Meet our team of explorers.
The Crew
Eric Foster
Co-Founder + Chief Executive Officer
Phil Kao
Co-Founder
Dave Duffy
Chief Commercial Officer
Matt Hoskins
Chief Operating Officer
Ian Capps
Director of Cider House Operations
Giannina Orozco
Director of Human Resources
Jade Zuspan
Creative Director
Quinn Barnett
Digital Marketing and Content Manager
Morgan Graves
Brand Marketing Manager
Lais Schmidtello
Controller
Sarah Ingraham
Director of Restaurant Operations
Patrick Combs
director of innovation and quality
Arline Kellog
RiNo Taproom General Manager
Eric Foster
What is the most fearless thing you’ve ever done?
When I was younger, I was an ice climber and ski mountaineer. I volunteered on a search and rescue team was also a rescue diver. All of these activities regularly put me in situations one might describe as fearless though it didn’t feel that way to me.
If you could pick one person to enjoy a Stem Cider with, who would it be?
My Grandfather, Burton Fred Humm. He was a truly amazing man who helped shape me into the man I am today.
What is your favorite food and cider pairing?
Chile Guava braised leg of lamb served with a Real Dry followed by a dram or two of whiskey.
Phil Kao
What is your ideal adventure?
Skiing. Anytime. Anywhere. Any place.
If you could pick one person to enjoy a Stem Cider with, who would it be?
You. Because you’re the best.
Do you have any creative ideas you pair with Stem Ciders?
Hibiscus on ice with a slice of fruit. Ice and slice is life.
Dave Duffy
What is the most fearless thing you’ve ever done?
A 50-foot cliff dive in Jamaica.
What is the best advice somebody has ever given you?
What you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
What is the most useless talent you have?
I can open a beer bottle with my navel.
Matt Hoskins
What is your ideal adventure?
Outside, in the sun and something to do with water. Spicy margaritas nearby.
Who is one person you would like to enjoy a Stem Ciders with?
Either of my grandfathers. I never had the privilege of knowing either one and I’d love the opportunity to hear about what they’ve seen and done.
What words do you live by?
What other people think about you is none of your business.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Lightning speed on the 10-key.
Ian Capps
If you could pick one person to enjoy a Stem Cider with, who would it be?
Hunter S. Thompson
What words do you live by?
You can’t always control what happens, but you can ALWAYS control how you respond to it.
How do you like your Stem Cider?
ASC as a base for a Margarita, a spicy margarita, on a beach, anywhere, anytime.
Giannina Orozco
What is your ideal adventure?
Somewhere with water, waves and tacos.
What is the most useless talent you have?
Ridiculously uncool dance moves.
What is your favorite food and cider pairing
Paloma Fuerte (paloma + tequila over ice), Cider donut bread pudding!
Jade Zuspan
What is your ideal adventure?
Secluded mountains, surrounded by dogs, good food, and better cider… I guess my partner can tag along too.
Who is someone you would like to enjoy a Stem Cider with?
Jon Stewart – because he is hilarious, kind, and such a badass. Who else would practically leave their successful career in order to help 9/11 firefighters for like 10 years.
What is the most useless talent you have?
It’s a toss up between knitting, riding a unicycle, and being able to recite 99% of the Harry Potter books by heart.
Quinn Barnett
If you could pick one person to enjoy a Stem Cider with, who would it be?
Nikola Jokic because while he loves Rakija, I think I could convert him to a cider lover. Also, my dream is for him to graciously pick me up so I can slam dunk over Rocky in Ball Area.
What are words that you live by?
Never doubt yourself. You have the potential to be whoever you wish to be & do whatever you aspire to do.
What’s your favorite creative way to Stem?
Homemade cider pretzels! Shoutout to Half Baked Harvest.
Morgan Graves
Who is one person you would like to enjoy a stem ciders with?
My dream is to share a cider with Dolly Parton. Not only does her music bring me to a magical place, she is also an incredible and kind person! The world needs more people like her.
What is the best advice somebody has ever given you?
My mama always taught me to “Make everybody feel like a somebody.” It could be as “simple’ as smiling at a stranger in the grocery store – but we never know what somebody else is carrying with them and sharing kindness could make the world of difference for them.
What is the most useless talent you have?
I can hoola hoop for a very, very long time. Once I won a contest for hoola hooping for almost an hour.
Lais Schmidtello
What is your ideal adventure?
Traveling to a new place and exploring the area.
If you could pick one person to enjoy a Stem Cider with, who would it be?
I’d love to share a cider with Tom Hanks, and talk about his amazing characters in some of my favorite movies.
What is your favorite food and cider pairing
I use Pommeau in my chocolate ganache recipe, which I roll into chocolate truffles. And pair the truffles with a glass of Paloma!
Sarah Ingraham
What is your ideal adventure?
Totally depends on the location! Travel adventures must involve nature and exploring cultures, woven with delicious food and libations with good people.
If you could pick one person to enjoy a Stem Cider with, who would it be?
Wanda Sykes and Noam Chomsky. I’m not great at following rules, and neither are they!
What are words that you live by?
Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.
Patrick Combs
What is the most fearless thing you’ve ever done?
I solo climbed Mt. Olympus in Greece over two days.
If you could pick one person to enjoy a Stem Cider with, who would it be?
Louis Pasteur, because fermentation science (and the beverages we all love) would likely not exist as we know them today without his endless pursuit of knowledge.
What is the best advice somebody has given you?
My Dad has always told me to “Stay on Target” when pursing a goal. I’ve tried my best to live by these words and keep my eye on the prize.
Arline Kellog
What is the most fearless thing you’ve ever done?
Left my job managing the Homebrew store and started my own business teaching cheese classes, not knowing how it would go. The cheese classes went great! However, when Eric & Phil offered me the job at Stem, I knew that was where my home was.
What is your ideal adventure?
Hiking the entire Colorado trail with my siblings and experiencing all the nature I can while pushing myself to the limits.
What is your favorite food and cider pairing?
Crafting the weekly pairings always brings a new flavor discovery to the table, the diversity of what cider can be paired with is truly my favorite. My favorite personal creation has to be when I made Chile Guava Apple Butter! It was the perfect touch to pork dishes, charcuterie boards and desserts alike!
