Meet the Crew
Eric Berzins - General Manager & Head Brewer
Eric founded Fort Hill in Easthampton partly for the city's delicious, environmentally protected water, but largely because he was enamored with the community's friendliness and sense of welfare that everyone under Mt. Tom shows.
Eric enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and yoga.
“Start a brewery, they said. It will be fun, they said.”
Sue Dadmun - Operations Manager & Tasting Room Manager
Sue came to the brewery the first weekend we opened and volunteered to help behind the bar. She has been here bartending ever since, and in 2017 was offered the full-time position of Operations Manager. She currently runs the day-to-day back office operations at the brewery, as well as managing the tasting room for staffing and band bookings.
“DOPPELSHOTS!”
Kriss Strikis - Maintenance & Production Technician
Striker joined the Fort Hill team to assist on the technical side.
When he isn't looking for leaks or programming, he enjoys a smooth IPA and reading up on tech news.
“ That’s a DIN 32676 Series C tri-clamp.”
Tom Lukasik - Lead Brewer
Born and raised in South Hadley, Ma. our lead brewer Tom came to us with a long background in homebrewing. Although he has no favorite style of beer, he mostly enjoys drinking juicy IPA’s and sours. When Tom isn’t brewing, he is spending his time at the fire station as a volunteer member or taking care of his two dogs Myles and Lola.
“Life is short, drink good beer and be nice to each other.”
Rachel Rosenbloom - Assistant Brewer
Rachel is one of our assistant brewers who grew up south of Boston, but came to Western Mass for college and fell in love with the valley. While she loves IPAs, her favorite styles include German lagers, brown ales, British bitters and almost anything sour/lambic. She enjoys disc golf, hiking, reading, and of course drinking new craft brews!
“Life and beer are very similar, chill for best results.”
Shawn Roberts - Assistant Brewer
After obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and pursuing a career in that field, Shawn realized that his passion lied in brewing beer. He decided to pursue a brewing degree from the American Brewers Guild and successfully completed that venture in August 2018. After performing a five-week apprenticeship at Fort Hill from July 2018 to August 2018, he was hired on as a full-time assistant brewer. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs, watching sports, hiking, traveling and cooking. Shawn’s favorite style of beer will probably always be a stout but give him any good lager and he’ll drink those all day!
“ “Fill with mingled cream and amber,
I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
Through the chambers of my brain.
Quaintest thoughts – queerest fancies,
Come to life and fade away:
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today.”
”
Aaron Sparko - Production Assistant
Aaron has been a Production Assistant at the brewery since 2015. Aaron was born and raised in Easthampton, and still lives in the city today with his family. He loves spending time with his kids and hiking. His favorite Fort Hill brew is the Hera Pils.
“I’m sorry. ”
Wes Szlachetka - Delivery Driver & Production Assistant
Wes was a familiar face in the tasting room, and when he retired from the Northampton DPW in 2016, we asked him to join our team as a part-time driver. Nothing about Wes is part-time and he proves that to us every day with his incredible work ethic! When not working, Wes enjoys spending time at his cabin up in the wilderness and reminiscing about his flip phone (that he regrets giving up!). Wes’ favorite beer is Fresh Pick, but has been known to enjoy a Doppelshot here and there!
“ ”
Joel Velez - Delivery Driver & Production Assistant
Joel is one of our delivery drivers driving more than 1,000 miles weekly. He grew up in Northampton and loves New England IPAs. He has a background in Mixed Martial Arts and Jiu-Jitsu training with Ravenous MMA in Greenfield. When he's not training or driving you can find him watching the office!
Favorite fort hill brew : Farmers Fresh
“I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitous. ”
Brendan Collamore - Delivery Driver & Production Assistant
Brendan is one of our delivery drivers/production assistants, currently residing in Holyoke, who lives and breathes Boston sports. His passion is beer so what he does at Fort Hill is not “work” to him. Come visit!
“That brewery turns out 10,000 bottles of beer a day. I take 45 off the assembly line, and I’m the asshole.”
Jack Leahy - Delivery Driver & Production Assistant
Jack “Chuck” Leahy joined the Fort Hill crew in March of 2018. He was born, raised and still resides in Holyoke, where he developed a passion for craft beers and began home brewing. In his spare time, Jack enjoys knitting sweaters, taking his cats on long walks, and being in bed before 8.
“Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing. ”
Jack Dadmun - Production Assistant & Barback
Jack “2.0” started out as summer help in the brewery, and was hired full-time as a production assistant, and then as a barback to help his aunts and mother behind the bar! When not working, Jack enjoys singing karaoke (favorite tune is “You Are My Sunshine”), playing soccer and yardwork.
“There goes the turkey! ”
Maggie Mendoza - Intern
Maggie, originally from Agawam, MA, is a senior Communication and Legal Studies double major at UMass Amherst. She loves seeing live music, dogs, and good company - which makes Fort Hill a great place to work! Unfortunately, she doesn’t know a ton about beer so she can’t provide a favorite brew, but she has it on good authority that her father’s favorite is Jigsaw Jazz.
“Excellent”
Megan Billett - Beer Ambassador
Megan began working at the brewery in late 2015 helping out doing events for us. By early 2016 she was given a position in Sales as our Beer Ambassador, while continuing to represent the brewery at festivals and other social events. When she's not working she enjoys spending time on her boat with her dog Riley.
“Just keep swimming.”
Paul Kelly - Beer Ambassador
Paul worked in the mortgage industry for years, but decided he would like to work for a brewery. figuring it would be more fun! He joined the sales team at Fort Hill Brewery in 2016 as the Beer Ambassador for Eastern and Central Massachusetts. His favorite beers are Jigsaw Jazz and Chimay Blue.
“You don’t need double talk. You need Bob Loblaw. ”
Odel and Luna are the resident brewery pups. They enjoy tennis balls, treats and barking! Be sure to say hi when you see them!
“Arf!”