San Diego’s Modern Times Beer navigated some of the most treacherous waters possible in 2022—financial receivership, layoffs, taproom closures, and an eventual sale—and former CEO Jennifer Briggs took the helm with unflagging candor and grace. Workers were her primary concern throughout, even as the very existence of the business was in limbo. She fought to preserve as many jobs as possible, constantly centered workers’ wellbeing in her public communications, and was candid about the emotional toll that layoffs had on her and others. Briggs has since moved on from Modern Times, but the people are still top-of-mind for her.
“Pride is a hard word, because I think my aspirations were just bigger. I was hoping to save more jobs,” Briggs says. “Probably the most rewarding thing is when I hear about people who were able to leverage their time there to put themselves in a better situation.”
Briggs sits on numerous corporate boards and is evaluating in what direction she’d next like to take her career. She’s not ruling out a return to consulting or a brewery leadership role; the hospitality and human resources elements of the industry still call to her. She says she likes to be a “change agent” at companies and is used to persevering in challenging situations.
“It might be my wiring,” Briggs muses. “I had my oldest daughter when I was a freshman in high school, so I was 35 when I had my first grandchild. … I still graduated with honors from college. I just think this is the way I’ve always had to be.”
Despite an incredibly difficult year, Briggs believes the future holds potential for a renaissance: not just in brewing but broader society. Realizing that vision, though, requires equal doses of clarity and optimism.
“We do have to pay really close attention to the issues in the business,” Briggs says. “We used to have this saying when I worked at New Belgium: ‘Hope is not a plan, but you can’t have a plan without hope.’ I’d say that often at Modern Times, too.”
Words,Kate Bernot