ABout US
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton
A world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, merchandise designer, and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover what he terms “the world’s best beverage” for more than two decades, his current media outlets include James Beard Foundation, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, USAToday, Thrillist.com, and others. Ale has also recently launched his own beer called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—alongside brewing giant New Belgium geared to support diversity and racial equality through various initiatives including their burgeoning BrewGether fund. Although a native New Yorker and a Cornell University alumnus, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Andrea Irvin Byron
An experienced community builder and strategic thinker, bringing 15+ years of non-profit experience in program development, operations, grantmaking, and financial management. Currently serving as the Director of Operations - Community Engagement for United Way of Greater Atlanta, Andrea has a unique insight into the complexity of community needs and the impact of philanthropic initiatives. As an alumna of Spelman College—a historically Black college/university—and a former employee in the college’s Office of Civic Engagement, Andrea not only has experience in connecting with community organizations, but also in understanding the community needs. In 2016, Andrea was honored as a White House Champion of Change by President Obama. In the creative realm, Andrea is a food/lifestyle journalist and social media creative (@ATLFoodWriter). Andrea has been a staple in the Atlanta food scene for over 10 years, reviewing restaurants, visiting breweries, and traveling to food festivals. As a natural connector, Andrea is always working to bring people and resources together for positive change.