One Massachusetts Company Has a Big Sustainability Story to Tell on Earth Day

Vanguard Renewables Reaches Major Climate Milestones

BOSTON - (April 20, 2022) Vanguard Renewables, a Boston-based organics-to-renewable energy company, has a lot to celebrate this Earth Day. Since 2014, Vanguard’s Farm Powered solution, which captures greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure and food and beverage waste to create renewable energy, has mitigated nearly 500 thousand tons of greenhouse gas emissions and recycled more than 831 thousand tons of organic waste, or the equivalent of the weight of more than 5,000 Statues of Liberty, at their Farm Powered anaerobic digesters.

To put the greenhouse gas emissions numbers into perspective, it is the equivalent of any one of the following statistics:

●      Taking more than 104 thousand cars off the road for one year

●      Planting nearly 8 million trees

●      Generating the power to charge more than 160 million individuals’ cell phones for one year

The company partners with food and beverage manufacturers including Cabot Creamery, Polar Beverages, and Ben & Jerry’s (Unilever) to divert their inedible food and beverage waste to one of Vanguard's six Farm Powered anaerobic digesters located on generational dairy farms in Massachusetts and Vermont. 

“When I founded Vanguard Renewables, I wanted to reinvent how our country deals with food waste because we don’t do it very well,” said John Hanselman, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Vanguard Renewables. “More than 50 million tons of food is sent to landfills and incinerators annually in the US. This is equivalent to 1,000 R.M.S. Titanics filled with food waste every year. I am so proud to share how our partnerships with farms and food and beverage manufacturers are chipping away at the climate crisis by turning waste into a force for good one dairy farm at a time.”

Vanguard Renewables is doubling down on its mission to help reduce carbon emissions by building an additional 100 anaerobic digesters on dairy farms in major metro markets across the U.S. by 2026. Since its founding in 2014, the company has produced more than 82 thousand MWh (megawatt hours) of renewable electricity and nearly 75 thousand MMBTU (million British thermal units) of renewable natural gas. 

“It’s a team effort; our accomplishments are not possible without our dairy farm and food and beverage waste partners like Cabot Creamery,” said Neil H. Smith, CEO, Vanguard Renewables. “Due to our operational track record and the trust of our partners, Vanguard is uniquely positioned to help our nation reach its aggressive emissions goals by 2030.”

New England-based Cabot Creamery, a food industry sustainability leader, was an early adopter of diverting inedible organic waste from a municipal wastewater treatment plant to Vanguard Renewables’ Farm Powered anaerobic digesters and purchasing energy derived from the waste to power its facilities. Since working with Vanguard Renewables to recycle their organic waste, Cabot has recycled nearly 30 thousand tons of inedible food waste and purchased nearly 37 million kilowatts of energy to power their plants. 

This effort has mitigated approximately 17 thousand tons of greenhouse gas, which is the equivalent of taking nearly 4 thousand cars off the road annually, planting more than 275 thousand trees, and greater than 5.5 million individuals charging their cell phones every year. Additionally, the unavoidable waste from Cabot’s manufacturing operations has produced enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 681 thousand buses annually. Adding to that impact, Cabot purchases a portion of the energy their waste generates at the farm-based anaerobic digesters to power their manufacturing facility in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

“We value our collaboration with Vanguard Renewables as a model of how to use on-farm anaerobic digestion technology to optimize the value of cow manure while reducing food waste and generating renewable energy,” noted Bill Beaton, CEO of Agri-Mark/Cabot Creamery Co-operative. “This is a wonderful example of our farms and our manufacturing facilities cooperating to create award-winning, closed-loop solutions.”

Vanguard Renewables’ Farm Powered anaerobic digesters are located on generational dairy farms, recycling food waste and daily manure into renewable energy. Byproducts of the anaerobic digestion process include a low-carbon, highly nutrient, and nearly odorless liquid fertilizer that saves Vanguard’s farm partners the substantial expense of purchasing now costly chemical fertilizers and supports regenerative agriculture practices; another byproduct is bedding for the herd that is recycled in the digester.

