Our Team

Ronald Dodge

Executive vice chair

With more than 40 years of industry experience, Ron Dodge currently serves as Executive Vice Chair for Hood River Distillers. In this role, Ron advises the leadership team as needed. He is also archiving & digitizing company documents, photos, and news clippings that have been collected over the past 88 years. His grandfather and business partners purchased Hood River Distillers from the original founders in 1949.

Ron began his career at the production facility in 1980 as the assistant to Ned Marshall, then VP of Operations. He became the Plant Manager in 1988, and then in 1999, Ron became President and CEO. Under Ron's leadership and vision, he transformed the business from a regional value priced manufacturer of distilled spirits into a national purveyor of premium spirits, including the very successful Pendleton Whisky brand. After the sale of Pendleton in 2018, Ron focused on leadership succession planning and handed off his President and CEO responsibilities to David Ballew, in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

Away from his Hood River Distillers duties, Ron enjoys riding horses, mountain biking, golfing, hiking with his dogs & traveling with his wife Linne’.

FAVORITE COCKTAIL: MCCARTHY’S MANHATTAN

DAVID BALLEW

President & CEO

David Ballew is a 35+year veteran of the beverage industry, and joined Hood River Distillers as President in 2020, adding the CEO role in 2022. His background encompasses start-up ventures, business and brand management, distributor and supplier experience, and on-and off premise channel development including national accounts in both channels.

Using the company Vision, Mission, and Values as the North Star, the team is leaning into premium brands, brand innovation, and market expansion as key pillars for the future.

With all career stops leading to Hood River Distillers, David has worked for some of the industry’s most respected suppliers, such as Moet Hennessy USA, Terlato, Trinchero, and E&J Gallo. Additionally, he has worked on the distributor side of the business with Glazer’s and Premier Beverage.

He was born in Atlanta, attended Auburn University (War Eagle!), and he and his family have lived in Florida, Texas, and Illinois. David and his wife, Nancy, are excited to be living in the scenic Pacific Northwest and enjoy embracing the outdoor lifestyle, and their three children are looking forward to frequent visits! David is an avid college football fan and enjoys hitting the golf ball and being outside.

FAVORITE COCKTAIL: TRAIL’S END OR MCCARTHY’S OLD FASHIONED

John Russell

Chief Marketing officer

John Russell serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for Hood River Distillers and brings over 40 years of successful brand building experience to this role. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Marketing for the Tillamook County Creamery Association, where he led the launch of the brand’s cheese and ice cream products throughout the Midwest, South and East Coast of the U.S, as well as Tillamook’s new logo and packaging design and the development of the new Tillamook Creamery visitor center in Tillamook, Oregon.

Previously, he spent 13 years at renowned ad agency, Wieden+Kennedy, where he headed up top clients such as Nike and Coca-Cola. In 2003, he led the creation and launch of Pendleton Whisky, his first foray into the spirits world, which became one of the most successful new spirits brands of the past 20 years.

Born in Philadelphia, raised in Southern California and now rooted in Oregon for the past 30 years, John enjoys spending his free time at the beach with his family.

Favorite Cocktail: Big Gin on the rocks with a splash of bottled tonic water and a healthy squeeze of fresh lime

Erica Mitchell

Chief Financial Officer

Erica Mitchell, CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer at Hood River Distillers, where she is responsible for leading the Hood River Distillers’ operations, distilleries, finance, IT and compliance, while ensuring each department aligns with the company's long-term sales, marketing and growth strategy.

Prior to joining Hood River Distillers, Erica spent eight years in public accounting at the firm KPMG. As a Senior Audit Manager, she worked on small to midsize public and private manufacturing companies and universities across the greater Portland area. She was a KPMG national instructor, teaching audit methodology and generally accepted accounting principles to Senior Audit Associates across the US. Erica was also an Adjunct Accounting Professor at Portland Community College, and the Treasurer for the Hood River Yacht Club.

Outside of work, Erica enjoys tennis, biking, golf and spending time with her husband and two daughters. Erica received her BA in Accounting and MBA from Oregon State University – Go Beavs!

Favorite Cocktail: TIMBERLINE AND SODA WITH LEMON

Chris Lowder

Vice President of Sales

Chris Lowder is the Vice President of Sales at Hood River Distillers and is responsible for leading the commercial business and ensuring it aligns with the company's long-term marketing and growth strategy.

Chris joined the company in October 2016. He previously served as the company’s Division Manager, Central Region before assuming his role as Vice President of Sales. Previously, Chris served 15+ years in the spirits industry, working for William Grant & Sons, Nolet Spirits, USA, and wholesale partner, Republic National Distributing.

Away from the office, Chris appreciates his downtime with his wife and two children and exploring their relatively new home: The Pacific Northwest. Born and raised in Texas, Chris and his family enjoy a good Friday night football game, BBQ on the weekend, and all water related activities

Favorite Cocktail: batanga blanco margarita

BRIAN PETROS

VICE PRESIDENT OF Operations

Brian serves as Hood River Distillers’ Vice President of Operations and manages oversight of all of aspects of our bottling facility in Hood River. He grew up in Portland and moved to the Hood River Valley in 1994, pursuing his love of the mountains and the outdoors. In July of 1998 he joined Hood River Juice Co. as part of the maintenance team. Brian was promoted to Maintenance Manager in 2000 and VP of Operations in 2006. With over 22 years of vast experience with Hood River Juice, his achievements were far reaching, including relocating and developing their current 6.5-acre facility, while also quadrupling capacity of their operations.

When Brian is not working, he enjoys being in the outdoors with his wife Xani, and sons, Anthony and Rocco; sailing, boating, surfing, fishing, hiking and snowboarding – a true gorge enthusiast. Brian is also an active member of the Hood River Yacht Club where he served as Commodore from 2002-2008.