Key Staff
Hopunion Office Staff
General Manager/Owner: Ralph Olson
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
"I've never seen a beer too hoppy"
"I like the hop for its preservative qualities, I plan to live to 250 years"
"Each day has a new beginning as does myself"
"If I err, it's probably because of too much beer. Personally I don't see this as a problem"
"Hops are like me, full of attitude but flavorful."
"Bitterness is an adult thing."
"If you like good hops buy anywhere, if you like Great hops, buy from Hopunion LLC."
Ralph Olson, our resident ‘Head Hop’, was born in Spokane, but raised in Yakima. Growing up he worked in the fruit industry thinning and picking fruit trees twice as fast as the average worker. He spent four years at college obtaining a B.A. degree and started working in the hop industry on April 1, 1978. Ralph started selling to the craft and home brewing industry in 1980. He’s done practically everything within the trade from shipping, operations, receiving, purchasing, craft brewing sales to major sales. Mention any job around Hopunion LLC that needs to be done and Ralph has done it before. Not only that, but he can also tell you how to finish the task in the least amount of time. Currently he is in charge of purchasing hops from growers and selling hops to craft breweries. He also oversees the receiving and inspection of hops that have been purchased by Hopunion LLC.
He has served in many functions throughout his career. In past years he has served as President and on the Board of Governors for the Master Brewers Association of America. He has chaired the Advisory Board for the Brewers Association and was a member of the Board for the Brewer’s Association transition. In 2003 Ralph attended the International Hop Grower’s Congress where he was awarded the international “Order of the Hop”. At the time he was only the second hop dealer from the U.S. to receive this award, with the first being his mentor Ernie Netter. In 2006 Ralph was guest of honor at Bell’s Brewery “Eccentric Day” party where he dressed as a pimp. Currently Ralph is on the American Hop Museum Board and the Yakima Fresh Hop Ale Festival Board. He also runs a “Hop and Brew” school here in Yakima for brewers. This year the two classes will be August 25th-26th and August 27th-28th, 2009.
Ralph is often asked how he got into the hop business. According to the legend, Ralph ran into his future boss at a bar. Then over a bottle of beer, they got talking about hops. The very next day Ralph marched down to the hop office, filled out an application and made such a pest of himself, that they had no other choice than to hire him! Little did they or Ralph know that it would turn into a life-long career and Hopunion would become the “other woman”. Much hasn’t changed since that day and Ralph still makes a pest of himself around the Hopunion office, but his employees wouldn’t expect anything less. Everyone and anyone who has ever met Ralph knows what a fun guy he is to hang out. He also will take a minute, when needed to lend an ear or a helping hand.
Director of Craft Brewing Sales: Ralph Woodall
Toll Free 1-800-952-4873
Direct line: 509-574-5139
“I’m Ralph Too, not Ralph Two”
“Rock On!!! Or was that HOP ON!!!”
“You gotta do what you gotta do because you gotta do what you gotta do!”
“Sometimes you have to go along to get along”
“Is it Beer-Thirty Yet???”
Ralph is a born and bred Yakimaniac, with hops in his blood! He worked on the hop harvest during his high school and college years. After graduating from WWU with a BA in 1975 he worked four years in Human Services, and a year in the trucking industry with PIE Motor Freight, before finding his place at Hopunion in August of 1983 (Known as Western Hop Co. at that time). He's made the rounds in the office over the past 25 years, but has always helped out with craft brewing sales. He has been Traffic Manager (‘83-‘86), Production Manager (‘87-‘94) and Director of Operations (‘95-‘97), before taking on the position of Director of Craft Brewing Sales, which he has held since June of 1997.
He travels all over the US and Canada making sales calls, and participating in conferences, lecture and brew festivals. He is extremely creative, goal oriented, and good humored. In his spare time he collects western art, dabbles in photography, travels, and works on his rock gardens.
Operations Manager: Jesse Umbarger
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct line: 509-574-5130
“Hops, Hops, and more Hops… Imperial IPA please”
Jesse was born and raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico and if you ask him, he will tell you that he glows in the dark. At age 17 he learned how to homebrew from his uncle who took first place in a state fair brewing competition. From that point on his heart and mind were consumed with the desire to learn as much as possible about the art and science of making beer. As he continued home brewing and pushing the envelope of creative possibilities, he realized that attaining a formal brewing education would be necessary if he were to turn his love for beer into a life time career. In 1996 Jesse received a diploma from the world renowned Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology in Chicago, Ill. Shortly after graduation he landed his first head brewer job in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he learned many lessons in how not to operate a business. Over the next 10 years he was the Brewmaster for a number of breweries in New Mexico, Washington, and Oregon. (Rio Bravo Brewing Co, San Ysidro Restaurant and Brewery, Wild Duck Restaurant and Brewery, West Brothers, Ice Harbor, and Steelhead Brewing Company) After experiencing firsthand the many obstacles and pressures that force small businesses to close their doors, he realized how important finance and accounting are to any business. Soon thereafter Jesse enrolled and graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and economics. He claims to have a PhD in restaurant/brewery operations and provides consulting services within the industry.
