DURANGO, Colo. – Sean Clark, formerly director of kitchen operations for Steamworks Brewing Co., has been promoted to executive chef and director of restaurant operations, now overseeing the management of all food service efforts at both Steamworks locations in Durango and Bayfield.

“The job is a big one, but Sean has embraced it,” said Kris Oyler, Steamworks CEO. “Sean has proven himself to be a very effective manager both fiscally and with the staff – and both are challenges in the restaurant business.”

Originally from Montrose, Clark came to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College just prior to the opening of the original Steamworks in 1996. A student studying Fine Arts, he took a job in the kitchen tossing pizzas, but was quickly promoted to Steamworks’ kitchen manager.

“I was managing the kitchen before I even graduated from college,” said Clark, who graduated from Fort Lewis in 1998.

Though he did leave Durango and Steamworks temporarily while his wife Nicole completed her education in Boulder, Clark returned to Steamworks in February 2004 as director of kitchen operations, overseeing the Durango brewpub and the soon to open Bayfield pub.

Simultaneously Clark has been pursuing his certification with the Culinary Institute of America. Qualifying at a preliminary exam in May, he hopes, pending time availability, to take the final exam to become a Certified Executive Chef in December 2008 in New York.

The opportunity to assume oversight of both restaurant and kitchen operations came with the departure of long-time Steamworks general manager Jeff Baker, who has moved into the medical sales field.

“Jeff built a good foundation and all our managers here at Steamworks are very strong,” said Clark, who is delegating duties such as bar management, retail operations and entertainment to mid-level managers. “One of the strengths of Steamworks is that we have depth in the field and we work as a team for the good of the whole. That’s often unusual for a restaurant.”

Steamworks Brewing Co. – Durango’s “2005 Business of the Year” – is located at 801 E. Second. Ave., Durango (970.259.9200), and 442 Wolverine Drive in Bayfield Center, Bayfield (970.884.7837). Both brewpubs are open from 11 a.m. daily.

Steamworks also produces a variety of award-winning hand-crafted beers available at the brewpubs and distributed throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and areas of Minnesota and New York.

For further information, visit www.steamworksbrewing.com.

#  #  #