Meet The Team
Chip Comer
President
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Hobbies: Beer – especially craft brews. Old cars, lake activities, hunting, and many activities concerning The University of South Carolina
Favorite Beer: Hard to pick a particular favorite – but I do like Sours and Barrel-Aged brews. Coors Banquet, PBR, and Schlitz are my all day brews.
“I started out at 12 years old loading trucks and working in the warehouse. Over time I’ve held almost all positions within the company.”
Rich Barker
Vice President/General Manager
Hometown: Lancaster, SC
Hobbies: Fishing, Hunting, anything outdoors!
Favorite Beer: Anything barrel-aged
“I started in the beer industry in 1996 with another distributor. In 2003 I came over to Comer and I haven’t looked back since.”
Kleber Dusenbury
Convenience Chain Manager
Hometown: Goodrich, MI
Hobbies: Baseball (Detroit Tigers), Raising Bees, Guns
Favorite Beer: Blue Moon Belgian White
“I started out in the restaurant business at age 14. I moved to Florida for college, and worked for the Beefsteak Charlie’s restaurant chain for 8 years. Finally, I moved to Lancaster in 1994, where I managed an Applebee’s. My first move into the beer business was to Comer in 1997.”
Pat Patterson
Grocery Sales Manager
Hometown: Elmira, NY
Hobbies: Boating and Diving
Favorite Beer: COLD
“I started in the beer business with American Eagle in 1993. Comer purchased American Eagle in 1995. I stayed with Comer until 1999, when I moved to Charleston and worked for Lee Distributors for 6 years. I accepted a sales management position at Yahnis in Florence in 2005. Not in love with Florence, I came back to Comer in 2008 to work for Chip again.”
Kipp Ellis
Craft Brand Manager
Hometown: Clover, SC
Hobbies: Home brewing, collecting rare sour beers, brewery hopping, camping, and growing an epic beard!
Favorite Beer: Sours
“I started in the beer industry in 2006 pulling grocery stores and worked my way into sales for another distributor. I came to Comer in 2012 as a driver and I have held nearly every position here. My love for craft beer has led me to many opportunities with the company and I love being able to educate and share that passion with others. “About beer I never lie. A man who lies about beer makes enemies.” — Stephen King
Jason Wilburn
York County Area Manager
Hometown: Chester, SC
Hobbies: Hunting & golf
Favorite Beer: Cold
“I began as a driver for Comer in 2006. Since then I’ve held a myriad of positions: trainer, sales rep, Chester County Area Manager, Lancaster County Area Manager, and finally York County Area Manager.”
Mark Rogers
York County Area Manager
with Comer since 2018
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Hobbies: Fishing and dirt bikes
Favorite Beer: Coors Light
Jason Conner
On-Premise Manager
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Hobbies: Spending time with my beautiful fiance, Annslee, hunting and fishing.
Favorite Beer: Coors Banquet
“I started out with Comer as a driver, both for on-premise and off-premise. I then trained employees and merchandised stores. Today I am an on-premise manager. I enjoy being at Comer because it feels like a family. ”
Chad Mobley
On-Premise Manager
Hometown: Chester, SC
Hobbies: Spending time with my daughter, Spencer, and sports, especially Gamecock football.
Favorite Beer: OMB Copper and Coors Light
“I began working for Comer as a salesman for on-premise. After two years, I became on-premise manager. I love being at Comer because we have a great group of people who help create a family environment.”
Pete Babauta
Lancaster & Indian Land Area Manager
with Comer since 2019
Hometown: Oxnard, CA
Hobbies: Food and tinkering – Pete really enjoys taking things apart to learn what makes ’em tick. And yes, he puts them back together!
Favorite Beer: Any that start with “B” and end with “eer”!
“I started with this Awesome Team as a Weekend Merchandiser in October 2019. After 35 years of turning wrenches, I left the Forklift Service Industry and accepted a full time position at Comer Distributing. It’s been a great transition since I’ve been drinking beer for more than 35 years! I started as a Spare Driver/Draught Technician and was offered the opportunity (a short time later) to Manage the Lancaster Area. I enjoy helping others and do all that I can to spread positivity! I love working with people and I love beer. Doing what I do here never seems like work, It’s just what I enjoy doing! I know that everything happens for a reason, but I wish that I’d made this transition much earlier in my life because this is truly an Awesome Team to be a part of.”
Ryan Hardee
Chester Area Manager
with Comer since 2018
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Hobbies: Baseball, Hunting, Fishing, Music, and Drawing
Favorite Beer: A cold one.
“I started in the beer industry when I came over to Comer in the fall of 2018 and it has felt like a family ever since. Started out in the warehouse and then moved over to truck driving, now Area manager over the Chester County area.”
CJ Cypress
Columbia Area Manager & Craft Specialist
with Comer since 2016
Hometown: Young Harris, GA
Hobbies: I like seeing live music (in particular Widespread Panic), lawn maintenance, enjoying the great outdoors, and smoking large pieces of meat on my Weber Kettle
Favorite Beer: Hard to pick a favorite, but I love the juicy IPAs and the sours that hit you right in the back of the taste buds. When I’m working out in the yard or smoking something on the grill, I enjoy a crisp PBR!
“I started out in the beer industry by working in the taproom at a local brewery in Columbia doing everything from bar tending, working at events, and assisting in the brew house. I knew that I wanted to be involved with beer sales and had an opportunity to join the Comer family in 2016 as a Merchandiser and Line Cleaner for Columbia. I took that opportunity and ran with it which has led me to where I am today!”
Rich Brown
Secretary & Treasurer
Hometown: York, SC
Hobbies: Spending time with family, entertaining family & friends, Shagging-SC State Dance, exercising/Working Out
Favorite Beer: Too many to name
“I first started working in the beverage industry in 1998, for small family owned company in Matthews NC, that dealt with H2O only. In May of 2008, the opportunity with Comer became available. Moving from the water industry to beer was quite the change for me, but I must say that it has been one of the most rewarding changes in my entire life.”
Valeska Penuela
Route Accounting
Hometown: Neiva, Colombia, South America
Hobbies: Spending time with daughter, dancing, and traveling
Favorite Beer: Chocolate peanut butter porters
“During my last semester at The University of South Carolina, Mr. Comer gave me the opportunity to intern at Comer Distributing. I enjoyed my time as an intern, and was lucky enough to begin a career with this fabulous company. I now manage the route accounting system, and look forward to coming to work every day.”
Sandy Woods
Graphic Designer
Hometown: Statesville, NC
Hobbies: Cooking, computers, playing fantasy sports, & spending time with family, friends and my pets
Favorite Beer: Miller Lite, Blue Moon, PBR, Fruli
“I started in the beer business in 2006 working for a beer distributor in Concord, NC. I moved to Rock Hill and did the drive for many years from Rock Hill to Concord, NC. I will always be grateful for the day that Chip Comer offered me a job at this wonderful company. I love designing beer ads and seeing my “Beer Art” displayed around town. ”