Controller: Blake Cruzen
Toll Free : 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5131
“It’s beer-thirty somewhere.”
Blake was born in Anchorage, Alaska in 1973 and then moved to the Yakima Valley before he was a year old and has made his home here ever since. He attended Naches Valley High School and then completed his college education at Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. While in college, he had several jobs to help pay for his schooling from janitorial work for the college, forklift driver, Pepsi delivery driver, a long haul semi-truck driver for a hay company in Ellensburg and coaching high school baseball. Following graduation, Blake’s first accounting position was with the Yakima County Treasurer’s office where he worked for a little over a year before obtaining his first financial position in the hop industry with Yakima Chief, Inc., where he started as the Assistant Controller and being promoted to Controller. After more than five years with Yakima Chief, Inc., he decided that the daily 90 mile round trip commute to Sunnyside was getting too expensive and tiresome so he took a position in Yakima with US Bank Business Lending as a Commercial Loan Officer. But, he missed working in the hop industry so when he heard of the opening with Hopunion LLC, he knew it was an opportunity he did not want to pass up. He started with Hopunion July 2007 as their Chief Financial Officer/Controller and is very happy to be back doing accounting work and most of all being back in the hop industry. Who doesn’t like beer? Other important aspects of Blake’s life are that he is a volunteer fireman and EMT for his community fire department for the past 10 years and is a high school & college basketball referee for the past 15 years. Blake enjoys hunting & fishing, a fan of major league baseball, college basketball, & football but most importantly spending time with his wife of 12 years, Kim and their two children, Corissa (9) and Mitchell (6).
Office Manager: Jennifer Stevens
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct line: 509-574-5124
I am not crazy, I am medicated for a chemical imbalance, don't you sit there and think that I am crazy. ~Mrs. Beady
I think that, a) you have an act, and that, b) not having an act is your act. ~ Linda Powell
Jennifer moved from an island in Alaska to Yakima when she was a teenager. She attended the University of Washington and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Anthropology in 1997. She began working at Hopunion in 2000 with Ralph and Ralph. Jennifer has spent many long days, countless hours and earned numerous grey hairs working along with the Ralphs in the trenches. Through her numerous years at Hopunion she has almost mastered the ability to read Ralph Olson’s mind. Although not a perfect science, this has improved her ability to walk the fine line between the black and white which is known as the grey area and to “think outside of the box”.
Jennifer is currently raising two energetic children, Nathan (4 years) and Tim (35 years). Her pastimes include retreating to her evil lair and hatching evil schemes. Jennifer also enjoys contemplating the meaning of life and counting to the number 5. Her future goals are to take over the world and become a vampire, mwaaahhh ha ha.
Accounts payable, Accounts receivable and human resources, JoAnn Waters
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5134
"My way or the Highway"
Born in Olympia, WA in the late Fifties doesn't make me a fifties kind of gal. I moved to the Yakima area at age 5, along with my 7 brothers and sisters. And if that wasn't enough my mom married a man who had 7 children of his own. At a young age I learned how to work the family fruit orchard. I knew there was an alternative motive as to why my step dad wanted to marry my mother. Free Labor! Being the second to youngest child meant you worked for what you got. I learned not to hate work, but how to value it and learn how important agriculture is in the Yakima Valley and its families. Fresh out of high school I soon married and had three children which are now fine young adults. During the 20 years I was married I worked in many different types of facilities in the medical field, pushing pencils, where I became an expert in accounting. I had gone as far as I could in that field and after a divorce I decided to do bigger and better things with my life. I am now progressing in my second year with Hopunion and I couldn't be with a better team. Now you see why my slogan reads "IT'S MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY". I have found my way home.
CBS Coordinator: Debbie Byrne
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5133
“To hear a tiny little heart beating next to your very own… is the most beautiful sound a mother could ever hear.”
After being born and raised in Yakima, WA, I attended Perry Technical Institute where I received a degree in Photography and Graphic Design. Upon graduation my husband and I moved to San Diego for 5 years enjoying the sunny weather that Southern California provides. We moved around to different areas of Southern California before eventually settling in Visalia, CA for three years. I worked as a Graphic Designer and Production Manager for a magazine company that published three monthly magazines.
Missing our families, we decided to move back to Yakima and buy a house. Upon return, I started working for Hopunion three years ago, and enjoy it. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in July and we both are very excited! So is Grandpa Ralph Olson.
CBS Coordinator: Nadia Urvina
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5121
“A drink a day keeps the shrink away”
Born and bred in the Yakima Valley. She attended Yakima Valley Community College where she received an AA in Business and Central Washington University where she acquired a BA in Law and Justice. Nadia is in her 9th year at Hopunion.
Nadia is the cheery voice on the line when you place an order for your hops. If you ever have any questions, need to place an order, or just need to track down one of the Ralphs, feel free to call.
