Leadership

Woody Creek Distillers began with a phone call between Patrick Scanlan and Mark Kleckner, two seasoned engineers and longtime friends. Patrick, a veteran, shared his dream of building a distillery, and Mark eagerly joined the venture, along with Pat’s wife, Mary Scanlan. Their shared vision for world-class spirits was rooted in their deep appreciation for craftsmanship and their commitment to family-owned values.

Mary Scanlan, an arts and education philanthropist and now acting CEO of our women-owned distillery, has led the brand to farm-to-bottle excellence. Her leadership has fostered the company’s growth, ensuring every bottle reflects our commitment to quality, authenticity, and the pioneering spirit of Colorado. Today, the distillery has become a powerhouse of award-winning whiskeys, vodkas, and gins.

All three co-founders, who live in Woody Creek, Colorado remain deeply connected to the land and community that inspires them. Join us in celebrating the extraordinary with every sip.

Mary Scanlan is the CEO of Woody Creek Distillers. She lives in Woody Creek, Colorado with her (mostly) fabulous husband, two (usually) wonderful children, twenty two dogs, and two cats. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and studied photography, English literature, and art history at Bennington College, Drake University, and Columbia College Chicago. Mary currently sits on the boards of The Loomis Chaffee School, Bennington College, and the Aspen Education Foundation. Her favorite color is purple. She loves peanut butter, sushi, chocolate bars with almonds in them (she’s a bit particular about this), blueberries… basically anything that is delicious. She loves to bake with her three sourdough starters: Doughlene, Poppy, and Bubbles. Mary also has too many shoes. Currently she is trying to decide what her next tattoo will be.

Mark Kleckner is Co-Founder & Operating Partner at Woody Creek Distillers, which sets the gold standard for Colorado spirits. Mark, a seasoned engineer, founded the company with Patrick Scanlan, a fellow engineer, and his wife, Mary Scanlan, an arts and education philanthropist. Mark oversees every aspect of the company, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, and sets its strategic direction, manages its senior management team and ensures its profitability. Under Mark’s leadership, Woody Creek Distillers has emerged as a formidable farm to bottle distillery crafting award-winning whiskeys, vodkas and gins from scratch using local Colorado ingredients and pristine Rocky Mountain water.

William H. Macy is Spokesdude and Partner at Woody Creek Distillers, which sets the gold standard for Colorado spirits. William is the beloved Oscar Award-nominated and two-time Emmy Award-winning American actor, writer and director, best known for Shameless and Fargo. He travels the U.S. with his ukulele in hand to share his love of Woody Creek Distillers’ award-winning whiskeys, vodka and gin. In William’s own words, “In all sincerity, I think Woody Creek makes the finest spirits in America. We don’t do everything, but what we do, we do as well as the best.”

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Joe spent his younger years playing baseball, football and working summers with the family electrical company.

He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Clarke University where he was also a captain on the baseball team.

Sticking true to his Chicago roots, Joe’s first job out of college was a union accountant for the Central States Pension and Health Funds. After 6 years of progressing through the Finance Department he accepted an opportunity as a Senior Accounting Manager at Provi, an emerging unicorn in the Tech and Alcohol Beverage industry.

Joe joined Woody Creek Distillers in 2023 and is currently the Finance and Facility Operations Manager. He moved out to beautiful Carbondale Colorado in 2024 with his wife Nichole and three dogs Cosmo, Hank and Ivy.

Joe is a constant competitor and enjoys the gym, golf, sailing and 16” softball. His favorite drink is a Woody Creek Wheated Bourbon on the rocks.

A third generation Barman & Restaurateur, his Grandfather, Mother and Father have been pub owners and bartenders in New Jersey since the 1930’s. Over the course of his 33-year career, Sean has managed restaurants, bars and cocktail programs in New Jersey, Texas and Colorado and consulted on several national programs. In 2011, he realized a lifelong dream and opened Williams & Graham in Denver, CO. And in 2015 Williams & Graham was listed as one of the“World’s Top 50 Bars” By Drinks International magazine. National media such as Food & Wine magazine, Imbibe magazine, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Playboy, USA Today, and Esquire have recently recognized his beverage programs. At the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2014, Sean was honored as the American Bartender of the Year.