Photo by Chris Darus
September 8, 2020
Oliver recognized for leadership and innovation
By Chris Darus
The Bandera Prophet
John Oliver is an interesting individual. The soft-spoken general manager of the Bandera Ale Project, located at 3540 Hwy. 16 S., was recently recognized for his commitment to excellence by winning one of the first 40 under 40 awards from the Kerr Economic Development Corp.
Oliver has only been in the brewing business since late 2017, when he wandered into the Ale Project looking for something to do. Starting out as a server, he rapidly rose up the ranks, assumed the general manager position, became a business partner and took over the brewmaster duties, all in his first year.
Oliver, along with business partner James Baroffio, has just about completed the Ale Projects latest endeavor - the installation of a new automatic brewhouse system that will almost quadruple their brew capacity and help with marketing and further distribution of their craft beers throughout the state.
The KEDC issued a challenge coin, in addition to a plaque, to the 40 winners to help move the program forward in the next few years and to build on it. They expanded their reach beyond the Kerr County boundaries and into the Hill Country as part of their mission to help surrounding counties as well.
This year the area's included were Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr and Mason counties.
The corporation was impressed with the number and quality of this year's nominees and look forward to the 40 under 40 program growing every year.
"John epitomizes the entrepeunership of the Hill Country and is an incredible example of the people that are out there we want to recognize and we are really excited to see what happens next," Theresa Metcalf of the KEDC said.
Don't make the mistake of thinking this is just a brewery, it is also a place that gives musicians a chance to practice their craft, gives food trucks a venue to peddle their wares and gets involved in the community through fundraisers and as a meeting hub for likeminded people in the Hill Country.
That last part is basically the mission of the brewery, community-focused and community-supportive, raising money for those in need and to collaborate with local businesses to help promote one another in Bandera and Bandera County.
"Honestly, I am very honored to receive this award. I am glad they are actually doing this in the Hill Country. I have heard about it in San Antonio and other cities, a friend of mine received a 40 under 40 in San Antonio a few weeks ago. I was wondering if I might receive one from the KEDC and the next week, I received an email telling me I was one of the recipients. I was just beside myself. I love where I am at right now, here in Bandera. I have lived in the city my whole life and didn't know about life in a small town. I feel it is important for small businesses to show support for others in a community like Bandera. I feel in a small town with less traffic and publicity, we have to innovate, think outside the box more than in a larger town to make things work here. As the first recipients of this award, we should be able to guide others in the future to strive to win this award in the Hill Country. It fuels me a little bit more and maybe I can motivate the next generation," Oliver said.
Oliver's vision for the near future is to expand the brewery, create training and living wage jobs and provide educational opportunities for the community.
He also knows it isn't a one man show.
"I would like to thank Bandera, Bandera County, all of our followers and customers that have made us successful. I would also like to thank my business partner and mentor Dr. James Baroffio for giving me the tools to succeed,” Oliver said. “To my team of Carlie Baroffio, Elisabeth Cox, Bailey Cox, Braden Cox, Tito Solis, Jason and Kerrye Church, without y’all we would not be where we are today. I feel like we have just begun to scratch the surface and look forward to the future. Cheers!”
For more info, go to www.banderaaleproject.com
Oliver has only been in the brewing business since late 2017, when he wandered into the Ale Project looking for something to do. Starting out as a server, he rapidly rose up the ranks, assumed the general manager position, became a business partner and took over the brewmaster duties, all in his first year.
Oliver, along with business partner James Baroffio, has just about completed the Ale Projects latest endeavor - the installation of a new automatic brewhouse system that will almost quadruple their brew capacity and help with marketing and further distribution of their craft beers throughout the state.
The KEDC issued a challenge coin, in addition to a plaque, to the 40 winners to help move the program forward in the next few years and to build on it. They expanded their reach beyond the Kerr County boundaries and into the Hill Country as part of their mission to help surrounding counties as well.
This year the area's included were Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr and Mason counties.
The corporation was impressed with the number and quality of this year's nominees and look forward to the 40 under 40 program growing every year.
"John epitomizes the entrepeunership of the Hill Country and is an incredible example of the people that are out there we want to recognize and we are really excited to see what happens next," Theresa Metcalf of the KEDC said.
Don't make the mistake of thinking this is just a brewery, it is also a place that gives musicians a chance to practice their craft, gives food trucks a venue to peddle their wares and gets involved in the community through fundraisers and as a meeting hub for likeminded people in the Hill Country.
That last part is basically the mission of the brewery, community-focused and community-supportive, raising money for those in need and to collaborate with local businesses to help promote one another in Bandera and Bandera County.
"Honestly, I am very honored to receive this award. I am glad they are actually doing this in the Hill Country. I have heard about it in San Antonio and other cities, a friend of mine received a 40 under 40 in San Antonio a few weeks ago. I was wondering if I might receive one from the KEDC and the next week, I received an email telling me I was one of the recipients. I was just beside myself. I love where I am at right now, here in Bandera. I have lived in the city my whole life and didn't know about life in a small town. I feel it is important for small businesses to show support for others in a community like Bandera. I feel in a small town with less traffic and publicity, we have to innovate, think outside the box more than in a larger town to make things work here. As the first recipients of this award, we should be able to guide others in the future to strive to win this award in the Hill Country. It fuels me a little bit more and maybe I can motivate the next generation," Oliver said.
Oliver's vision for the near future is to expand the brewery, create training and living wage jobs and provide educational opportunities for the community.
He also knows it isn't a one man show.
"I would like to thank Bandera, Bandera County, all of our followers and customers that have made us successful. I would also like to thank my business partner and mentor Dr. James Baroffio for giving me the tools to succeed,” Oliver said. “To my team of Carlie Baroffio, Elisabeth Cox, Bailey Cox, Braden Cox, Tito Solis, Jason and Kerrye Church, without y’all we would not be where we are today. I feel like we have just begun to scratch the surface and look forward to the future. Cheers!”
For more info, go to www.banderaaleproject.com