About Vanguard Renewables

Vanguard Renewables is a national leader in developing food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects. The Company is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste and supporting regenerative agriculture on partner farms. Vanguard co-founded the industry-leading Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA) alongside food industry leaders Dairy Farmers of America, Unilever, and Starbucks to develop a circular solution for food waste reduction and recycling, and decarbonization of manufacturing and the supply chain. The Company owns and operates six on-farm anaerobic digester facilities in the northeast and plans to expand to more than 100 sites nationwide by 2026. Established relationships and renewable natural gas offtake agreements with national utilities including Dominion Energy, Enbridge, ONE Gas, National Grid, and Eversource, and its strategic alliance with Dairy Farmers of America, position the Company to significantly increase U.S. production and delivery of renewable natural gas to commercial and residential customers across the country. To learn more about Vanguard Renewables,  Farm Powered organic waste solutions, the FPSA and its members, and Vanguard’s numerous awards and recognitions, visit the website.

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Vanguard Renewables Media Room

https://vanguardrenewables.com/vanguard-renewables-media-room

Vanguard Renewables Media Contacts

Billy Kepner, Public Relations Manager 

bkepner@vanguardrenewables.com

(781) 371-4935

Agri-Mark/Cabot Creamery Cooperative Media Contacts

Amber Sheridan, Director of Corporate Communications

asheridan@agrimark.net
(804) 370-8061

Elizabeth Davis, Boardman Davis Communications

edavis@boardmandavis.com

(802) 598-7155

Client Alert: Massachusetts Employers Are Strictly Liable for Treble Damages for Late Wage Payments

On April 4, 2022, in Reuter v. City of Methuen, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that employers are strictly liable for treble damages on late wage payments even when an employee has not yet filed suit asserting a wage claim. This decision is significant because it addresses a “gray area” in Massachusetts law that employers often relied upon to address pre-suit late wage payments by paying any unpaid amounts in full with trebled interest. The Reuter decision resolves that unsettled area of the law and makes clear that employers are strictly liable for late wage payments and must pay treble damages on the unpaid wages. Employers cannot simply pay trebled interest on the unpaid wages.

BACKGROUND

The city of Methuen terminated the employment of Reuter for misconduct after she was convicted of larceny. At the time the city terminated her employment, it failed to pay Reuter her accrued vacation time in the amount of $8,952.15. The city ultimately paid Reuter for her accrued vacation time approximately three weeks later. Reuter’s counsel sent the city a demand letter for $23,872.40, which included a trebling of the late vacation pay and attorney’s fees. Recognizing that it failed to timely pay Reuter for the accrued vacation time, the city sent her a check for an additional $185.42, which represented trebled interest for the time period between the termination of Reuter’s employment and the date the city paid the accrued vacation time.

Reuter filed suit in Superior Court asserting a claim for the failure to pay her vacation pay on the day of her discharge as required by the Massachusetts Wage Act, G.L. c. 149, § 148. Following a bench trial, the trial court issued an order holding that, in addition to a payment of attorney’s fees, Reuter was only entitled to treble damages on the interest representing the three-week delay in receiving her vacation pay, and that this amount had previously been paid by the city. Reuter appealed the trial court’s decision contending that she was entitled to treble damages on the unpaid wages and not simply treble damages on the interest.

THE SJC’S ANALYSIS

At the outset, the court noted that, despite the employer’s pre-suit payment of Reuter’s unpaid, accrued vacation time and trebled interest, late payments constitute clear violations of the Massachusetts Wage Act. Focusing on the text of the statute, the court emphasized that the Massachusetts Wage Act makes clear that “an employee discharged from such employment shall be paid in full on the day of his discharge,” and that the statute clearly defines “wages” to include “any holiday or vacation payments due to an employee under an oral or written agreement.” The court found that those phrases, when read together, establish that a terminated employee is entitled to all accrued vacation benefits on the day of discharge. The court also discussed the importance of treble damages in the context of the Massachusetts Wage Act, including how such damages are designed to protect workers from the harsh consequences of unpaid wages.

The court rejected the theory that an employer can avoid liability for treble damages on unpaid wages by simply paying the unpaid wages and trebled interest on those unpaid wages. The court held that “the statute leaves no wiggle room” and that “the remedy is also explicit.” Any failure to pay wages, including accrued vacation pay, at the time of discharge subjects the employer to treble damages on those unpaid wages. Notably, the SJC recognized that its holding can put employers in a difficult position when immediately terminating an employee for misconduct because it might be unclear how much the employee must be paid on short notice. However, even after recognizing that reality, the court noted that the policy goal of the statute – prompt payment to the employee – did not allow for any alternative approach.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS

