Julie Bielecki
Chief Beer Officer
Email: Rhinobeveragedistributing@gmail.com
Phone: (585)-424-2266
Julie developed an interest in craft beer at a very young age, when her family joined the craft beer movement in 1989. Though not able to consume for some time, she became enamored with the culture of craft beer. As can be expected, Julie’s desire to become involved and make her own contributions to the industry only became stronger when she started to experience beer herself! Fast forward a few years, too many waitressing shifts serving craft beer to count, many weekends spent doing office work for a small distributor in a freezing warehouse, and Julie earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University and her law and MBA degrees from SUNY Buffalo. She returned to Rochester, NY and practiced law at a large firm before coming home to craft beer in 2012. She still maintains her own small law practice in Victor, NY. Where she lives with her husband, sons, and 8 fish.
First beer – a pint of Harp with her grandmother in Ireland
First craft beer – Pete’s Strawberry Blonde
Favorite Style - IPA
Kenneth O. Nelson (Rochester, Finger Lakes)
Key Accounts Manager and Sales
Email: knelson@rhinobeverage.com
Cell: 585-455-8754
Kenny began his craft beer obsession at Plattsburgh State University when he discovered Magic Hat Brewing and Lake Placid Pub and Brewing. He began working part time at AJ’s Beer Warehouse in October 2013 and in 2016 came on as full time Distribution and Key Accounts Manager for Rhino Beverage. Kenny has a BA and an MS in Environmental Science and has worked as an environmental educator, wild animal trainer, and conservation biologist. When he is not enjoying beers and working with his accounts you can find him attending concerts (especially Phish!), hiking with his wife and dog, as well as playing guitar.
Favorite Beer Style: India Pale Ale
Favorite Beer: Heady Topper
Nick Frey (Rochester and Buffalo)
Distribution and Key Accounts Manager
Email: nfrey@rhinobeverage.com
Cell: 585-771-7260
Nick began his path in the beer industry over 8 years ago. The first time he was introduced to craft beer was when he first started working for a beer retailer in 2008 and quickly became passionate for all things beer. He began working for Rhino Beverage in 2015 as a part time employee and quickly moved to his current position now. Nick has two Associates degrees in Collision Refinishing Technology and Business Administration. When he is not working for Rhino, you usually can find him brewing up his latest batch of beer. You might even find him as a competitor at the local homebrew competitions.
Favorite Beer Styles: Sours, IPAs , Stouts
Kristy Miner
Syracuse Rep/ Retail Manager
Email: kristy@rhinobeverage.com
Cell: 585-575-3162
Managing a restaurant/bar during Rochester's craft beer explosion solidified that beer was going to be a big part of Kristy's life. The passion exuded by local breweries like Three Heads and Naked Dove quickly convinced Kristy to join the ranks of event coordinator/sales for two finger lakes breweries. When Aj's Beer Warehouse opened its doors in 2013 Kristy decided she needed more beer in her life and joined their team. As Aj's grew and Rhino Distributing began, Kristy's roles grew as well. She not only manages Aj's bottle shop but does sales in the Syracuse region as well.
Favorite Beer Style: India Pale Ales, Barrel Aged Stouts
First Craft Beer: Breckenridge Agave Wheat
Ryan Helmick
Auburn, Oswego, Syracuse, Cortland, Ithaca Rep/ Retail Manager
Email: Rhelmick@rhinobeverage.com
Cell: (585) 721-2826
Ryan first started working in the beer industry in 2010 for a beer retailer. Joined the AJ's team in April of 2016 part-time and in January 2017 became a sales rep for Rhino. When he's not working he's either cheering for the Mets or relaxing on his porch! He loves the hoppy goodness all year round, sours in the summer and a nice sipping stout in the colder months. A jolly ginger with a huge passion for great beer!
Frank Laviani (Rochester, Geneva, Finger Lakes)
Email: Frank@RhinoBeverage.com
Cell: (585) 746-0263
Frank has had a long career in the restaurant and craft beer industry. He entered the craft beer industry by first working for Custom Brewcrafters, Rorhbach Brewing, and A Beer Lover's Paradise, Before finally settling in with Rhino Beverage Distributing. What Frank enjoys most about his current position is exposing people to craft beer, as well as meeting new people and developing personal relationships.
Favorite Beer Style: DIPA
Favorite Beer: Changes all the time
Sean Then
The Delivery Stork
Sean is our friendly beer transport specialist. Need a keg? He will make sure it gets there! Sean joined the Rhino team in 2015 and moved into his current role in 2016. Sean is always willing to help troubleshoot for accounts , taking the extra step to make sure our customers needs are met. When he's not on the road you can find Sean spending time with his dogs and his favorite cats.
Favorite Beer: Smironoff
Zach Martens
The Delivery Guy
You are likely to see this smiling face often as Zach's role in the Rhino team is to deliver to our accounts all over Western and Central NY. Zach was out first official employee, Starting out in the retail side at AJ's. He often pitched in to help the team in the warehouse and on the road, until officially switching to the road in the early 2016. When not at the warehouse or on the road, Zach enjoys hunting, fishing, cooking, and drinking good beers!
Kelly Boscoe
"Beer Princess"
Email: Accounts@RhinoBeverage.com
Phone: (585) 424-2266
Kelly began her interest in craft beer when working for R’s Market in Brighton, NY and tasting samples of The Kind IPA by Three Heads Brewing and Galaxy Brewing's Andromeda IPA. Her love for craft beers expanded when she started part-time at AJ’s Beer Warehouse. Kelly is now full-time as the office manager/beer princess. When she isn’t working she loves to spend time with her family and snuggle up with her dog, Tank.