Brewers Association focuses on craft brewery human resources programs with new hire

I can assume for many craft breweries frequenting this site, your human resources department consists of the owner or some other manager just turning their hat around to the side that says “Human Resources.” Which is too bad because small organizations, especially those that involve taxing physical activity and/or the consumption of alcohol on-site, could really use such a department. So, it’s cool that the Brewers Association (BA) has added its first human resources (HR) partner to help on the education front.

Recently hired Holly Haslam (she/her/hers) is planning to develop programs to expand HR resources for Brewers Association members and build the association’s first HR committee.

“We’re looking forward to having Holly on the Brewers Association team,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO, Brewers Association. “Providing human resource programs for independent craft brewers to help run their businesses better is critical for longevity and success in the industry. Holly will lead the charge, identify areas to be strengthened, and educate our members on everything from recruiting and hiring to retaining their work forces and having effective meetings.”

Haslam joins the Brewers Association from Aslan Construction, where she managed its HR function, including creating HR training content and an employee handbook, and facilitating compliance with local, state, and federal laws. She also spearheaded the creation of a professional development program for employees.

Outside of her career, Haslam has volunteered her time with the Boulder Area HR Association as its vice president of programming, where she developed the speaker lineup for both monthly and quarterly events, and the Michigan Brewers Guild and Burning Can, where she poured beer. She’s a craft beer lover with an MBA with a focus in HR management.

“Human resources are vital for any organization, regardless of their size,” said Haslam. “I am grateful for the opportunity to develop content for brewery leaders that will offer them the support they need to manage HR in a way that makes sense for their team and the unique challenges they face. I look forward to listening to members of this community to learn what tools will be most valuable for them.”

Haslam will make her first public appearance as HR partner at the 2022 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America, in Minneapolis from May 2 to May 5. There, she will present a seminar on “How to be Dedicated to HR Without ‘Dedicated HR.’”