Daddy, Daddy Cool, You Da Best!

by Mark Smiley | May 25, 2019 | Glendale City News

Your Father’s Day Feast Finder Filled With Fun Things To Do, Places To Go With Your Dad This Year

Father’s Day is June 16, will it be a special one for your dad? Dads are the steady but less sentimentalized parent — the sun in our sky that warms and gives life but isn’t thought about as often. Nonetheless, the presence of a loving father increases a child’s chances for success, confidence and resilience plus a sense of humor. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge showed support for it becoming a national holiday. However, it wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson officially proclaimed Fathers’ Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday in June.

Barbecue Blast

Denver’s Father’s Day BBQ Festival returns to Mile High Stadium June 14-16. Admission is free, but VIP tickets are also offered. Legendary pitmasters from Denver and around the nation serve BBQ along with live music from bands like the Hazel Miller Band, the Rick Lewis Project and My Blue Sky, a tribute to the music of the Allman Brothers. In addition attendees can enjoy cold beer and drinks, BBQ tutorials and demonstrations plus games and activities for the whole family. Last year’s event used 8,000 lbs. of ribs (3,500 slabs), 5,000 lbs. of brisket, 3,000 lbs. each of chicken and sausage. In addition, 600 lbs. of potato salad and 2,000 lbs. of beans were served. The 2nd annual event is adding new pitmasters from Kansas City, San Antonio, and New York City. Times are Friday, 5-8:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Information:dbbqfest.com.

Dine-Drink With Dad

The Monaco Inn Restaurant — the Valley’s favorite family gathering place on major holidays — is an easy choice for dad’s day serving classic and comfort food with indoor and patio seating. This informal family-run eatery with reasonable prices is the perfect spot to kick back with dad, the kids and grandkids. Featuring a Baby Back Rib Father’s Day Special plus a full bar serving creative cocktails and a large selection of wine and beer, it has been a lunch-dinner and watering hole hot spot for generations of residents. Under the direction of chef and co-owner Terry Vaidis, patrons can choose from traditional Greek fare plus American and Mexican specialties all weekend long. Information:303-320-1104.

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar with locations in Glendale’s CitySet off Colorado Blvd. and downtown in LoDo annually offer Father’s Day specials. Expect loaded Bloodies, Mimosas, Shrimp & Grits plus Crab Cake Benedicts. Crawfish Broils are also often offered at the LoDo spot. Information: 303-756-6449, LoDo 303-292-5767.

Café Marmotte, the classic French Bistro on S. Downing in Wash Park is one of the Valley’s best brunch spots, making it a great place to take dad on Father’s Day. This year’s Dad’s Day special hadn’t yet been released but one was offered last year. Information: 303-999-0395.

Hot Dad Music

The Juneteenth Music Festival on Father’s Day weekend in the historic Five Points neighborhood will be one for the books, June 14-16. Pop and R&B star Ashanti is this year’s headliner. She is the first female artist to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously when Foolish and What’s Luv were at number one and two respectively.

The Jacob Jollif Band — the next generation of bluegrass supergroups led by one of the country’s premier bluegrass mandolinists — plays Daniels Hall at Swallow Hill on Sat., June 15. Featuring some of the most virtuosic and innovative pickers in the country, it is a rare, not to be missed performance.

Another musical blast for dad is Empire of the Sun playing at the Ogden Theatre on Colfax Sat.-Sun., 8 p.m. The Australian electronic music duo is a collaboration between Luke Steele of the alternative rock band The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of the electronic dance band Pnau.

Bits & Brews

Take dad on a three-hour food and beer adventure in the RiNo Arts District on Father’s Day, 2-5 p.m. Tour begins and ends from the Denver Central Market at 2669 Larimer St. You’ll visit five restaurants and try tasty local dishes with optional beer pairings. Dad can try wood-fired pizza, beer sausage, sushi-grade poke with ahi tuna and Mexican tacos from some of Denver’s top chefs.

Keep Track Of Dad

Get dad off to a great start at the Father’s Day Run in Stapleton’s Central Park Sun. June 16, 6 a.m.-noon. The 5K and 1-mile kick off at 7 a.m., the half marathon, 10 mile and 10K starts at 8 a.m.

