Shanleigh Thomson is a second-year MBA student in the UC Davis online program, with over 12 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry and a passion for making the world of fermented beverages accessible, engaging, and innovative.

She is a UC Davis Master Brewer and holds a Master of Food Science from Purdue University, blending technical expertise with her flair for storytelling and marketing. Shanleigh is the Western Sales Manager and Marketing Director at Roy Farms, where she manages customer relationships and sales strategies across the West Coast while providing technical expertise on hop varieties. She also leads marketing efforts, creating campaigns that showcase Roy Farms’ commitment to sustainability and the craft beverage industry.

Her previous roles have spanned positions with industry leaders like Diageo, Agriculture Canada, and Yakima Chief Hops, where she honed her skills in sales, marketing, supply chain management, and technical brewing.

She is also the founder and CEO of Shan.Ferments, a platform that educates, inspires, and connects the craft beverage community through events, content creation, and technical resources.

As a lecturer at Washington State University, Shanleigh has developed and taught brewing and fermentation courses, blending her industry insights with engaging educational methods.

An avid traveler, dedicated long-distance runner, and certified yoga instructor, she draws upon her global experiences to cultivate collaboration, inspire creativity, and drive innovation within the craft beverage industry.