Episode 134: Business Brewed Right with Switchback’s Bill and Craig

This week Jon sits down with Lousia Schibli, co-founder of the Northern New England Women’s Investor network, and co-founder and CEO of Milk Money Vermont. Milk Money is a platform for Vermonters to discover local investment opportunities, get tips on how to evaluate those opportunities, and then make an investment. 

Louisa has also recently joined RuralWorks Partners as Chief Engagement Officer. RuralWorks Partners is an impact investment firm that supports growth stage and transitioning rural businesses and the communities in which they operate. RuralWorks is currently raising a $100 Million impact fund for these businesses and communities across the Northeast and Upper Midwest.

Listen in for Louisa’s lessons about raising capital in rural Vermont and being a female entrepreneur in the Green mountain state.

Check out:

Vermont Women’s Investor Network www.nnewin.org
Milk Money Investing www.milkmoneyinvesting.com
RuralWorks Partners www.ruralworkspartners.com

Learn more at https://milkmoneyvt.com/

Switchback Brewing Co Bill Cherry Craig Wilkinson


I guess I’ve always had a sense of wanting to involve everybody into the brewery from the very beginning. I was kind of well-known in the early days, when I was out on the floor working right next to everybody and if anyone asked, “why are we doing this?” they learned to maybe not ask those kinds of questions because they’d get about a half hour a conversation with me explaining that particular ingredient or that particular temperature on the mash profile for the beer.”

What makes Switchback Brewing Co special? From the classic Ale to the Karsten Lager, Citra-Pils and the IPA, and now their first Double IPA and Smoked Beers, it’s not just the hops, it’s the process, and more importantly, the people.

This week Jon sits down with Bill Cherry and Craig Wilkinson, the president and production manager of Switchback, to talk about the Flynn Ave-based brewer’s 100% employee ownership setup, running for five years now, via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Listen to learn how a passion for beer and a passion for people has guided this local business through it’s nearly 20-year history.

Check out this episode!