Meet Joe Short | Creative Engineer, Industrial Artist, Visionary, Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Short and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, how do you think about risk?
I think it’s a necessary step in entrepreneurship. Risk and Reward is what businesses do all the time to stay relevant. Starting out, I had everything to gain and nothing to lose, so I leaned into that and swing for the fences. Now that I’m older, have a family and a 20 year old business, my risks are slightly more calculated but still very much a necessary part of my personal life and business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I put artists and creative here because I don’t know if I align with the other categories. While attending college for Industrial Arts Education (wood shop teacher), I taught myself how to make beer. Through that process I discovered it was not only a great way to obtain some tasty beer at the age of 19 but also the vortex that would eventually consume my life as Amy future profession. As a craft brewer, I am an industrial art educator. I make craft beer and tell people about it. Building and growing a brewing g company has a lot of moving parts from the equipment and construction side, to the science and formulation side to the business and finance portion and the marking and sales side to the food and beverage/restaurant side and the retail merchandising to community development, municipal/governmental affairs and so on. It’s an entire world built around craft beer and a lot of people who care, who are passionate and creative. They are all artists contributing to a canvas that’s become a true masterpiece. The adventure of creating, developing, sharing and sustaining this art is mental, physical and emotional. The journey is the story full of life lessons that continue to shape the world of Short’s Brewing Company. The brand story to me is The Field of Dreams” approach. If you brew it they will come…. If you believe in something so much and are passionate, hard working, honest and optimistic you can accomplish most anything. It’s a story about coming from nothing and building something amazing and something of value not just from a corporate perspective but the value something like Short’s Brewing Company contributes to a community and how it enriches the lives of people. A subscription to our culture of loving where you live and loving what you do because Life is Short’s and you gotta drink it while you’re here. Meaning, we as humans are only here for a certain amount of time. So don’t waste it on a profession that doesn’t stimulate you, challenge you and help you contribute something positive to the world and certainly don’t do it in a place that doesn’t provide you with the life experiences you hope to have and most importantly, make sure while you’re living this life, you’re doing it with people you love and bring out the best in you. And keep things a little weird….

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Bellaire MI – Home of Short’s Brewing Company and Shanty Creek Resorts. Bellaire has a small and charming downtown with great shops, eats, drinks and the newly developed Spillway Lodges! It’s the nexus of the chain of Lakes. Hop in s boat, or paddle powered vessel and explore the North and South Chain of Lakes. Head up to Glacial Hills for a bike ride, run or hike. Stop and explore the Grass River Natural Area or travel the South Chain of Lakes to Elk Rapids and visit our Production Facility and “The Pull Barn Tap Room” and grab some authentic tacos from Osorios food truck. Hit up downtown for beaches, shops & dining. From there you can venture South and explore Traverse City (cruise the Tart Trail) or North to Explore Charlevoix and Petosky (on more trails). Any route within a 60-75 mile radius of Bellaire and Elk Rapids has lots too explore with our state forests and abundance of water, trails and charming little communities throughout. There’s so much to explore and lots of adventure to be had. Close your eyes and point on the map. It’s won’t steer you wrong!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people should have so much credit. First and foremost, Bill and Pat Sohn for giving me the seed to plant Short’s Brewing Company and the encouragement, confidence and unwavering support to sustain it for the last 2 decades. My wife Leah, who continues to blow me away with how hard she works, how well she builds and leads teams and how her sixth sense continues to find each and every tiny piece that falls through the cracks. She’s an amazing mother, friend and partner and the best co-pilot anyone would ever want in any lifetime. My In-Laws Rich and Anna Hannan who have been on board through this adventure the entire time, helping with odds and ends when needed at the brewery, home and of course the nurture and care they provide for our sons (Simon and Elmer) especially when Leah and I are under heavy fire with SBC. My partners Scott, Tony, Tyler and Rachel and of course the entire Short’s Brew Team. All those Good Humans who help run the day to day, plan for the future and their tireless dedication to providing amazing experiences through our products of passion built with love and an extreme amount of attention to detail, quality and consistency. Of course each and every person out there who’s enjoying and supporting what we do. We couldn’t do it without the folks who are drinking our suds, eating our food, wearing our threads and hanging out with us loving where we live and loving what we do.

Website: www.shortsbrewing.com

Instagram: @shortsbrewing

Facebook: Short’s Brewing Company

Youtube: @ShortsBrewingCompany

Image Credits
Dave Weidner