The Reuter decision holds that employers face potentially significant liability if they do not timely and fully comply with the Massachusetts Wage Act. Under the Massachusetts Wage Act, employers have a duty to pay an employee all wages due (including unused vacation time) on the day of discharge from employment. An employer who fails to comply with this statutory requirement, regardless of the reason for the failure, subjects itself to strict liability for treble damages on the unpaid wages. Before discharging an employee, employers should take steps to have the employee’s final payroll, including any accrued vacation time, ready for payment on the date of discharge. In cases of employee misconduct where immediate discharge of the employee is necessary and adequate time is not available to calculate the amount owed to the employee, employers should consider suspending the employee with pay until steps can be taken to ensure compliance with the Massachusetts Wage Act. In Reuter, the court highlighted this approach as an option for employers trying to balance compliance with the requirements of the Massachusetts Wage Act and the immediate need to discharge an employee.

Hop Forward Equality Career Fair Returns

Hosted by Mass. Bay Brewing Co. & the Mass Brewers Guild 
Monday, April 25

BOSTON | In an effort to encourage more diversity within the craft beer community, Mass. Bay Brewing Company’s Harpoon Brewery and the Mass Brewers Guild, the state’s trade association that exists to protect and promote the industry, are bringing back the Hop Forward Equality Career Fair on Monday, April 25, 2022. 

In October 2019, the inaugural event drew more than 200 candidates to Harpoon Brewery’s taproom and brought together job seekers from underrepresented populations, connecting them to local breweries seeking to expand their talent pools. The event was intended to be yearly, and replicated regionally statewide, but those plans were unfortunately sidelined due to the pandemic. 

Determined to not lose all the momentum gained, the two organizations pivoted to launch a diversity and inclusion resource center for the brewing industry - HopForwardEquality.com. The site is home to HR resources, tool kits, terms glossaries, suggested reading, training opportunities and the pilot episode of Black Brew Dialogues, a new travelogue series about the craft beer industry. Now, a year later they’ll team up once again to bring back the signature event that’s at the heart of the collective effort to diversify the trade and help to break down barriers. 

“What we hear most often from brewery owners and their recruitment teams is that they’d like to diversify their employee rosters, but they aren’t seeing the applicants come through to apply for their open positions,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “Through this career fair we hope to bridge together key partners, diverse candidates, and breweries that are actively working to expand their workforce.”

The groups are working with MassHire, the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, Amaru, the Veterans Collaborative, Best Buddies and the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce to attract candidates to learn about the many different career paths available within the state’s breweries. Positions  are available from all levels ranging from taproom staff, sales cellar/packaging operators, to marketing roles, graphic designers, operations directors,  quality control specialists and brewers – candidates are welcome to come and learn more about the ins and outs of working in a brewery. They’ll hear more about the work environment, how to get started in the field, skills that are valued, opportunities to grow and advance and salary and benefits offerings. 

Participating breweries include Aeronaut Brewing Co., Boston Beer Co./Samuel Adams, Castle Island Brewing Co., Democracy Brewing, Jack’s Abby Brewing/Springdale, Lord Hobo Brewing Company, Mass. Bay Brewing Co./Harpoon, Night Shift Brewing, Thirsty Robot Brewing Co., Timberyard Brewing Co. and Trillium Brewing Company. 

KeyAnna Schmiedl, global head of diversity at Wayfair

The recruiters and HR executives from these breweries -- as well as any brewery interested in this work -- will have the opportunity to learn from special guest speaker KeyAnna Schmiedl, global head of diversity at Wayfair, before the career fair begins. 

Schmiedl is responsible for creating the global DEIB strategy at Wayfair and for weaving inclusivity into critical functions across the organization. This has enabled Wayfair to develop a diverse and engaged workforce. From Intention to Impact, Schmiedl will share her best practices for transforming work environments into places where diversity, equity and belonging become a vital part of the fabric of our company. She'll share that by observing the landscape, creating customized strategies, implementing the plan and adjusting accordingly - results in success for all of us. 

This training is one of many being offered to the Massachusetts brewing community throughout the year. Other topics include active by-stander Intervention, de-escalation, sexual harassment and how to effectively respond to employee issues. 

“It was important for us to add an educational element to this event. Continued education is critical to ensure that once we attract top talent, that we can retain them on our teams,” says Rich Ackerman, AVP of Human Resources at Mass. Bay Brewing Co. “Our industry is missing out on diverse hands, minds and hearts driving our industry forward. We hope to change that with this concerted effort and by continually reaching into our communities.”

