8 minute read
Centerstage: Bruce Weddendorf
from May June 2020
In addition to lending his mechanical engineering background and expertise for NASA, commercial customers, and the green energy industry, Bruce Weddendorf is also co-founder and Vice President of Straight to Ale, where he and his partners have guided its growth from a small microbrewery to a popular space to enjoy beer, wine, spirits and inventive food from Ale’s Kitchen.
Photo by Steve Babin
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EVENT: You are a business partner of the second largest and second oldest brewery in the state. How did Straight to Ale come to be? BW: We founded Straight to Ale with [my wife] Jo, Dan Perry and Colin Austin in 2009. We built it as a very small company and afterwards realized that the demand for beer was enormous. We were in the right place at the right time. It’s been a wild ride since then!
EVENT: Why did you decide to start a brewery? BW: We really wanted to make Huntsville a more fun place to live. We wanted to provide a place for people to enjoy themselves, to be locally focused and be a point of pride for the community. Beer is something that people can bond over. It is a social lubricant, if you will. When we started the business, we weren’t planning to make money. We just wanted to pay the bills and make as much great beer as we could.
EVENT: What’s it been like to grow such a successful business? BW: We have been super happy about being able to change Huntsville for the better and to help improve the neighborhood. After we became established at Campus 805, we have seen this area become an epicenter of entertainment. We are proud of the impact we’ve made on the city.
EVENT: What do you like to do during your leisure time? BW: I love to go out to the lake and hang out on the boat. But honestly, I enjoy my time [at STA.] I enjoy our employees and the creativity there. We give our people a lot of room to try new ideas. If you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like you’re working.
EVENT: Who do you give the most credit to? BW: Jo is a huge part of everything I’ve done and a vital part of STA. She took risks right along with me to join in as partner, and she does a lot of work behind the scenes. We wouldn’t have gotten to where we are without her.
EVENT: What advice would you give people wanting to start their own business? BW: Do something you love and do something to help people. Do something you’re passionate about. We have loved this business from the beginning. Seeing people be delighted when they drink our beer is what it’s all about. n
Centerstage
Bruce Weddendorf
Stevi Dunn, Drew Hodges
Jay Johnson, Donny Gray, Derek Gray
4th Annual Von Brewski Beer Festival
Photos by Jessa Harris
The 4th Annual Von Brewski Beer Festival was February 8 at the VBC’s South Hall. Guests who purchased tickets received a souvenir glass that doubled as a sampling glass for the Festival. Attendees had the opportunity to sample beer not just from Huntsville brewers but from brewers across the world; a chance to dance to live music by Seducing Alice; and could build their own pretzel necklace to munch on! Concessions included brats with peppers to round out the experience. For those who weren’t craft beer fans, non-sampling tickets were available, as well as a fully stocked bar with drinks for purchase.
Sponsors included IV Lounge at QC; Rocket 95.1; Downtown Huntsville Craft Beer Trail; Topgolf; and Free the Hops. n
Chris Todd, Gretchen Bell, Tory Strickland, Mary Osborne
Jamie Smith, Andrew Denard, Chris Bramon, Anthony Loflin
Wish We Could Have Been There!
To comply with pandemic directives and for the safety and wellbeing of organizers and attendees, several organizations cancelled their events that would have appeared in this issue. We wanted to recognize the events and share their contact information. Look for these events to be rescheduled - or watch our calendar of events for the dates in 2021!
UCP’s 22nd Annual
An Irish Evening was scheduled for March 13 at the historic Roundhouse Depot.
The fundraiser benefits United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley, Inc. with 2020 Presenting Sponsor, Redstone Federal Credit Union.
The fun-filled annual event features a sampling of Irish fare and more from local restaurants and vendors and live music. For more information, visit www.ucphuntsville.org
AUSA Rocket City Bash was scheduled for March 17at the Davidson Center under the Saturn V at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. The event is a networking/social event for the Association of the United States
Army (AUSA) Global Force
Symposium. The annual bash features music, drinks and a buffet. For more information, visit www.ausa.org.
Girls Inc. of Huntsville’s The Power of the Purse was scheduled for March 19 at Westin of Huntsville. The event was to celebrate women leaders, local designers and one-of-a-kind purses. Funds raised from the inaugural event were to provide scholarships for girls from under-served communities to attend Girls Inc. summer camp as well as provide resources to add partner schools for reaching girls who need services most. For more information, visit www.girlsinc-huntsville.org.
Casino Knight at the Disco was scheduled for March 20 at Burritt on the Mountain/Barons Bluff.
Guests were invited to dig out their disco duds for the casino night. The annual event features fun music and games to benefit the New Hope Children’s Clinic. All money raised benefits the medical program at the Clinic. For more information, visit www.newhopechildrensclinic.org.
Steve & Jennifer Jones
Walker & Jayme Gabriel
Wine in the Winter Celebrates 3rd Year
Photos by Steve Babin
PEOPLE • PLACES • PARTIES An elegant evening in a beautiful setting awaited guests at the 3rd annual Wine in the Winter event at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. The event was presented by Mercedes Benz of Huntsville. Attendees enjoyed an upscale wine tasting featuring wines hand-selected by Church Street Wine Shoppe and fare from Purveyor. Wine in the Winter offered something for every palate and degree of expertise. New this year, guests were invited to choose one of three different experiences for the evening’s festivities: The VIP Experience, The Grand Hall Experience and The Carriage House Wine Adventure. n
Aaron Swallow, Shannon Lallemand, Erica Lamb, Marty Staten
Theresa Croley, Kimberly Carter, Robin Mitchell
Jessica & Seth Glenn Staci & Ramsey Bentley Kris & Brian Goodwin Dr. Hayley DeGraaff, Chris Hutton
Written by Judy S. Ryals
Pres./CEO Huntsville/ Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
As President and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, it has been an honor and a pleasure providing Huntsville Event Magazine readers with a summary of events and activities in Huntsville, Madison and Madison County which add to our quality of life and create memories. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has prohibited all gatherings in public places of more than 10 people and thereby forced the cancellation or postponement of all of the events and activities we customarily enjoy.
This pandemic has touched us all and changed the way we live our lives. The local hospitality industry, which is comprised of attractions, hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies, airport and entertainment venues, has been hit especially hard. Many of the 17,000 employees have been impacted with furloughs, lay-offs and cut-backs due to the pandemic. To assist all those who have been impacted, we’ve created a COVID-19 resources page on our website that features information from and links to the CDC, federal government, national, state and local organizations, associations and agencies that can provide assistance.
Those who are still working are doing the jobs of many and, in some cases, risking exposure to provide services for the rest of us. Please do whatever you can to support the local businesses during this most challenging time.
For all the medical professionals, first responders, grocery store team members and delivery personnel who have worked throughout the pandemic to provide healthcare, food, supplies and other essential goods and services, we owe you our deepest gratitude. Our elected and appointed officials, who are leading us through this unprecedented crisis, have earned our support and heartfelt thanks.
When the experts agree that we can once again interact, travel and enjoy the high quality of life that our area offers, I encourage you to do so. The attractions, hotels, restaurants and other businesses will need your support, more than ever, and I know this community can and will respond. In the meantime, follow the guidelines of social distancing, sanitizing and no groups larger than 10. We’re all in this together – six feet apart.
Stay safe and stay well.
Yours in hospitality,
