Our Team
Ronald Dodge
Executive vice chair
With more than 40 years of industry experience, Ron Dodge currently serves as Executive Vice Chair for Hood River Distillers. In this role, Ron advises the leadership team as needed. He is also archiving & digitizing company documents, photos, and news clippings that have been collected over the past 88 years. His grandfather and business partners purchased Hood River Distillers from the original founders in 1949.
Ron began his career at the production facility in 1980 as the assistant to Ned Marshall, then VP of Operations. He became the Plant Manager in 1988, and then in 1999, Ron became President and CEO. Under Ron's leadership and vision, he transformed the business from a regional value priced manufacturer of distilled spirits into a national purveyor of premium spirits, including the very successful Pendleton Whisky brand. After the sale of Pendleton in 2018, Ron focused on leadership succession planning and handed off his President and CEO responsibilities to David Ballew, in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
Away from his Hood River Distillers duties, Ron enjoys riding horses, mountain biking, golfing, hiking with his dogs & traveling with his wife Linne’.
Favorite Cocktail: McCarthy’s Manhattan
Erica Mitchell
Chief Financial Officer
Erica Mitchell, CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer at Hood River Distillers, where she is responsible for leading the Hood River Distillers’ finance, IT and compliance, while ensuring each department aligns with the company's long-term sales, marketing and growth strategy.
Prior to joining Hood River Distillers, Erica spent eight years in public accounting at the firm KPMG. As a Senior Audit Manager, she worked on small to midsize public and private manufacturing companies and universities across the greater Portland area. She was a KPMG national instructor, teaching audit methodology and generally accepted accounting principles to Senior Audit Associates across the US. Erica was also an Adjunct Accounting Professor at Portland Community College, and the Treasurer for the Hood River Yacht Club.
Outside of work, Erica enjoys tennis, biking, golf and spending time with her husband and two daughters. Erica received her BA in Accounting and MBA from Oregon State University – Go Beavs!
Favorite Cocktail: Timberline and soda with lemon
BRIAN PETROS
VICE PRESIDENT OF Operations
Brian serves as Hood River Distillers’ Vice President of Operations and is responsible for leading the bottling and distillery operations. He grew up in Portland and moved to the Hood River Valley in 1994, pursuing his love of the mountains and the outdoors. In July of 1998 he joined Hood River Juice Co. as part of the maintenance team. Brian was promoted to Maintenance Manager in 2000 and VP of Operations in 2006. With over 22 years of vast experience with Hood River Juice, his achievements were far reaching, including relocating and developing their current 6.5-acre facility, while also quadrupling capacity of their operations.
When Brian is not working, he enjoys being in the outdoors with his wife Xani, and sons, Anthony and Rocco; sailing, boating, surfing, fishing, hiking and snowboarding – a true gorge enthusiast. Brian is also an active member of the Hood River Yacht Club where he served as Commodore from 2002-2008.
Favorite Cocktail: Big Gin and tonic with lemon