Hunter Smithhas experienced rocket ship success, both in the world of music and craft beer. Most recently, he built a brewing company and hospitality group that soared, until COVID hit. He found himself holding the pieces of a wildly successful venture that suffered the effects of something unexpected. 

About Hunter Smith

Hunter Smith is the founder and former President of Champion Brewing Company and Champion Hospitality Group. 

Hunter attended Northeastern University for Music and performed as a musician in the north east before returning home to Virginia in 2009. 

Hunter completed a BS in Business Marketing from the University of Phoenix, as well as a Certificate of Brewing Technology from the Siebel Institute in Chicago and started Champion Brewing Company in downtown Charlottesville in 2012. Hunter has also become an active member in the Charlottesville community as a board member for the Music Resource Center, Piedmont Housing Alliance, New Hill Development Company, and in June of 2018 was appointed to the City of Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review by City Council. 

Hunter also works in an advisory role at his family's winery in Nelson County and as Co-Chair of Government Affairs for the Virginia Craft BrewersGuild. 

Hunter is often recognized as the grandson of C. Ray Smith, a long-tenured professor and interim dean of UVa's Darden School of Business. 

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