GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids has been once again named "Best Beer City" by USA Today. As Women’s History Month continues, two women who are part of the booming beer industry here in West Michigan are sharing their stories, hoping to give other women inspiration to dream.
Jenney Grant and Heather VanDyke-Titus have been making history in Grand Rapids.
For more than eight years, Grant has held the title of director of operations at Long Road Distillers. She’s responsible for all the branding of the distillery.
“I am capable of doing my job because I’m a good director of operations and that helps build this brand,” Grant said. "We need to be focusing on that. I've seen women starting with my grandmas and my mom that have inspired me and I hope I can do that for other women.”
Ten minutes away, there’s Harmony Brewing Company. It’s been a staple in the community for more than 12 years and counting. Co-owner Heather VanDyke-Titus hopes to inspire other women as a small business owner in the brewing industry.
“I have two daughters and I love being able to bring them into the business,” VanDyke-Titus said. "I love to set that example for them of being a woman in business and have them see that a woman can be strong and a woman can have her own business and be out here thriving.”
Grant has a message for women who may be considering opening their own business or any women who have a big dream.
“I hope that I inspire other women. I hope that people see me in the position I am in and are able to say 'hey, I can do that too,'” Grant said. "There needs to be more women in positions, but we need to be in these positions because we're good at it.”
VanDyke-Titus wants to encourage other women to bet on themselves.
“You’ve got to believe in your talent, you have to invest in yourself,” VanDyke-Titus said. "Grand Rapids is a really great town to try something, and people are really supportive. Your other fellow business owners are going to be supportive; media is really supportive when you have a story to tell, they will come out and tell your story.”
Grant and VanDyke-Titus say they plan to continue making history for decades to come in Beer City, USA. They hope anyone who saw their story knows that no dream is too big or too grand.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.