SAUGATUCK — Saugatuck Brewing Company announced new leadership Thursday, June 1, naming John Miller its new president and CEO and Brad Mixan its new CFO.

More: Saugatuck Brewing Company opens new location in downtown Kalamazoo

Miller has more than three decades of experience in the beverage industry. Most recently, he served as general manager and operating partner at Double Eagle Distributing. In that role, he oversaw purchase, integration and operations of an existing beer and non-alcoholic South Florida beverage distributor.

He also spent more than 20 years working at Anheuser-Busch, holding various roles in sales and marketing leadership.

“Being in the beer business as long as I have, you learn quickly that there are a handful of markets in the country that are uniquely passionate about beer, and West Michigan is at the top of that list,” Miller wrote in a statement. “So, this is an amazing opportunity for me to be a part of this."

Miller is a “lifelong beer guy” and has seen “every facet of the beverage industry” during his career, he said.

“SBC’s focus has always been on the people that work here, the beer we make and the brew pubs we operate,” Miller said, adding that he's “excited about the opportunity to put his stamp on the vibrant beer market that is West Michigan.”

Miller succeeds Ric Gillette, president and CEO of SBC since 2009.

Mixan, meanwhile, has been a Saugatuck resident for nearly seven years and is a CPA with more than 20 years of experience. He most recently served as corporate controller for Nexben Inc. where he oversaw more than $17 million in client funding cash flows and assisted with a $20 million annual budget.

“We’re really looking to leverage technology to position the brewery for future growth and success,” Mixan said. “I think it’s going to help us make better decisions. It’s going to allow us to more effectively manage and operate our brewpubs and brewhouse.”

In addition to his financial experience, Mixan is also an avid homebrewer. He said “being able to combine those two passions has been so rewarding.”

Saugatuck Brewing Company first opened in 2005 and moved into its current facility in Douglas — which houses its headquarters, brewery, warehouse and more — in 2008.

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The brewery acquired Gonzo’s BiggDogg Brewing in Kalamazoo in 2019 and began operating a location there. It then purchased Creston Brewery in Grand Rapids in 2021.

SBC closed the former Gonzo’s location in June 2022, but opened a new brewpub in downtown Kalamazoo this year.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: New leadership at Saugatuck Brewing Co. includes Anheuser-Busch veteran