Lawrence was the founder of Otter Creek Brewing, Inc. As owner, CEO, and Brewmaster Lawrence grew Otter Creek from a single-person, draft only brewery to a leading Regional Specialty brewer from 1990 through the successful sale of the company in 2002. During his time in the industry Lawrence also served on the Board and as Membership Chair of the Brewers Association of America; as President of the Vermont Brewers’ Association; and as Technical Chair, District New England, Master Brewers Association of the Americas.
After selling Otter Creek, Lawrence developed an independent advisory practice focusing on manufacturers of consumer products including start-ups, high growth companies, and turnarounds. During this period Lawrence also served on the Committee of Operating Executives at Worth Mountain Capital Partners and as a Peer Advisor with the Vermont Peer-to-Peer Collaborative, now housed at the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.
In 2007 he accepted the position of Chairman and CEO at client company Danforth Pewter where he led a migration strategy from wholesale to multi-channel consumer marketing, including acquisition of compatible pewter brands.
Lawrence had direct experience with the Agency of Commerce and Community Development as a client and volunteer. In 2010 he served on the Oversight Panel for the reform of State and Regional Economic Development and Planning services which was created as part of Challenges for Change. From 1997 to 2006 he served as a Board Member of the Vermont Economic Progress Council, the last two years as Chairman. VEPC was tasked with long range economic development planning and administering the state’s tax incentive programs in support of a vision of “Vermont as an economically and environmentally healthy place to work and live.” He was also the first Chairman of the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund and served on the Advisory Committee to create the new VSJF Flexible Capital Fund. Until joining the Administration he had also been a member of the North Country Angels investment group.
Other past activities related to the Agency’s mission have included service on the Board of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce; the Student Apprenticeship Council of Addison County; The Hannaford Career Center Regional Advisory Board; Employment Associates Business Advisory Council; the Middlebury Airport Commission; and as a Director and Treasurer of the Middlebury Area Land Trust.
Lawrence earned his undergraduate degree in psychology in 1987 from Reed College, in Portland, Oregon. From 1997- 1999 he completed the Birthing of Giants Entrepreneurial Leadership program at MIT, in Boston.