Who are you, where are you from and where are you now?
DD: Drew Dunlap. I’m a nomad – but the Bay Area for my early life, a stop in Japan for a bit, Baltimore, MD most of my adult life, and now in LA.
SC: Sean Conley from Santa Monica California but rest my head in Venice CA
What do you do for a living and how long have you been doing it?
DD: Currently building More Drinks & Gilly’s Legendary Lager with my pal here Sean. I’ve been in the food and beverage industry for most of my life. My first food industry job was at a Subway back in maybe 2000, I was a sandwich artist.
SC: Formulation and bringing products to life is my passion and what i’m doing for a living. I’ve been in the hospitality industry for over 30 years. So I kinda know what the consumer wants and is looking for.
What inspires you to do what you do?
DD: Seeing people enjoy something that I played a part in creating, that inspires me the most. I think that applies to all I do, or have done in the past. The process of creation can be addictive. The feeling of seeing ideas come to life, getting my hands dirty, growing the team, seeing happy consumers – I nerd out on that. My family and our Team also inspire me. Providing for my family, and offering the ability for our team to provide for theirs.
SC: Creative minds around me fuel my passion to make something that the consumer can say wow! How’d you do that? or Jeez that’s good!
Was there a pivotal moment in your life that you knew this was your calling?
SC: In 2008 I was clearing off a table at a restaurant I was managing, and someone left behind a brochure to the California Coast Classic Bike Tour. At the time I was considering a new path with my occupation and said if this wasn’t a calling I don’t know what is.
DD: 2009, I opened my first bar in Baltimore with a good friend of mine. We spent every penny we had, and borrowed a little on top of it. It was sketchy, but we knew we were all in at that point. We built it from scratch with our own hands and the help of some great friends.