This week host Marty Mechtenberg and Susan Ford talk with Amanda Havens, curator of the South Bend Elkhart region's only female-led brewery and cidery. Amanda shares her journey of working in established breweries to fostering an innovative concept focused on community engagement and the empowerment of women. With a collaborative cooperative model, the venture aims to provide a platform for local homebrewers, showcasing diverse brewing talents while offering a broad spectrum of artisanal beverages.

Listen this week as we explore the challenges and successes faced by women in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and Amanda's steadfast approach to creating an inclusive, female-driven business.

QUOTES

• “At Founding Femmes, we do not want to be bank-funded. We would like to be community-funded. So we're looking to 100 women to invest $1,000 to provide us with our first hundred thousand dollars. That first hundred thousand dollars will allow us to get our licensing equipment and put rent into a space that we choose. So anyone that identifies as a female can be a Founding Femme.” -Amanda Havens [11:17]

• “What does that sector of our community need? And for me, I look at it as education is the basis of making our community successful. So when I decided to go back and get my master's degree, it was based on, hey, this education sector needs help. And I wanted to be part of that help. What can we do better? I think starting with our education system and making sure that our students are set up for success at any level when they're pushed out into the community, on top of my school. And what I do, I'm involved with.” -Amanda Havens [33:29]

TIMESTAMPS

(01:00) Amanda Havens intro

(02:02) Developing the concept of a female-funded cooperative brewery

(07:15) Current cider production

(11:00) Founding Femmes

(17:21) The value of entrepreneurial influences

(20:34) The overwhelming nature of navigating available resources in the region

(26:41) Empowering underprivileged people and creating a female-driven brewery

RESOURCES

Amanda Havens: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-havens-840822110/

CONTACT

Martin Mechtenberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-mechtenberg-515a648/

Susan Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-howard-ford-8446441/