Brent Manning
Serving Knowledge: Empowering Staff for a Successful Taproom Experience
Staff often have the most direct line of communication with your customer base and have the ability to be highly effective brand ambassadors for your business. In this session, we'll learn how to drive customer engagement and increase sales through building an excited, personable, and knowledgeable staff. Translating the nuances of beer production, ingredient selection, and style definitions are crucial to igniting interest and passion in a new generation of consumers. Join us to learn some tips on how to build rapport and interest on both sides of the bar.
Brent Manning, co-founder of Riverbend Malt House
Brent Manning is the co-founder of Riverbend Malt House, located in Asheville, NC. Opened in 2010, Riverbend became the first craft malt house in the Southeast and has pioneered the use of locally-sourced grains in our region. Mr. Manning is also a co-founder of the Craft Maltsters Guild and served as President of the organization from 2018 to 2023. He was awarded the "Soles of Malt" award in February 2025 in recognition of his service to the industry. In his current role as Chief Strategy Officer, he focuses on product development, marketing, and key account management.
