Jared & Chad—New(ish) Additions to the Portland Cider Family Tree
Sometimes, you meet people that you feel like you’ve known for years, and the two newest faces to our sales team are those kinda guys. In fact, the two of them have known each other for years, having started and left their previous jobs at the same brewery at just about the same time—and we’re so glad they’re here!
Jared is our first-ever VP of Sales. “The more I learned about Portland Cider, the more I wanted to work here,” he said. Before joining us, Jared worked in just about every role a craft beverage maker has to offer, from server to forklift operator to keg scrubber to events marketing, and finally sales. He’s been with us for about two months now, and that holistic view of what makes this kind of business run gives him a great understanding of how he can support it in his role.
In his free time, Jared likes to spend time with his fiancée and their 18-month-old son and cheering on the Green Bay Packers every chance he gets. Originally from Wisconsin, he’s adopted Portland as his hometown, and is a loyal Blazers fan.
Chad is the retail account manager in charge of the customers on the west side of the Willamette, so his days are spent meeting buyers, sharing samples, and talking about cider...and probably the Seahawks. And also the Blazers. He says his first month here has been all he’d hoped, and we have a feeling he’ll be around for a while.
When he’s not working, he’s playing with his family—his wife, daughter, and their dog, Tipsy. A lifelong Oregonian, Chad’s new pandemic hobby is longboarding, which he likes to share with his 8-year-old daughter. The family is expecting a new addition in a couple of months, too...maybe he’ll join the family skate party once he learns to walk!
Both Chad and Jared cite the family ownership and friendly crew as major selling points in joining us at Portland Cider. “When you work side-by-side with the company’s owners, you have this strong investment in everyone’s success,” said Chad. “You really do feel like you’re part of a family with shared goals.”
The two agree that our Kinda Dry is one of the very best ciders around, though Chad is also digging the Tangerine Dreamsicle summertime release, and Jared really likes the Passion Orange Guava cider. Hopefully, they can keep this cider rivalry as friendly as their football one...
It takes a lot of people to make the Portland Cider family tree strong, and we’re happy that Chad and Jared are now a part of our story, and in our roots!
Portland Cider Company was founded by a husband-and-wife team, Jeff & Lynda Parrish, with the mission of bringing together cider rooted in the English tradition with a little Portland personality and culture. Combine those things, and you’ve got the Portland Cider Company.