Rhonda Dannenberg

2020 STEP Ahead Honoree

Brewing and Quality Manager – Craft Supply Chain
Molson Coors Beverage Company

I am passionate about manufacturing because of the fast pace of bringing products to market in the craft division. We are constantly innovating and refining our process to bring the best quality products our consumers are demanding. The diversity of people I work with in manufacturing are crucial to the overall success of projects and end product.

In 2019, Rhonda took the lead for MillerCoors in the scaling and commercial qualification for a brand to be launched nationally in 2020. This effort required a high degree of technical prowess, because the product has strict label claim criteria and requires flawless execution in the brewing and fermenting processes. Drawing on her experiences in previous roles as a pilot brewer and senior staff brewer, Rhonda was able to adapt the pilot scale recipe across three different breweries, overcoming unique challenges at each site.

In fact, Rhonda’s ability to build relationships with Molson Coors Beverage Company’s craft partners has been remarkable. Often, the people in the partner breweries are skeptical of help from the larger corporation, fearing it as interference. But Rhonda quickly establishes her credibility and collaborative nature, and in every case her support and direction have been embraced.

Rhonda takes the initiative to train and mentor new hires at Molson Coors Beverage Company, particularly women just starting out in the business. Without being asked, she sees what support is needed and gladly steps in to offer it. She’s also a highly active member of the Milwaukee Chapter of the Pink Boots Society, a nonprofit whose mission is “to assist, inspire and encourage women beer professionals through education.” One of the first Pink Boots Society members to represent MillerCoors, Rhonda has done the company proud by helping to organize numerous events in support of growing membership and awareness for the organization.

Rhonda also helps lead the Milwaukee B.R.E.W. (Building Relationships & Empowering Women) employee resource group. In addition to networking and professional development initiatives, B.R.E.W. members do volunteer work in the community. Rhonda has been instrumental in organizing an annual Food Truck and Farmer’s Market Festival, which has helped to drive collections for purses, women’s products and donations for a local United Way partner.