Cars Drive Dad

Guys love cars and if your dad is one of those with an automobile obsession, consider taking him to the 15th annual Father’s Day Car Show at the Apex Center on W. 72nd Ave. in Arvada, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. This event, free to spectators, is a perfect outing for dad with cars, music, antiques, family activities and refreshments. Information: 303-467-5525.

More Dad Doings

Need more things to do with dad? Here are more options to consider for Father’s Day weekend:

•           This year’s Stapleton Fresh Market kickoff is on Father’s Day, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Founders Green. It would be a fun way of spending the morning picking fruit, vegetables and melons with pop.

•           If dad’s a baseball fan, you’ll be a big hit taking him to the Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres game at Coors Field. Game time is 1:10 p.m.

•           Start the weekend with dad early by taking him to the Free Day At Four Mile Historic Park on Friday June 14. There are historic demos, a tour of the Four Mile House Museum plus Hay Bales & Tall Tales, noon-1 p.m.

One Man Play Storms Denver’s Masonic Temples

by Mark Smiley | Apr 29, 2019 | Glendale City News

‘DaVinci & Michelangelo Battle Of The Titans’ Celebrates Both Men AND Their Times

by Charles C. Bonniwell

2019 is the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo DaVinci which is being noted in Italy and around the world. Denver Museum of Nature and Science started on March 1 as a much heralded sensory experience celebrating DaVinci’s “500 Years of Genius.” But another event is starting to gather equal notoriety, that being a one man play starring Mark Rodgers titled DaVinci & Michelangelo — Battle of the Titans which will be held consecutively at two Masonic Temples in Denver, following an opening night of May 2 at the Mayan Theater on Broadway.

DaVinci’s and Michelangelo’s lives overlapped in 16th and 17th Renaissance Italy with DaVinci being 25 years the senior of the two men. Mark Rodgers’ play compares and contrasts the genius of each man whose lives changed the world, and whose influence is still a vibrant force today. Audio visual wizard Matt Boggs created for Rodgers’ play three screens of high/tech, high definition laser images that are intended to explode before the viewing audience.

Boggs explained, “I wanted to provide a one-of-a-kind, non-stop, multi-media event featuring movies, videos, 3-D; animations, and images of DaVinci’s and Michelangelo’s inventions, machines, sketches, codices, paintings and sculptures.”

“It is a shamanic experience . . . not to be missed,” exclaimed Anthony Arguello. He goes on to note, “It will change your life.” Venture capitalist and the show’s producer Fritz Voelker stated, “People will be amazed. The show is designed to overwhelm your senses while enlightening anyone who comes about the lives of these two extraordinary men.”

An additional element to the play is that it will be held on May 3-5 at the landmark Scottish Rite Masonic Temple (14th and Grant), and then May 9-12 at the Park Hill Masonic Temple Theater at 4819 Montview Boulevard. Both men were, according to some, Masons and incorporated Masonic symbolism throughout their work. Rodgers explores often missed Masonic mysteries contained in the works of both men.

“The performance is so unique, and I am sure most theater patrons have never seen anything like it,” states Rodgers. Voelker noted that “you get to see and experience Renaissance Italy through these two men while being surrounded by the images of the art, sculpture and machines that the men created thanks to visual genius of Matthew Boggs.”

A version of the play debuted at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Paul Ann Water exclaimed, “I left [the performance] with only one word … WOW!” Riley Redpath agreed, “Mark Rodgers is a tour de force.”

The show runs two hours with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets are $35 general admission and for students with a valid I.D. admission is $20. For tickets and information go to www.discoverdavinci.com or call 720-504-9408.

Collaboration Fest Draws Big Crowd For 6th Annual Event

by Mark Smiley | Apr 1, 2019 | Glendale City News

by Mark Smiley

On March 16, 2019, Two Parts hosted the 6th Annual Collaboration Beer Fest at the Hyatt Regency in Denver. This creative beer festival featured 100+ beer projects with over 200 participating breweries. How does a beer project happen? Two or more breweries come together to brew something special with one or both being a member of the Colorado Brewers Guild. The result? Some of the most exciting, rare, and delicious beer tappings you’ll find anywhere.

Many good beers filled the exhibit hall of the Hyatt Regency. Some standouts were Comrade Brewing and Epic Brewing (Denver) who combined to make a Dry-Hopped California Common. Comrade Brewing also collaborated with Pelican Brewing (Pacific City, OR) to brew an IPA with Orange Peel and Citrusy Hops.

