WHISKEY FOUNDERS COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN
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Midwest & West Craft Section
Bluegrass Region Section
Tennessee Section
Bourbon Capital Section
Canadian Section
T.B.A.
Whiskey Row Section
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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Mid-Atlantic Section
SECTION EDITORS
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Daniel Snyder
Whiskey Founders Committee
Co-Chairman
Email address: Danny@WhiskeyUniv.com
Daniel’s passion for bourbon began in 2019 during a family trip to Louisville after a number of years enjoying Irish Whiskey. During this trip, he tried samples at a few distilleries, but especially enjoyed those at Old Forester. After finishing his basement in 2020 he began to build his own bar to showcase his passion for bourbon, and joins as many local events he can make. His Whiskey University education and classes has contributed to a significant increase in the bourbon collection, peaking around 75 bottles so far.
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M. J. Jacobs
Tennessee Region Section Editor
As far as his whiskey or bourbon passion, it began with, what else, but Jack Daniel’s! Being an East Tennessean, you can go anywhere in the world and everyone knows Jack! From there, it expanded into other tastes and eventually led to his role here at Whiskey University. Michael’s favorite thing about whiskey and bourbon is the people; and that is why he is quoted as saying, ”I can’t pass an opportunity to bring people together with the “History and Taste” you know the things we teach here at Whiskey University.
Vicki Gallagher
Mid-Atlantic Region Section Editor
Lt. Colonel Vicki Gallagher became a member of Whiskey University in August of 2022. In 2022, her brother, who is a whiskey connoisseur in his own right, told her about Whiskey University, and that they were looking for leaders in the Maryland area. Vicki’s career as an Educator, Counselor and Business/Life/Fitness Coach spans over 40 years. She grew up in Maryland, not far from the University of Maryland and her future husband Bill. Vicki has a Bachelor of Science Degree from theUniversity of Maryland, a Master Degree from McDaniel College, and a Doctorate equivalent from Johns Hopkins University. Vicki and Bill have been married since 1984 and have one son, also a whiskey connoisseur. Vicki is focused on the Maryland Region and is the Whiskey University Maryland Rye Region Department Head.
Brad Martens
Craft Whiskey Section Editor
Brad is in his mid 40’s and lives in Columbia Missouri, halfway between Saint Louis and Kansas City – home to the University of Missouri-Columbia campus.
Brad is a proud Rotarian and currently serves as Assistant District Governor for District 6080. He is a past Rotarian of the Year recipient and helped secure funding in excess of $100K for both local and International Service Projects. In 2022, Brad visited both Uganda and Peru, focusing on water sanitation, education, the environment, and combating Malaria.
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Michael Skelton
Committee Member
Michael is a United States Army Veteran who grew up in the Central Valley of California. After his time in the service, he and his now wife, Heather, moved back to California and now reside in Oakhurst, with their 2 daughters. Michael has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity, and a Master of Science in Information Technology Management.
Michael has a love for whiskey in all of its forms. His passion stems from moments shared with friends and family while enjoying these spirits long before joining Whiskey University.
Kate Byrne
Bourbon Capital Section Editor
Kate retired from health care in 2010, after many years as Manager of Radiology Departments, Teaching of Radiology Products and Medical Sales, including a stint as International Applications Specialist for a leading healthcare company. During that time, she spent two years living in Brussels, Belgium, covering forty-four countries. After returning to the United States, she worked for SenoRx, teaching their state-of-the-art equipment, with her territory being most or all of eight Western states. SenoRx was sold in 2011 and Kate moved on. When settling in Bardstown, KY and working as a tour guide at Four Roses and Preservation Distilleries
Katrina Bevington
Canadian Region Section Editor
Dustin Bowman
Bluegrass Region Section Editor
Dustin’s almost 22-year career in law enforcement ended July 31, 2024 when he retired as chief of police. Dustin resides in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky with his wife Brook. They have been married for 22 years and have three children. Dustin utilizes his grassroots in Lawrenceburg to promote Whiskey University’s Bluegrass Region and the distilleries in the area. Dustin has completed Majors in the “Bluegrass Region and Bourbon Capital Region” as he continues to expand his studies. Dustin became a “Master Whiskey Taster” with the rank of Captain in the Bourbon Brigade after taking his 40th class and earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree in October of 2024.
THIS REGION EDITOR’S BIOGRAPHY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON
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Michael Skelton
Committee Member
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T.B.A.
