Yuengling family speak on PA’s business climate
Trending
Speaking to a standing-room only crowd, two generations of Yuenglings said Pennsylvania is positioned well to maintain a strong business climate, given its proximity to the nation's key population center.
Being close to metropolitan areas of New York, Philadelphia and south Jersey offers access to goods and people, said Dick Yuengling, president of D.G. Yuengling and Son brewery.
"We should have more businesses, more manufacturing. We're right in the middle of it," he said.
Yuengling and two daughters, who also work in the company, led a panel discussion Wednesday at Lycoming College's Clarke Chapel. A 1966 graduate of the college, Yuengling also was honored in 2016 with a lifetime achievement award.
Speaking before a standing-room-only crowd, the Yuenglings answered questions from students and members of the community, who came to hear the brewery owner and his family.
Jennifer Yuengling, who began working at the company just over 20 years ago, after her graduation from Bucknell, and now serves as vice president of operations shared the stage with her father and sister.
"(I) started in the company and shadowed my dad as best as he would allow someone to shadow him, and learned the operations of the plant, everything from incoming raw materials, to brewing, fermentation, storage of the beer, packaging, warehousing and the logistics. So, getting the beer brewed and getting it out the door to the wholesaler the way they want it," she said. "I have a passion for what I do and I'm looking forward to our 190th anniversary this year."
That passion for the company founded by their ancestors who arrived from Germany to open the brewery in Pottsville, was evident as her sister Debbie Yuengling-Ferhat spoke.
Yuengling-Ferhat noted that she, too, had been with the company about 20 years; she now works in sales administration and pricing management.
"We are really excited to be here for 190 years. We have a lot of great things going on just this year. We rolled out our new golden Pilsner, which was one of the sixth generation creativity brands, the first year-round brand for the brewery in almost 20 years," she said.
The Yuenglings fielded questions from Lycoming students, ranging from taxing and government regulations on beer to the state's business climate.
Yuengling told the group that although the brewery has been in operation for 190 years in the Keystone state, a brewery they opened in Florida 20 years ago is the most successful.
"Part of the reason is the weather," he admitted, "and part (because) people want to go where there's warm weather."
"I think Pennsylvania should have one of the best business climates in the country because of its access in between goods and people. Running goods into New York, Philadelphia and north Jersey, most highly populated area of the country.
"We should be able to survive, other manufacturers should be able to survive, but we've lost it in the state. We're one of the few remaining breweries," he said. "It's sad, we should be an economic distinction, a great place to do business. Ask your legislators 'what seems to be the problem?'"
Throughout their responses to questions from the audience, the Yuenglings emphasized the desire to have their company continue far beyond the fifth and sixth generations of Yuengling and his daughters.
"What you realize is what other people went through, just the founding, coming here on a clipper ship, just 20 years old, founding a brewery that still stands there," he said.
Asked what their succession plan is, the daughters quipped, "He's not going to die."
"I'm going to live long enough to see my great-great-grandchildren," their father added.
His other two daughters, Wendy Yuengling, and Sheryl Yuengling also work in the family's business, but were not present at the forum.