The longest lines were at the booth reserved for Cerebral Brewing (Denver) and WeldWerks Brewing Company (Greeley) who collaborated to make a New England-style Double IPA Brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Sabro, and Citra Hops.

New Terrain Brewing Company (Golden) and Molly’s Spirits (Lakeside) also had a crowd for their Desert Berliner Weisse with Yogurt. It was one of the most unusual beers found at the fest and was a hit among attendees. Stop by Molly’s Spirits in Lakeside for this and other collaboration beers while supplies last.

Milkshake IPAs were at a few booths and one collaboration that stood out was from Launch Pad Brewery (Aurora) and Bent Barley Brewing (Aurora). This beer was brewed with fresh carrots, walnuts, lactose, vanilla beans, and spices.

Fiction Beer (Denver) and Calicraft Brewing (Walnut Creek, CA) brought a single malt grain bill to set the stage for the combination of yeast, hops, and fruit. Peaches and Viognier Grapes made up 25% of this beer. A custom blend of bretttanomyces and champagne yeast were used to ferment this beer dry with almost no residual sugar. Only whirlpool hops and huge dry hops add to the complexity. The bright aroma of citrus, tropical and stone fruit from the hops are the perfect complement to the sweet nectar and herbal aroma from the fruit and our blend of yeast. The flavor is enhanced by the incredibly dry finish. Crisp, bright, and complex.

Visit www.collaborationfest.com for more information and a full list of all collaborations. Stay tuned for next year’s event as Two Parts always puts on a high quality and well-organized event.

Past Mistakes, Polarized Philosophies: The Denver Teacher Strike Not Just About Higher Pay

by Mark Smiley | Feb 25, 2019 | Glendale City News

by Ruthy Wexler

The Denver teacher strike made national headlines as the latest district to join the Red4Ed movement on February 11. The strike ended three days later when the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) and officials representing the Denver public school system (DPS) signed a tentative agreement. Denver wasn’t the longest strike — Los Angeles held out for five days, West Virginia for nine — but it stood out in another way. “You are a little bit unique here in Denver,” said National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia, alluding to the controversial pay system known as ProComp. Why ProComp, originally liked by teachers, now caused teachers such distress — why the once-popular pay-for-performance system caused Denver teachers to upend the lives of 72,000 students, put their own livelihoods at risk and enter the first strike in 25 years — is a layered story that goes back 15 years.

Disrespected

Denver educators were also protesting the same issues that caused red-shirted educators to stand up in Oklahoma and Arizona: excessive emphasis on standardized testing, smaller class size, and pay they considered a living wage. At demonstrations, many teachers carried this sign: “When we can’t afford to strike, that’s when we have to strike.”

Newly appointed DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova let her feelings be known: the strike could be avoided if “we sat down and engaged in a discussion that found our common values and beliefs.” But the 93% of DCTA educators who voted on January 22 to strike disagreed. They believed that each succeeding proposal the district offered showed they weren’t really hearing teachers’ demands, or feelings.

And the way DPS prepared for the strike — hiring more substitute teachers, arranging to pay subs twice their usual rate, spending $137,000 on lesson plans for those subs — revealed teachers’ main concern, that DPS does not regard classroom teachers as valuable professionals. That concern was amplified when a week before the strike, a leaked document, posted online, showed how top heavy the DPS payroll was with administrative positions and how many administrators received bonuses on top of six-figure salaries.

DPS hoped Colorado’s new governor, Jared Polis, would accede to their request and intervene. But on February 7, Polis announced the two sides should work it out themselves, seeing as how their differences were “minor, small … limited.”

Negotiations for those “minor” differences could be seen online. Residents following the bargaining talks on Saturday, February 9 and Sunday, February 10, heard hours of haggling about what a PDU (Professional Development Unit) would be worth — but the talks always circled back to ProComp.

What Exactly Is ProComp?

ProComp — Professional Compensation — is a system that came into being in November 2005, when voters approved a $25 million mill levy override to provide incentives to teachers who worked in “hard to serve” schools. DCTA and DPS jointly designed the system, which was implemented in January 2006, with a stipulation that both parties could revisit the contract in 2007.

Late in 2007, DPS did want to make changes; reluctantly, teachers came to the bargaining table. But after months of fruitless discussions, then DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet issued an ultimatum: teachers should accept the district proposal — higher bonuses and lower base pay — or DPS would no longer honor the master agreement. The ProComp contract was revised early in 2008.

