brin. She’s been recognized as the Top 10 innovators in the beer industry by Draft Magazine and is the recipient of the 2011 Maverick Award presented by Beer Business Daily.

Speaker Videos

Talent Management & Customer Relationship Building

Speech Topics

Leadership & Entrepreneurship

“The Business of Booze; From Barroom to Boardroom”

-Building a brand and sustaining it

-Creating a winning team and productive culture

-The entrepreneur “reality”

Women's Leadership Issues

“The Only “Girl” in the Room”

-The role of women in male dominated industry

-Women’s empowerment 

-The importance of being a mentor

Breast Cancer

“Survive to Thrive”

-Personal story of struggle and survival

-Lessons learned 

-Balance of life, business, and breast cancer

Commencement

“Never Give Up, Never Give In"

-Keys to success

-Grit and determination

-Passion and perseverance

Testimonials