The Hop Forward Career Fair is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Brewers Association, and is open to the public from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Harpoon Brewery located at 306 Northern Ave, Boston, Mass. Free parking is available onsite with numerous overflow options available in the area, including metered parking on Northern Avenue and a parking garage across the street from the brewery (also on Northern Avenue). Public Transportation is provided by the MBTA Silver Line.

Registration is strongly encouraged. Walk-ins welcome. Those interested in attending the career fair can register at Hopfwdcareerfair.eventbrite.com. To learn more, visit HopFowardEquality.com. 

Those interested in learning more about how to partner and support Hop Forward Equality or its career fair can reach out to Rich Ackerman at rackerman@harpoon.com or Katie Stinchon at katie@massbrewersguild.org.

*Hop Forward Equality has zero tolerance for racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, discrimination, violence or harassment. We do not tolerate any aggressions or microaggressions against one another. The group utilizes Speakfully, an anonymous third party reporting system to help monitor its events. If you see or hear something, you can locate a poster throughout the venue, scan the QR Code and let us know.

Drink Mass. Made Beer and Celebrate #MassBeerWeek

Local craft beer events happening statewide March 5 through March 12

Feb. 23, 2022 | On Saturday, March 5,  Mass Beer Week kicks off its weeklong series of events featuring local beer on tap. 

Breweries, beer bars and restaurants have teamed up to feature MA beer with special beer releases, beer and food pairings, tap takeovers, contests, crafting and more, to celebrate the ever-evolving beer culture across the Commonwealth. 

In 2007, there were just 30 breweries in Massachusetts. To date, there are 214 active breweries with 30 additional taprooms and breweries slated to open by the end of 2022. 

Limited quantities of the 16 oz. collectable Mass Beer Week glass will also be sold for $6, with proceeds benefiting the MBG, at participating member locations. 

Dust off your jeans, grab your friends, and support local breweries. A growing list of more than 60 events can be found at MassBeerWeek.org. Here’s some highlights: 

What’s on tap for Mass Beer Week?

·       Put on your dancing shoes on and head out to The Brewery at Four Star Farms in Northfield for back to back weekends of live music and a special New England IPA release March 5-13. Check out the lineup at Fourstarbeer.com/events

·       The Marlborough/Hudson Brewery Passport returns for its third consecutive year! Visit all five breweries between March 5 and March 13 and receive a stamp at each location with your purchase. The first 200 people to complete the passport will receive a FREE limited edition Mass Beer Week glass. Passports can be picked up at any of the participating breweries: Flying Dreams, Ground Effect, Lost Shoe, Medusa & Tackle Box – get one while supplies last. 

·       Tour The Underworld on Saturday, March 5: join Co-Founder/Owner/Brewer Jackie Cullen on a tour of the newly expanded & renovated River Styx Brewing Co. She’ll answer questions and provide an in-depth look at what goes into making your favorite River Styx beers. Tickets are $20 each and include a 1 hour tour/Q&A, limited edition 2022 Mass Beer Week glass, and a pour. Get yours today 

·       Get a taste of Mardi Gras on Saturday, March 5 at Idle Hands Brewing Co., as Revelry “Nawlins” Cuisine takes over the taproom for a food and beer event. 

·       Plant yourself at Fieldcrest Brewing Co., Sunday, March 6 at 2 p.m. for a Succulent workshop and suds for #MassBeerWeek – tickets are $44. Get yours today!

·       These Irish eyes are smilin’ – head over to Granite Coast Brewing Co., on Monday, March 7 for a Create & Escape DIY Workshop to craft your own wooden St. Patrick’s Day custom sign. Tickets are $60 and include all materials, instructions and a craft beer. 

·       Think you know beer? Prove it. Escape your couch to Bone Up Brewing Co. on Monday, March 7 for Beer Themed Trivia for your chance to win prizes and drink amazing beer. 

·       Wednesday, March 9 take a tour of Sterling Street Brewery with head brewer Mike Souza and enjoy a handpicked flight. Tickets are just $20 and attendees take home a Mass Beer Week glass. 

·       Eat your cookie and drink it too – Cape Cod Beer releases its Chocolate Raisin Bock on Thursday, March 10.  A contemporary spin of a traditional German-style bock. The addition of raisin creates an earthy fruitiness that is balanced by dark, roasty cacao nibs giving it that chocolate flavor. This small batch brew is available at the brewery only in pints & tastings. 