CBS Coordinator: Joanne Scully
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5132
“Thanks for the update.”
Two years ago when I started with Hopunion, the staff was requested to come up with a ‘quote’ to run in the Craft Brewers Quarterly. Mine was, “God, Family, Friends, Music & Beer … in that order!” My views haven’t changed since then, even though I have learned a little more about beer in these ensuing two years, mostly, that I like a beer with Simcoe in it.
Another saying that I like to use at work, whenever I respond to an informative email is, “Thanks for the update!” The only problem that my Supervisor, Jennifer, sees in that quote is this: “Joanne, I swear that if I told you that aliens had just landed in Yakima and they were here to suck out your brains, you would just respond, “thanks for the update!”
I am one of the older CBS Coordinators, but I do seem to keep busy for my fifty-something age. I am active in my local church with Youth Group, Music Ministry (play drums and rhythm acoustic guitar, but not at the same time), and making a great cup of coffee whenever the need should arise.
CBS Coordinator: Gerri Harrison
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5125
“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body.
But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, martini in one hand, chocolate in the other,
And loudly proclaiming, WOW !!!! What a ride!!”
I have a degree in finance with over 20 years experience. But, working with numbers was never as satisfying as dealing with people, helping to resolve issues, and making things work smoothly for my customers. I joined Hopunion in March 2008. I enjoy the family-like and stress-free atmosphere, and I’ve enjoyed developing relationships with the brewers/breweries (working relationships – get your mind out of the gutter!)
Gerri’s co-workers know she has a bawdy sense of humor, a quick wit and a kind heart. She adores her husband, loves her children & grandchildren, her boat, and “would rather be fishing”.
CBS Coordinator, Jessica Dickinson
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5120
"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."
Jessica was raised in Selah, WA on her family’s farm, where she and her sister were the 5th generation since the late 1800’s to grow up there. Her grandparents raised everything from cattle, pigs, chickens, and not to mention the meanest pair of geese you never wanted to run into. Jessica eventually moved to Leavenworth and worked for the Stevens Pass Ski Resort, but after spending four exciting years there, she moved back to the family farm in Selah, WA, but this time to stay. Jessica married Todd Dickinson in June of 2007, and couldn’t been happier, and is already looking forward to the future.
Jessica came to Hopunion in August of 2005, after being recruited by Jennifer Stevens, and has been enjoying it here every since. There aren’t too many office jobs out there where you can wear jeans to work, have beer bottles lined up on your desk and taste your co-workers latest homebrew creation! Jessica has become Ralph Olson’s official coffee maker, cell phone babysitter, “comb over” fixer, not to mention occasional hop bale weigher, and Jennifer Stevens’ quasi evil protégé. Currently Jessica enjoys quilting outfits for imaginary squirrels and writing a biography on the warehouse troll, who is related to Big Foot although 3 times removed (book pending with photography by Ralph Woodall).
CBS Coordinator: Lisa Dehnhoff
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Direct Line: 509-574-5137
“As real…As it gets”
Yakima is my home town, I was born here and even attended the fine schools. But after graduation I moved to the west side of the state for twelve years… There I worked in many fields, moved around to different areas, had my daughter and maintained great friendships. Later the love of my life showed up via myspace…an old High School friend. He left Yakima to be with me. After a few years, we married and moved back to our hometown to raise our daughters. We enjoy soccer, motor cross, UFC, camping, Vegas, Phoenix and our large growing family.
Hopunion Warehouse and Shipping Staff
Warehouse Manager, Bob Rabe
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Bob has been a life long resident of the Yakima Valley. He first joined us in 1974 working during the harvesting of the hops and in our pellet plant. He remembers the "good old days" of making samples for customers with Ralph Olson. In 1988 Bob started in our shipping department and is currently our shipping manager in charge of all shipments.
From helping the office staff answer phones to doing lab work, Bob is pretty much a jack of all trades. He enjoys working with the "Hopunion Team" and has become trusted friends of both Ralph Olson and Ralph Woodall. No matter how busy his day might be, he is always willing to help his fellow co-workers with questions that arise or to lend a hand. Bob enjoys meeting all the brewers and customers when they come in to visit and make their annual hop selections. In his down time Bob enjoys playing tennis, fishing and spending time with his grandson.
"People drink when they are happy, but they drink even more when they are sad"
Plant Manager: Tracy McCorkle
Toll Free: 1-800-952-4873
Born and raised in the Yakima Valley, he's spent most of his life working in agriculture. Tracy started at Hopunion in 1992 working in harvest and later in the Pellet Plant. He now runs the Pellet Plant operations and assists with shipping.
"Where there's a will, there's a BEER"
Warehouse Staff
Top Row: Tom Redfield, Doug Cannon, Randy Naasz, Rick Freidrich and Cody Milner
Bottom Row: Ramon Silva, Richard Freidrich, Phil Stanton and Chris Mork