The Saint Louis Brewery, maker of Schlafly Beer, announced today the appointment of Fran Caradonna as chief executive officer for the iconic craft brewery in St. Louis. Caradonna, a 25-year craft beer veteran, joined the Schlafly team earlier this year as both chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. Emily Parker-Lampe, former head of brewing operations, has been serving as interim CEO for the last six months, and she is now chief of brewery operations.
After just a few short months, Caradonna’s leadership has made a palpable impact on the organization. The board of directors, led by David and Tom Schlafly, feel her stewardship will lead a new chapter in the brewery’s future success.
“I’ve known Fran for as long as I’ve been in the beer business, and I have tremendous respect for her,” said Chairman Tom Schlafly. “I’m delighted to have someone with her experience and skills as CEO at this critical time for our company.”
“We are thankful for Emily’s service during this time of transition, and we’re excited to see how she leverages our brewing team’s talents in the future,” said Vice Chairman David Schlafly. “These appointments usher in a new energy for our brewery. The new leadership will encourage our brewers to showcase their artistry in new ways, offer new reasons to visit our brewpubs, and allow our team to continue to execute destination-worthy events for our city.”
CEO Fran Caradonna said: “It is an honor and a privilege to join the Schlafly team at this particular moment in the company’s life, especially given my own career history and experience. What an opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with the people who have worked together to make Schlafly a great destination in our city, known to have the best beer scene in America!”
The new leadership appointments come after the May announcement that David Schlafly, along with a group of local investors, acquired the controlling interest in the brewery. David is a cousin of cofounder Tom Schlafly, meaning the new ownership structure allows the Schlafly family to continue the Schlafly Beer legacy into the future.
Caradonna has over 25 years of experience in the craft beer industry, most recently serving as the general manager for O’Fallon Brewery. In her tenure, Caradonna contributed to the St. Louis area’s craft beer expansion. She was cofounder and vice president of The Signature Beer Co., one of Schlafly’s first wholesalers, as well as cofounder and CEO of O’Fallon Brewery. At The Signature Beer Co., the wholesaler acquired and launched several national craft beers in the St. Louis area. Caradonna built the company for success through raising capital for expansion and management of all financials. In 2000, Caradonna cofounded O’Fallon Brewery with her former husband, Tony, and helped build several award-winning brands over 10 years, with sales and production around 6,400 bbls in 2010.
Emily Parker-Lampe joined Schlafly in 2010 and has served as head of brewing for the last year and a half. As chief of brewery operations, Parker-Lampe will take on responsibility for both the company’s breweries and all staff and activity related to the brewing and packaging of Schlafly Beer.
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