When the ProComp agreement expired in 2013, DPS asked teachers to put off negotiating a new one; they were about to conduct studies on ProComp’s efficacy. Between 2013 and 2017, DPS made changes to ProComp that teachers did not like: “Hard to serve” schools shifting categories; teacher evaluations based on students’ standardized scores; how paychecks had become impenetrably confusing and distressingly unpredictable. “I never know how much money I’ll have for the month,” said a high school English teacher.

DCTA President Henry Roman kept saying that the short-term bonuses were “shortchanging our students. … Teachers deserve a professional career salary.”

What Lies Underneath

The shape ProComp took reflected the reform educational measures DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg (2008-2018) installed. But ProComp’s changing parameters mostly stemmed from something that happened 15 years before, when Michael Bennet was DPS Superintendent and Boasberg his Chief Operating Officer.

Both men came from the business world and were considered to be financial wizards. Together, they developed a plan to purportedly save DPS millions. They would borrow $750 million for DPS’s outstanding pension debt. Three hundred million would go to pay back already existing pension debt; $400 million would go to fully fund the DPS retirement fund and $50 million would pay banker and lawyer fees.

And although there were indications something was happening in the world financial markets at that time, Bennet and Boasberg went ahead with their plan, which ultimately included institutions such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, in April 2008. DPS hoped this plan would allow their retirement fund to join the statewide retirement fund, which would in turn allow DPS employees to easily move in and out of the system, which would reduce DPS’s retirement debt — which would provide more money for classrooms. Win/win, right?

Pensions And ProComp

By 2018, that $750 million loan had doubled. DPS now owed $1.8 billion.

Boasberg and Bennet were able to convince the Colorado legislature that DPS should get the equivalent of “pre-payment” credit to deduct the ProComp’s fees and interest from what would have been their normal pension contributions,” explains Jeannie Kaplan, BOE member at that time and unofficial DPS historian. “Because of these actions DPS employees saw their pension fund drop from fully funded on January 1, 2010, to a little under 80% funded in June 30, 2018.”

How the above connects to 2019 teacher strike: base salaries — which ProComp was originally designed to boost — are pensionable. In 2008, the ProComp “bonus” went from a base building system to bonus-based — and since these bonuses do not contribute to a teacher’s pensionable income, this diminishes the amount a teacher has in retirement, and makes smaller demands on a dwindling pension fund.

By 2019, many educators were fed up with ProComp. As the district offered proposals that didn’t address their demands, many wondered who was making decisions for DPS. “Cordova is not the full boss but she definitely has a say,” said one teacher, while educational activists cited DPS Chief Financial Officer Mark Ferrendino and BOE President Anne Rowe, long affiliated with reform groups such as A+ Colorado — and they were heard to say during a closed-door session, “Do not give in to the teachers — as influential.”

Agreement

In the end, DPS did “give in to the teachers.”

“This [February 14] agreement is a win, pure and simple,” said DCTA President Roman. To get that win, Rob Gould, chief union negotiator, said, “I had to use the last tool in my toolbelt.” The agreement provides a more traditional pay system, significant pay raises, a transparent 20-step salary schedule including a 7 to 11 percent increase in base pay — and still keeps incentives for teachers at high poverty schools. Part of the money for teacher raises, said CFO Ferrandino, will come from cutting administrative costs, including 150 central office positions.

For well over a year, DCTA had been trying to negotiate the above points. “For 15 months, the district chose to ignore us,” said Denver teacher Rachel Sandoval. “Can you hear us now?”

Abuse Of Law & Power: County Courts Resist Auditor’s Plan To Fix Denver System

by Mark Smiley | Jan 28, 2019 | Glendale City News

Audit Reveals Potential To Alter Files, Payment Records; Jeopardizing Justice, More Than 4,000 Cases Closed In Error
by Glen Richardson

Claiming it “is a separate branch of government,” Denver County Courts initially refused to grant Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien authority to audit the County Court System. Despite hiring outside counsel to dispute the right to audit, the Denver City Attorney’s office ultimately granted permission. Now completed, the audit of court operations reveals weaknesses in the court’s management of case files, as well as other administrative problems, but the court is refusing to go along with the auditor’s plan to make improvements.

