As a community-minded person, Khris wanted to create a place that fostered conversation and relationships, and served as a positive contribution to the landscape of St. Petersburg. Naming his brewery Green Bench Brewing was a considered step in turning what was once a symbol of segregation in the area into a place where all members of the community are welcome. Khris continues to build and support his community through his involvement in the Michael James Jackson Foundation, a grant-making organization that funds scholarship awards to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color within the brewing and distilling trades.
Khris got his start learning to homebrew with his dad and has grown to being included in the Winemaker 40 under 40 Tastemaker Awards, earning his Pommelier certification from the American Cider Association, and being a founding faculty member of the Brewing Arts Program at USF - St. Petersburg. And doing it all while spending as much time as he can enjoying life outdoors on the coast.
