Alumni Spotlight
November 2021
Bill Covaleski – MHS Class of ‘81
Bill Covaleski is the Co-Founder and Brewmaster of Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Chester County. Long before Bill’s business became a household name and giant in the global craft beer industry, he was a Methacton High School student who played ice hockey and even earned the title of ‘Most Artistic’ in the Class of 1981 yearbook. Bill recalls his high school experience as being one of great fulfillment.
“My favorite Methacton memory was graduation as the day was full of promise for the future. I believe that my friends and I felt that we were exiting high school well-prepared for exciting futures of our own choosing.”
Bill went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Temple University’s Tyler of School of Art & Architecture with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He also earned a certificate for Brewing Studies at the Doemens Institute in Munich, Germany.
He points to his Methacton art teacher, Pam Johnson, as the educator who had the most influence on his life as a student.
“There are two reasons why I feel she made a great impact on my future. First, she taught a thorough range of materials, methods and techniques so that a young artist was exposed to many channels for their creative expression to flow into. Additionally, she also made time to convey the less tangible aspects of art by offering historical context and inspiring concepts. As an example of this second point, she once made the statement 'the mind is like a compost pile so expect to dig deep for the richest material'. That has always resonated with me in my pursuit of solutions and directly in my business.”
Bill and his business partner, Ron Barchet, were best friends through their high school years. The pair used that time together to inspire and challenge one another to work harder.
“We often selected differing classes and compared notes on what we were learning and experiencing. A short thirteen years after graduating we found ourselves writing our business plan for a brewery as we had both gathered diverse experience that one another could benefit from in a business mode. Our strength was that of a team, not as two isolated individuals.”
Today -- their teamwork is paying dividends as evidenced by the success of Victory Brewing Company. Just last year, Bill and Ron were inducted into the Chester County Business Hall of Fame. The award recognizes an individual’s outstanding achievements and contributions within the local business community. They are also recipients of the Clayton M. Hoff Award from the Brandywine Valley Association for their environmental stewardship.
Bill currently serves as a board member with the Chester County Agricultural Land Preservation, the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau, and Downingtown Main Street Association. He has also served as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association and as President of the Brewers of Pennsylvania.
When he’s not leading Victory Brewing Company’s marketing team, Bill enjoys traveling with his family.
We salute Bill Covaleski as an alumni who continues to make us Methacton PROUD!
Superintendent's Alumni Spotlight
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