Whiskey Row Section Editor
THIS REGION EDITOR’S BIOGRAPHY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON
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George Crow
Committee Member
George’s Kentucky roots run deep. Both sets of grandparents and both parents lived and grew up in Kentucky. George’s mother in Mt Sterling and father in Covington. Born in Indianapolis, George never resided in Kentucky himself and for years did not think he was a whiskey drinker. That all changed during a 2015 trip to Louisville with his son, Brian, to visit the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory. Spending some “downtime” between the factory tour and dinner, George and his family stopped in Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.
Stuart McEnerney
Committee Member
Stuart McEnerney has been a member of Whiskey University since February 2021.
Stuart, prior to working in the field of education, Stuart worked in the food service industry for over 20 years. This is where his introduction to whiskey began. It was a good friend of his who first introduced him to Irish Whisky, which then was passed on to his wife Nicole. Nicole became the driving force behind this new hobby they embarked on together, visiting craft distilleries in the New England states and learning about the process and history of making whiskey.
Bill Gallagher
Committee Member
Lt. Colonel Bill Gallagher became a member of Whiskey University in August of 2022. In 2022, his brother-in-law, who is a whiskey connoisseur in his own right, told him about Whiskey University, and that they were looking for leaders in the Maryland area. Bill decided to pursue the Associates of Science just for the knowledge and love of history, but ultimately continued on with his education to earn his Masters of Arts Degree in August of 2023.
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Paul Eggerding
Committee Member
Paul has always had a love for bourbon. It is the only spirit his grandfather kept in the house and the only brown spirit my father had in his life. He fell in love with our Native American spirit and all the history that it intwines with American history. Paul states that his “journey turned from a simple curiosity to outright obsession when he found a group of guys in a bourbon club who shared the same passion for not only the liquid but the stories and history that went along with them.
Tee Floyd
Committee Member
Tee’s passion for bourbon began in 2017 during a girl’s trip to Louisville. She had always enjoyed trying new whiskeys and the distillery tours made her excited to learn more. During this trip, she tried samples at a few distilleries, but especially enjoyed those at Four Roses and Buffalo Trace.
After enrolling in classes at Whiskey University she has started her whiskey collection and has decided to major in the Bluegrass Region. Tee now serves on the “Whiskey Founders Life Story Committee” after volunteering to research contributors that have had significant impact on the Bourbon and Whiskey Industry.
Michael Kutner
Committee Member
Captain Kutner is the founder and president of DistilledLeadership.com, a leadership coaching and change management consulting company based near Philadelphia, PA. Distilled Leadership combines 25 years of leadership experience at the world’s global companies (including the 150-year old American Whiskey and Bourbon industry) with science-based theories of leadership development.
Michael’s passion for bourbon began eight days into a 5000 mile road trip that started in Philadelphia and had so far taken him to Arkansas.
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Barrett Straub
Committee Member
THIS REGION EDITOR’S BIOGRAPHY WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON
Rebecca Bryant
Committee Member
Prior to her career in the wine and spirits industry, Becca attended Centre College, having been awarded the Colonel Scholarship. She finished her bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville with a major in English and a minor in French. During her time in college, Becca was presented with several poetry awards and had work published in various literary magazines.
Becca has one son, Eric, and enjoys spending much of her free time at her family cabin on Glen Lake in northern Michigan.
Michael Skelton
Committee Member
Michael is a United States Army Veteran who grew up in the Central Valley of California. After his time in the service, he and his now wife, Heather, moved back to California and now reside in Oakhurst, with their 2 daughters. Michael has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity, and a Master of Science in Information Technology Management.
Michael has a love for whiskey in all of its forms. His passion stems from moments shared with friends and family while enjoying these spirits long before joining Whiskey University.
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Chuck Meyer
Committee Member
Charles Meyer is a Crane Operator at Taracon Precast in Hawley, MN. Charles was born in 1982 in Watford City, ND. He was raised and has lived in Fargo, ND since he was a child. Charles has 2 children who keep him very active. Charles earned his Associates Degree after completing 16 courses in Oct. 2022.
Charles has always enjoyed whiskey and especially bourbon, however his passion about the story and the history of the spirit truly transpired after watching the documentary “Neat: The Story of Bourbon”.
Colonel CRaig Duncan
President & Founder Whiskey University
Email address: ColonelCRaig@WhiskeyUniv.com
Craig Duncan was appointed by Governor Paul Patton of Kentucky on October 15th, 2003 as a Kentucky Colonel for being an Ambassador for the Bourbon Industry and espousing the virtues of Bourbon throughout the country on behalf of the Commonwealth. On August 15th, 2015 Colonel Duncan was appointed the title and honor of being a Tennessee Colonel by Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee as well as an Aide-de-Camp to the Governor’s office for broadcasting the Historic stories that made Tennessee Whiskey so famous and popular.