Lee County microbrewery names new sales VP

A 25-year professional in the beverage industry has been added to the team at Fort Myers Brewing Company.

The microbrewery in Lee County hired Wyatt Wankelman as the new vice president of sales, where he will drive the company’s sales strategy while expanding brand presence. 

Wankelman, according to a statement, brings extensive experience to the role from working in beverage sales all across the state and for established names like Miller Brewing Co., The Gambrinus Company, Abita Brewing Company and 375 Park Avenue Spirits. 

“With Wyatt’s extensive background and expertise in the brewing industry, we know he will lead our brewery in continued growth and success,” Jen Whyte, Fort Myers Brewing founder, says in the release. “We are excited to have him on our team and can’t wait to see what this next decade brings for Fort Myers Brewing.”

Whyte and her husband, Rob, founded the brewery in 2013, and it has become one of the largest craft brewers in the state with its 22,000-square-foot operation. 

The award-winning lineup of ales, pilsners, stouts, IPAs and hard seltzers is poured at 1,600 locations. Fort Myers Brewing won gold at the 2022 World Beer Cup, Best Florida Beer Competition and Great American Beer Festival. The brewery was also named Grand National Champion at the 2021 and 2022 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championships.