Last year’s Leadership Spotlight Series energized the lunch crowd at Basecamp. The series continues this year with sessions starting every day at noon, providing provide an intimate look at high-profile leaders in the startup community. Featuring interviews, group discussions and audience Q&A with founders and community leaders, these sessions will shed light on successes, failures and lessons learned.

12:00 - Beer on the Move Panel

Brian Dunn, Founder, Great Divide Brewing Company

After college, Brian Dunn spent 5 years overseas building farms in developing countries. Having grown up in a family that appreciated good food and drink, Dunn expanded his knowledge and passion for beer during his travels. Dunn eventually returned to Colorado, started homebrewing and went to graduate school. Upon graduation in 1993, when Denver’s craft beer scene barely existed, he set out to found what would eventually become one of America’s most decorated and celebrated craft breweries.

Beginning with a marketing study and a business plan, Dunn saw an opportunity in Denver’s Ballpark Neighborhood to brew uniquely balanced, flavorful beers. With financial help from family, friends and a loan from the City of Denver, his dream of brewing commercially became reality in 1994. The brewery started small and in the beginning Dunn was the only full-time employee...brewing, bottling and selling to accounts all in the same day.

Thanks to 48 hardworking, creative and passionate employees, Great Divide Brewing Company has amassed a worldwide following, 18 Great American Beer Festival medals, 5 World Beer Cup awards and countless other accolades.

Brian is currently overseeing the development of a new brewery to help meet the growing demand for quintessential beers like Titan IPA, Yeti Imperial Stout and Hibernation Ale. More importantly, Great Divide remains true to Brian’s original vision—a brewery unlike any other.

Patrick Crawford, Founder, Denver Beer Co.

Patrick Crawford is the co-founder of Denver Beer Company, a craft brewery located in the heart of Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2011, Denver Beer Co serves seasonal ales, lagers, and barrel aged beers in a tap room and open air beer garden in the heart of Denver. Denver Beer Co.’s menu rotates on a weekly basis and typically includes unique twists on traditional beer recipes.

Denver Beer Co. is slated to open a production facility in the Summer of 2014 which will allow for larger scale brewing and canning operations. Patrick Crawford oversees and manages financial strategy, business development and brewing operations for Denver Beer Co.

Prior to founding Denver Beer Co, Patrick was an award winning home-brewer and worked as a Rocket Scientist (Systems Engineer) for Lockheed Martin. In this capacity, he developed commanding plans for spacecraft. His career at Lockheed Martin also included business development, engineering, and detailed problem solving.

Patrick holds a degree in Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Colgate University with honors in Physics. Patrick currently volunteers on the legislative committee of the Colorado Brewers Guild and works to promote and support the craft beer industry within the state of Colorado.

Brian O'Connell, Founder, Renegade Brewing

Brian O’Connell is the founder and Chief Beer Officer of Renegade Brewing Company in Denver. Renegade opened its doors to the public on June 26, 2011, at 925 W. 9th Ave. The company has been awarded best taproom ambience and best new taproom by ‘Westword,’ as well as best neighborhood brewery by ‘5280.’

In 2013, Renegade was awarded a bronze medal for Hammer and Sickle, a Russian Imperial Stout, at the Great American Beer Festival. Renegade packages five beers in cans – ‘5:00,’ ‘Redacted,’ ‘Hammer and Sickle’ ‘Elevation’ and Consilium.

Brian is a former data analyst and home brewer who took his passion for his hobby and turned it into a career. Renegade has grown over 400% in production since the first year of operation, and is currently in the process of building a second brewery to serve as a production facility. This expansion will take the brewery from 2000 square feet of production space to 9500 square feet. This will allow Renegade to make its beer available statewide starting October 1, 2014.

Patrick Crawford, Co-Founder, Denver Beer Company

Patrick Crawford is the co-founder of Denver Beer Company, a craft brewery located in the heart of Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2011, Denver Beer Co serves seasonal ales, lagers, and barrel aged beers in a tap room and open air beer garden in the heart of Denver. Denver Beer Co.’s menu rotates on a weekly basis and typically includes unique twists on traditional beer recipes.

Denver Beer Co. recently opened the doors at a new production facility which will allow for larger scale brewing and canning operations. Patrick Crawford oversees and manages financial strategy, business development and brewing operations for Denver Beer Co.

Prior to founding Denver Beer Co, Patrick was an award winning home-brewer and worked as a Rocket Scientist (Systems Engineer) for Lockheed Martin. In this capacity, he developed commanding plans for spacecraft. His career at Lockheed Martin also included business development, engineering, and detailed problem solving. Patrick holds a degree in Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Colgate University with honors in Physics. Patrick currently volunteers on the legislative committee of the Colorado Brewers Guild and works to promote and support the craft beer industry within the state of Colorado.

12:30 - Jim Booth, Sphero

Jim Booth is Chief Operating Officer for Sphero, a company that is entirely focused on transforming the future of toys and play. Sphero is a connected toy company located in Boulder, CO that was founded by Ian Bernstein and Adam Wilson and was part of the TechStars Class of 2010. Jim was a Techstars mentor to Sphero founders and joined the team after pitch day. Jim is a seasoned entrepreneur now on his 3rd startup. Her is here to talk to you about Sphero's founding story and the progress they've made to date as a local company delivering both a combined hardware and software product to the consumer market.

Event hashtag: #LeadershipDSW