The audit, led by O’Brien, CPA, found more that 4,000 case files closed in error. Equally as disturbing, in the current system personnel can alter case file and payment records without detection. Court management responsibilities lie with Terrie Langham, Denver County Judicial District Administrator, and Theresa Spahn, Presiding Judge of the Denver District Court. Mayor Michael B. Hancock appointed both, Wood in July 2017 and Judge Spahn in January 2017.

Court management is also relying on erroneous performance measures to make decisions. Out of more than 200 metrics Denver County Court reported, the audit found more than 100 do not have an established standard or goal. Thus the court is wasting resources and time compiling data for metrics with no meaning for the organization. “Due to the misaligned and inaccurate performance metrics, Denver County Court management risks not making appropriate oversight decisions or having an accurate picture of its operations,” O’Brien warns.

Cantankerous Court

County Court management, nevertheless, disagrees with many of the audit team’s recommendations regarding best practices for internal controls. O’Brien answers in response: “Court management states current policies, procedures and practices are sufficient; however, if that were the case, our audit team would not have found the problems reported in the audit.”

O’Brien initially had to seek a District Court ruling to grant him the authority to audit the County Courts. Previous auditors — who traditionally haven’t been CPAs — have conducted reviews of past court operations. The auditor’s office also made it clear that “it is unusual for the courts to have independent legal counsel rather than relying on the City Attorney’s Office to make a decision.” Nonetheless, City Attorney Kristin Bronson — in accordance with her charter duties — ultimately gave the go-ahead to conduct the audit. The County Courts, O’Brien’s office notes, had been aware of the pending audit since October 2016.

The Denver County Courts receive a $24 million appropriation in the city budget and generate $23 million in revenue. Denver laws require the auditor to conduct financial and performance audits and grant the auditor’s office access to city records, officers, employees and property in performance of those duties.

Case File Concerns

The audit found incomplete documentation in case files and more than 4,000 case files closed in error. Court management may also be using inaccurate information from performance metrics to make decisions. As a result, Denver County Court is at risk of not fulfilling its mission to administer justice in a fair, efficient and effective manner.

Case files are at the core of court operations as they are where all records and documents supporting actions related to a case should reside. The audit found Denver County Court case files contained inconsistent and incomplete information, hindering the audit team’s ability to perform audit procedures.

“It’s disturbing to me that the County Court is not keeping the consistent records they need to support case files and track actions taken in court,” Auditor O’Brien says. “We found several case files with missing documentation of key courtroom actions including the suspension of fines and penalties, the cancellation and reinstatement of a protection order, and defendants’ acknowledgments of the terms of probation.”

County Court has agreed to create specific rules to determine what records must be kept in case files. Court management plans to regularly review those case files, as well.

Altering Files, Payment

The audit work also found problems with how the court reviews closed case files.

“During the audit, we identified more than 4,000 improperly closed case files with outstanding fines.”

Seventy-seven percent of these errors happened when cases were either dismissed or transferred. The fees assigned to these cases should have been manually removed but were not, resulting in an approximate $24,000 overstatement of accounts receivable as of the end of 2017.

In addition, more than 300 cases were prematurely closed and should have been reopened. In other cases, the court had to issue refund checks for duplicative and overpaid fines.

Escaping Punishment

Court officials said they reviewed and addressed each of these errors; however, they did not share individual case-level information with the audit team for verification until after audit testing work had concluded.

“The court could be perceived as unfair if it closes cases inconsistently,” Auditor O’Brien believes. “Closing a case incorrectly could allow individuals to escape punishment, such as probation, community service, or payment of fines or compensation for victims.”

The audit also found a potential for misuse and errors in payment records. In the current system, personnel can alter case file and payment records without detection because the people who authorize transactions are also the custodians of the cash. The County Court’s cashiering staff is small, making segregation of duties difficult. However, the audit recommends a management review of audit logs and transactions to avoid possible abuse of the system.

Administering Justice

County Court also needs to update ordinances related to its operations. New national best

practices say fines and fees should not fund primary court operations including salaries and benefits. Although fees are currently being used in accordance with the current ordinance through two special revenue funds, the court should adopt the new principles, according to O’Brien. He says the County Court also needs to update outdated language in city ordinances governing the courts.

Further, court management chose not to prioritize certain IT-related controls. While there are many projects for the court’s information technology team, the audit identified significant areas of concern that should receive immediate attention. “We make these recommendations as a way to mitigate risks,” Auditor O’Brien explains. “If they aren’t addressed, these risks could potentially threaten the achievement of the court’s organizational goals.”