·       Cheese please! Join Remnant Brewing Co. head brewer Charlie, and resident cheese expert Maddie for a fun night of tasting and chatting about the most perfect combo - beer and cheese! You’ll be set up with (4) 6 oz pours to pair with (4) different cheeses and talk through the elements and flavors that make this duo friends. Tickets are $45.

·       Close out Mass Beer Week on Saturday, March 12  at Oakholm Brewing Co., to share a pint of Fireside, a smoked maple porter, brewed with Stone Path Malt out of Wareham, Mass and pure Vermont maple syrup. A collaboration created with the Mass. Brew Bros. Uncle Joey’s Cannolis, Big T’s BBQ and Pup’s Wood Fired Pizza are serving up perfect pairings for the release party. 

Visit MassBeerWeek.org for the full lineup of events.  

Mass Beer Week is hosted by the Mass Brewers Guild and is made possible thanks to industry friends the Mass. Brew Bros. The Mass Brewers Guild is the state’s trade association that works to protect and promote the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. For more information about the Mass Brewers Guild, visit MassBrewersGuild.org. 

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Breweries are Working to Make Super Bowl Sunday Greener in Massachusetts

Beer Me: Breweries in New England are Leading the Charge on Sustainability

Boston, Ma. (February 10, 2022)... Breweries across New England are stepping up to help fight climate change, and this weekend is no different. Super Bowl Sunday is not just a day for football in America; it’s one of the days that Americans consume the most beer - approximately 325 million gallons. Yet, all that beer creates a lot of waste that gets sent to landfills or dumped down the drain. Vanguard Renewables in Massachusetts believes that waste is only waste if you waste it - they can recycle that waste and harness it to make renewable energy.

“We work with some of New England's top micro-breweries to recycle their waste - like the spent grains and liquids that are produced from the brewing process,” said Neil H. Smith, CEO of Vanguard Renewables. “The demand for beer on this singular weekend is not new; however, with many brewers choosing to be more sustainable, we provide them with the circular solution they need to recycle their waste. Instead of sending waste byproducts to landfills or incinerators, we help them recycle the material by capturing the methane they emit as they break down and turn that into renewable energy.”

The company has been working with small and large breweries across the region to help Vanguard's Farm Powered mission to turn food waste and dairy cow manure into renewable energy. The company provides a circular solution for these breweries - from farm to kettle to keg, and back to one of New England’s family farms to help create pipeline-quality renewable natural gas that goes on to power our farms, colleges, businesses, and towns across the region.

Noah Bogoff from Berkshire Brewing Company said: “Our family brewery is committed to sustainability, and recycling our waste to create renewable energy is one of the ways that we reach that goal. We are proud to be part of the Vanguard Renewables Farm Powered movement, so much so that we put the Farm Powered logo on every can we distribute. It’s an important way that we demonstrate to our customers that we are committed to doing our part.” 

The waste from Vanguard’s partner breweries is collected and brought to one of their six anaerobic digestion facilities in Massachusetts and Vermont, where it's then added to a state-of-the-art hydrolyzer before entering the anaerobic digestion process to create renewable energy. The waste supplied by brewery partners not only helps to produce renewable natural gas, but the byproducts of the anaerobic digestion process also make high-quality bedding for farm animals and a low-carbon and nearly odorless liquid fertilizer to use on their fields.

Nate Lanier, the Co-founder and Head Brewer of Tree House Brewing Company, said: “Working with Vanguard has enabled us to abide by our ethos of environmental responsibility while bringing a benefit to local farmers - it was a no-brainer for us to work with them. They are passionate about what they do, and it shows.”

Vanguard Renewables not only works with Tree House Brewing Company and Berkshire Brewing Company but also with Wachusett Brewing Company to take their organic waste. By collecting the brewer’s spent grains and other byproducts, Vanguard Renewables collaborates with their partners to help reduce their CO2 emissions and help keep the region’s family farmers in business.

Breweries are thinking more and more about what they can do to make a change to be sustainable, reduce their CO2 emissions, and dispose of their spent waste in a way that is good for the environment and keeps that waste out of our landfills and waterways.

Last spring, researchers at  Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Virginia Tech) submitted a research paper to the American Chemical Society that shed light on the growing need for beer companies to explore sustainability options. They shared their findings on separating beer waste into proteins for foods and fiber for biofuels.

The paper noted that due to the high demand for craft brewing in the U.S. market, there had been a significant increase in waste byproducts from breweries. They further shared that this waste comprises 85% spent grains, up to 30% protein, and up to 70% fiber.

