Founders Brewing Co.
Don Conner has extensive work experience in the beer industry, with a focus on sales and account management. Don started their career in 2002 as a Retail Sales Representative for Molson Coors, where they managed volume and distribution in 75 On-Premise accounts. Don then moved on to become an Area Sales Manager for Molson Coors, directing the Molson and Coors brands in Michigan and achieving significant growth in Coors Light trends. In 2006, they became a Distributor Sales Manager for MillerCoors/Molson Coors, heading the MillerCoors brands in Michigan for multiple distributors and achieving market share growth in the Detroit market area. Conner then joined MillerCoors as a Distributor Sales Manager in 2009, managing total MillerCoors brand performance for a major distributor in Florida. Don later served as a Chain Account Executive for Walmart, mentoring and motivating sales staff and spearheading multiple projects. In 2018, they joined Founders Brewing Co. as the National Key Account Manager for Walmart and Sam's Club, and later became the Vice President of National Accounts.
Don Conner attended Saginaw Valley State University from 1994 to 1998, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice/Psychology.
This person is not in any offices
Founders Brewing Co.
Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers both had steady jobs when they decided to chase their dreams and open a brewery–which meant writing a business plan, quitting their jobs, and taking out giant loans. They figured if you’re going to live life, you ought to live it hard, without regrets. After some initial challenges, due to making balanced but unremarkable beers, we were on the verge of bankruptcy. Then, the original Founders team decided to brew the kind of beer that they liked to drink: complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics, bigger body, and tons of flavor. The Founders Family has grown around a simple statement: “We don’t brew beer for the masses. Instead, our beers are crafted for a chosen few, a small cadre of renegades and rebels who enjoy a beer that pushes the limits of what is commonly accepted as taste. In short, we make beer for people like us.” We have been lucky to evolve into one of the highest recognized breweries in the United States. In 2011, Ratebeer.com ranked us as the 2nd best brewery in the world (up from 4th best in 2010), and we have several beers listed in the top 100 beers on Beeradvocate.com. We were the 2nd fastest growing brewery in the U.S. in 2009, the winner of 4 medals at the 2010 World Beer Cup, and the winner of 2 medals at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival. We are proud to be doing what we are doing, and we give great thanks to our customers and credit to our staff for whom we continually work to provide world-class beers.