To ensure justice for Denver City-County citizens, O’Brien concludes: “The court management should listen to our recommendations to help improve their operations and to ensure they can complete their goals to administer justice for the people of Denver.”

In the printed edition of the February, 2019 Chronicle, we incorrectly identified the Denver County Judicial District Administrator as Kristin Wood. It is Terrie Langham.

Glendale Partners With Guinness, Ushering In Next Phase Of Professional American Rugby

by Mark Smiley | Dec 17, 2018 | Glendale City News

by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale

The game is on. Not that game, the RUGBY game. You sidle up to the bar or open the fridge. The choices seem almost endless, but there’s only one thing that will do: you want the beer that’s almost synonymous with the game. The two-and-a-half century old brewery that not only helps define the international sport of rugby, but international itself. Guinness was established long before rugby, and has been a staple for beer drinkers ever since. As the game has enjoyed its rise to global status, becoming the second most watched sport on the planet, Guinness has been alongside, quietly but profoundly improving the experience for fans new and old, and providing the heft of additional history to the enjoyment of beholding a sport that marries inclusivity and athleticism.

You pop the cap. The bartender pulls the tap. Dark, cold Guinness flows. The head is rich and creamy; making its way back up from the bottom of the glass in a swirl that is unique to the world’s most famous Irish Stout, and one of the best-known brands on the planet. Founded by Arthur Guinness in Dublin in 1759, it’s not only one of the most recognizable beverages in the world, but among the most successful beer brands ever. Brewed with barley roasted in house, Guinness is dark- ruby red under the light — and has a distinctive, unforgettable flavor.

Like the beer, the history of the Glendale Raptors is also unique, particularly as one of the most successful rugby endeavors ever in the United States. Though considerably shorter than that of the newly signed sponsor, Glendale has been the home of American rugby for more than 10 years, attracting international talent, coaches, the attention of a dedicated fan base, and big-name partners like Guinness. Over more than a decade, Glendale has established itself as the epicenter of rugby in the United States, the last genuinely untapped market for the sport in the world. As the team has grown its fan base, its talent pool, and its future, it has relied on sponsor partners to help, and has delivered an impressive return on investment for those that have seen the potential of rugby.

Guinness parent company Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Baileys, and, of course, Guinness — to name just a few. Headquartered in London, and operating in more than 180 countries, they’re a force in a thirsty world. The Glendale Raptors are proud to announce a sponsor partnership with the beverage juggernaut, and look to reinforce Guinness as the beer of choice for American rugby fans. Pete Javorek, Diageo Distributor Manager for Colorado and Utah, explains that the partnership is a no-brainer when seeking to properly represent the company’s biggest beer brand: “With consumers seeking the quality and heritage of beers like Guinness and rugby on the rise, it was a natural fit for us. We’re excited to be working together with the Glendale Raptors,” he said.

Javorek works with 18 distributors in Colorado and Utah, managing beer forecasting, planning, and distribution —  ensuring proper brand representation in the market. Aligning with the Glendale Raptors promises that representation and recognition will only grow as the 2019 Major League Rugby season gets underway in the new year. In addition to having other well-known Irish beers like Harp and Smithwick’s in its portfolio, Diageo recently completed construction of a new home for Guinness in America specifically for the United States market. The Maryland facility will focus on new innovation beers, as well as the production of Guinness Blonde, a relatively recent offering that, unlike the traditional stout, is golden in color, and made with American ingredients and by American brewers. Javorek notes that Diageo and Guinness are happy to be part of the growth of rugby in the U.S.: “It’s a natural fit for us, and we want to use the Raptors image and draw to expand to more professional teams in the league. Rugby and Guinness have been around together for a long time, and it’s something we want to continue doing. We think the sport is on the rise in the U.S., rugby is a big draw, and we want to grow both brands together.” The Raptors understand that draw, and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the world’s most famous stout.

Photo by Seth McConnell

Glendale Raptor Prop Luke White takes the ball into contact against the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby. Glendale has been the home of American rugby for more than 10 years, attracting international talent, coaches, the attention of a dedicated fan base, and big-name partners like Guinness.

Courtesy of Guinness

Founded by Arthur Guinness in Dublin in 1759, Guinness is not only one of the most recognizable beverages in the world, but among the most successful beer brands ever.