“Craft breweries care deeply about their communities, environment and supporting our local farmers. Beer is an agricultural product. There’s no beer without farms. Anything that we can do to lessen waste, protect our planet and aid our farmers is a win-win,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild.

New England is no stranger to the craft beer industry, with small and large breweries opening up across the region. The Brewers Association For Small and Independent Craft Brewers noted that in 2020 there were nearly 700 craft breweries in operation in the New England region alone, and there are more still opening every year. That’s a lot of waste being created.

Smith continued: “Companies across all sectors are becoming motivated to move towards sustainable practices, and the commercial brewing industry is no different. It’s been exciting to see how local New England breweries are leading the way in recycling their organic waste and other materials as part of their long-range sustainability goals.”

Vanguard Renewables’ brewery partners are not just doing good for the environment, but they are helping the region's family farmers save money on fertilizers, energy, and bedding. It’s a win for all. 

About Vanguard Renewables
Vanguard Renewables is a national leader in developing food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects. The Company is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste and supporting regenerative agriculture on partner farms. Vanguard co-founded the industry-leading Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA) alongside food industry leaders Dairy Farmers of America, Unilever, and Starbucks to develop a circular solution for food waste reduction and recycling and decarbonization of manufacturing and the supply chain. The Company owns and operates six on-farm anaerobic digester facilities in the northeast and plans to expand to more than 100 sites nationwide by 2025. Established relationships and renewable natural gas offtake agreements with national utilities including Dominion Energy, Enbridge, ONE Gas, National Grid, and Eversource, and its strategic alliance with Dairy Farmers of America, position the Company to significantly increase U.S. production and delivery of renewable natural gas to commercial and residential customers across the country. To learn more about Vanguard Renewables, FarmPowered organic waste solutions, the FPSA and its members, and Vanguard’s numerous awards and recognitions, visit the website.

Vanguard Renewables Media Room
https://vanguardrenewables.com/vanguard-renewables-media-room

Vanguard Renewables Media Contacts
Billy Kepner 
bkepner@vanguardrenewables.com 
(607) 331-9806

David Darr Joins Vanguard Renewables as Chief Sustainability Officer

BOSTON, Ma. (January 21, 2022) – Vanguard Renewables, a U.S. leader in farm-derived renewable natural gas, announces the recent appointment of David Darr as its Chief Sustainability Officer. Darr joins Vanguard Renewables from Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) in Kansas City, KS. 

“For more than twenty years, David has worked to enhance sustainable and regenerative farming practices across the United States. At this time of expansive growth for Vanguard Renewables, it is a tremendous opportunity to bring David to our team,” said Neil H. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Renewables. “David’s knowledge, expertise, and energy will be instrumental in guiding our sustainability initiatives and solutions internally and for our farm and food industry partners.”

Before joining Vanguard Renewables, Mr. Darr served as Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Dairy Farmers of America. Dairy Farmers of America is a farmer-owned cooperative with more than 12,500 members producing ingredients for cheese, butter, ice cream, fluid milk and more under well-known, quality national and regional brands. 

Mr. Darr provided leadership and strategic direction for DFA, and many of its customers. He worked alongside farms to develop viable, sustainable, and cost-effective processes to enhance income streams and herd health and production. At Vanguard Renewables, Darr will work across all areas of the business to lead internal and partner sustainability initiatives to meet the needs that the climate crisis demands.

“I've been passionate about sustainability, food, and farming my whole life. Joining Vanguard is an opportunity to even more deeply ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’ expanding sustainable initiatives for agriculture and the food industry, and producing renewable energy,” Darr said. “Developing projects and establishing partnerships and relationships that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support local farmers and their communities is incredibly important at this moment in time.”

Mr. Darr holds both a BS and MS in Agricultural Economics from Ohio State University and an MBA from Rockhurst University. Darr assumed the role of Chief Sustainability Officer at Vanguard Renewables on January 4, 2022.

Please visit our media room for Mr. Darr’s photo. You can find the link below.

