Board Members
Tom Volke - President
Graduated from La Crosse in January 1960. Took a job with Paul-Lewis Labs (makers of enzymes) in Milwaukee shortly after that, working in the plant making products used in the beer and cheese industry. Got drafted into the Army in July 1960 (Chemical Corps), and when he returned in July 1962, he went back to the same job. By then, Paul-Lewis was bought out by Pfizer and Tom took a position on the beer side doing quality control analysis on beers from around the country. Tom also worked on brewing pilot scale batches for use with some new hop products and brewery scale trials at 100 breweries around the states.
Geoffrey M Kroening - Treasurer
Geoffrey is an Information Technology Software Developer and Manager. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his familiarity with the brewing industry began as a teenager stocking shelves at the Burleigh Beer Depot in the 1960’s.
A twenty-year acquaintance with Master Brewer and Museum Board member, Gary Luther, drew him to his current board position with the Museum of Beer and Brewing in 2017, but their association and friendship was founded on a mutual passion for choral singing with the German choruses of Milwaukee of which they are both affiliated, and a common interest in the history and rich heritage of their native state of Wisconsin.
Geoffrey serves as the 1st Vice-President on the National Singers Association Board and continues his service to the local singing community as president of the Milwaukee Liederkranz Men’s chorus, Secretary of the Wisconsin Singers District, and retired Secretary of the German American Societies of Milwaukee. He also enjoys hamming it up a bit by performing as Master of Ceremonies for various events sponsored by the organizations he serves.
Gary Luther - Secretary
A brewer with 50+ years global experience. Gary is a founding member and past president of the Museum of Beer and Brewing. He is a member of the German Brewers and Maltsters Association, the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) and the Weihenstephan Alumni Association.
Gary held positions as president of the MBAA districts Baltimore and Milwaukee. He is a past President National MBAA and the North American Singers Association. He has lectured at many MBAA conventions and seminars and was guest lecturer at TU Munich, Weihenstephan, Brewers Association, and allied associations.
As a beverage consultant, he supported breweries internationally on numerous strategic beverage projects (including carbonated soft drinks, wines and distilled spirits).
He holds a degree of Diploma Engineering (MS) Brewing Science and Beverage Technology, (1973) Technical University of Munich-Weihenstephan, Germany.
Gary is married to Marianna, has two married daughters and five grandchildren.
Fred Gettelman - Vice-President
Frederick L. Gettelman grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Wauwatosa West HS, then
graduated from Milton College, Milton WI., school closed in the 1980's..Fred also attended University
in Mexico City. Fred is married to his wife Lela, they live in Brookfield and they have 2 daughters who live in Elm Grove with
their families. For the last 23 years he has been in the realty business, currently with The Realty Company LLC in Brookfield. His interests are History {beer} Travel, Sailing, Fishing, Shooting and keeping tract of the grand kids...He has been involved with The Museum of Beer and Brewing since
inception and is a past President. He a past board member of the Milwaukee County Historical
Society, and a member of Elmbrook Rotary Club. His father, Frederic, was the last Chairman of the A. Gettelman Brewing Company,. which was sold to Miller Brewing Company in 1961.
Directors: Adam Glass, Rick Jung, Robert McGill, James Schroeder, and Chuck Strohbach.
Want to be a part of an active community of beer lovers in the Milwaukee area? Become a member today!