cider company

aBOUT

About Avid’s Journey

In 2013, AVID Cider entrepreneur Samantha Roberts and her co-founder envisioned a new taste to share with their community. Something that surprised and delighted cider fans with a unique and unforgettable edge. Born from concert kegs at local events and pints passed around picnic tables, Sam’s cider company dream took legs as a business. 

Thanks to that early success and local support, AVID Cider Company started looking for partners to begin expanding operations in the Pacific Northwest and teamed up with Blake’s Hard Cider of Michigan. This winning combo means more Oregon-produced products in the hands of cider fans. 

cider company

More Flavor,
Less Sugar

By Locals,
For Everyone

The Good Kind
Of DIfferent

Meet The Team

The cider company dream team is here. Meet our one, big, happy family. We come from everywhere with one thing in common: cider rules in this house. 

Sam Roberts

Sam Roberts

CEO | Co-Founder

about sam

Sam is our OG. Since the beginning, she’s been involved in every team from the taproom to the production side. Sam is the ultimate taste tester thanks to her family roots in England, where she gets her love of cider. Crossing paths in public with an AVID cider drinker is her favorite full circle moment. Sam loves people and is active in the operations of the business with her local team and regional partners. When she’s not running the show, she loves hiking around Central Oregon and laying in the sun by the High Lakes. Sam’s favorite AVID drink is the Royal Apricot Imperial Cider.

Casey Baxter

Casey Baxter

National Sales Director

about casey

Casey is our National Sales Director, and contributes to the success of both AVID and our partner, Blake’s Hard Cider. Casey is gifted at supporting distributors, chain retailers, and helping support the AVID sales team. Casey is in it to win it and is motivated by establishing consistent long-term growth for our ciders and hard seltzers in the beverage industry. Casey loves golf and boating, and AVID’s Blackberry Cider (closely seconded by the Golden Delish) is his favorite drink. 

Michael Erwert

Michael Erwert

Sales Director

about mike

Mike is our Sales Manager and resident golfing fanatic. He helps lead sales support efforts and helps collaborate with distributors on multiple fronts. Mike strives to be his best and is behind the creation of new processes that deliver results in cider sales. Best of all, he loves working for a homegrown company based in Oregon. Mike’s favorite AVID beverage is the Blackberry Cider. 

Finn Leahy

Finn Leahy

Marketing Manager

about finn

Finn is at the helm of our busy marketing team! He runs the project management behind our exciting product releases and marketing initiatives. Finn manages digital marketing and helps sales with campaigns and community events. His love for the craft beverage community is driven by personal connection and making incredible memories. His favorite outdoor activities are lacrosse, waterfall chasing, and, of course, hiking. Finn’s favorite AVID beverage is the Blackberry Cider.

scott krug

scott krug

Operations Manager

about scott

Scott is on the operations side of things. For over a year, he has led and managed AVID’s team of production staff, providing guidance, training and performance feedback. He stays motivated by the fact that he gets to make alcohol for a living and enjoys collaborating with sales, marketing and finance teams at AVID. Scott enjoys sipping on an AVID Jungle Juice after a nice hike with the family, a round of golf, or mountain biking ride. 

Tyson Sixkiller

Tyson Sixkiller

Regional Sales Manager

about tyson

Tyson is a key contributor to the success our success in the Washington Market. As the Regional Sales Manager, he supports and promotes the Avid brand through working with our distributors and key retailers. He is motivated to help Avid grow through creating a stronger presense and connecting with key retail accounts to build lasting relationships. When he is not selling cider you’ll find him golfing, exploring the zoo with his daughter, or kicking back by the firepit with Avid’s Jungle Juice cider.

Erick D-Lataille

Erick D-Lataille

Production Manager

about erick

Erick is our exceptional Production Manager and all around good guy on staff. For the last seven years, he has led and managed the production staff while creating recipes for our award winning ciders and seltzer. His team likes to refer to him as “dad” and not just because he wears white new balance shoes while he mows his lawn. He has always seen his crew as a second family and does his best to ensure a family dynamic down at production with a great “work hard, play harder” attitude. He’s loved releasing new products and flavors into the community in his time with AVID. When not crafting the worlds best cider, Erick is traveling, enjoying live music and paddle boarding. Erick’s favorite AVID beverage is the Orange Creamsicle Cider.”

jenna wazny

jenna wazny

Taproom Manager

about jenna

Jenna, affectionately known by us as “Waz,” goes back eight years with AVID as our original taproom team member. Once a bartender, now Taproom Manager, Jenna creates a chill space for our local patrons to unwind, enjoy live music experiences, and shoot some pool. Jenna hires and trains our tasting room experts on the nuances of AVID’s amazing flavor profiles. And best of all, Jenna met her now-fiance while working at AVID. Her favorite AVID beverage is the Royal Apricot Imperial Cider. 

Jacob Wilson

Jacob Wilson

Warehouse Supervisor

about jacob

Jacob loves working with local products as our valuable Warehouse Supervisor. For a little over a year, Jacob’s been part of the fun of managing, building, and shipping orders all over the country. He also receives products and helps us track inventory and storage. When Jacob’s not fielding the occasional Castaway volleyball joke about his last name, he’s biking or swimming. Jacob loves cider and AVID’s flagship blackberry flavor is his favorite. 

Grant Johnson

Grant Johnson

Field Sales Manager

about grant

Grant is responsible for key account management for AVID, managing our sales in Central and Southern Oregon. A huge part of Grant’s job is attending events and festivals where others get to sample AVID beverages. Giving back to the community that raised him is Grant’s favorite aspect of the job, and being part of what started as a small, family-owned business is a big motivating factor in his work. Grant loves disc golf and skiing and his go-to AVID beverage is the seasonal Pineapple Mango Cider. 

Stefan Arnsberg

Stefan Arnsberg

Lead Cellar Hand

about stefan

Stefan joined the team a year ago as our lead cellar hand. He is the magic behind the fermentation journey our cider makes from apple juice to finished product. Stefan helps to package finished cider that ships out all over the nation. Quality control and maintaining high standards are his daily passions. Being a Central Oregon resident, Stefan also knows how to have fun snowboarding, camping, kayaking, and adventuring with his three dogs. His favorite AVID beverage is a tie between the Royal Apricot Imperial Cider and the Seven Peaks Marionberry Peach Bellini Hard Seltzer.

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