About Vanguard Renewables
Vanguard Renewables is a national leader in the development of food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects. The Company, based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste and supporting regenerative agriculture best practices on partner farms. Vanguard founded the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance alongside food industry leaders Dairy Farmers of America, Unilever, and Starbucks; the Alliance now includes Cabot Creamery, Stonyfield Organic, and Smithfield Foods. The Alliance commits to developing a circular solution for food waste reduction and recycling and decarbonization of manufacturing and the supply chain. Vanguard Renewables owns and operates six on-farm anaerobic digester facilities in the northeast and plans to expand to more than 100 sites nationwide by 2025. Vanguard’s established relationships and renewable natural gas offtake agreements with national utilities including Dominion Energy, Enbridge, ONE Gas, National Grid, and Eversource, and its strategic alliance with 12,500-dairy member cooperative Dairy Farmers of America, position the Company to significantly increase U.S. production and delivery of renewable natural gas to commercial and residential customers across the country. Vanguard is a 2020 Energy Vision Leadership Award recipient and its Farm Powered anaerobic digester at Goodrich Farm in Salisbury, Vermont earned the 2021 Outstanding Dairy Sustainability Award from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Please visit https://vanguardrenewables.com/ to learn more.

Vanguard Renewables Media Room
https://vanguardrenewables.com/vanguard-renewables-media-room
Vanguard Renewables Media Contacts
Billy Kepner 
bkepner@vanguardrenewables.com 
(607) 331-9806

Mass Brewers Guild Partners with Speakfully

A New Member Benefit and HR Tool to Help Monitor Internal Work Culture  

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. | The Mass Brewers Guild, the state’s trade association that exists to protect and promote the interests of Massachusetts craft breweries, has partnered with Speakfully, an anonymous third-party reporting system that will be offered as a new member benefit at no additional cost to breweries starting January 2022. 

Speakfully gives employees an opportunity to report toxic work culture, harassment, or give general feedback about their overall workplace. The platform provides employees a safe and anonymous way to speak up while empowering employers with real-time data and analytics to promote proactive action. Once employee experiences are submitted, employers can communicate with employees privately through Speakfully’s secure messaging portal. The system will be offered to members of the Mass Brewers Guild in English, Spanish and Portuguese. 

“In wake of the industry’s powerful #MeToo movement and after having multiple conversations with brewery owners, managers, and staff across the state, it became increasingly clear that our breweries need more HR support,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “In too many instances employees did not have a path forward to share complaints or they didn’t feel comfortable doing so. Our goal with adding this new benefit is to help remove barriers for our industry’s employees and to bolster support for our small business owners. After researching many different services, we’ve found that solution with Speakfully.”

The opt-in program is just one of the many services that the Mass Brewers Guild will offer its members in the New Year, including additional employee law and HR education, as well as bystander and de-escalation training for staff. Breweries that have already enrolled in Speakfully include Brick and Feather Brewery, Castle Island Brewing Co., Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Co., Four Phantoms Brewing Co., Gentile Brewing Co., Harpoon Brewery, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Lost Shoes Brewing & Roasting Co., Night Shift Brewing Co. and Timberyard Brewing Co. – covering nearly 700 employees statewide. The association expects more members to sign-on in the coming weeks. 

Speakfully was founded as a direct result of inappropriate workplace interactions experienced by CEO and co-founder, Jana Morrin. What started as a simple documentation process led to the larger idea that employees need a private and secure platform to voice concerns without fear of retribution. 

“Speakfully helps to bridge the gap between employees and leadership by providing transparency from HR every step of the way,” says Jana Morrin, CEO & Co-Founder of Speakfully. “Our hope is that Speakfully will help create an environment of safety and trust for all of the state’s breweries while giving managers and owners the information they need to step in and take action before it’s too late. We are proud to bring our platform to the Mass Brewers Guild and applaud the association for their proactive approach to combat workplace harassment.”

The Mass Brewers Guild is able to offer this service to members in large part thanks to a generous donation from Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers. The brewery has gifted $5,000 to support the rollout and help to sponsor the first year of the program.  To date, there are 114 member breweries of the Mass Brewers Guild that will have access to Speakfully. 

“It was an easy decision for us to provide support to the association and our collective membership through this new platform,” says Sam Hendler, co-founder of Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers and president of the Mass Brewers Guild. “The more resources that we can help to bring to our industry through HR support will only benefit all of us. We look forward to implementing Speakfully here at our brewery and doubling down on our commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Jack’s Abby family.”

The Mass Brewers Guild will publish a complete list of breweries that have enrolled in the program or have adopted their own system in the coming weeks.  

For questions or more information about the Mass Brewers Guild visit, MassBrewersGuild.org. To learn more about Speakfully and its services visit, speakfully.com.