VP Sullivan Will Leave Boulevard Brewing For Dallas Distributor

By James Dornbrook

Bob Sullivan Jr. resigned from Boulevard Brewing Co. effective Feb. 1, to accept a job as vice president of specialty and craft beer brand building at Andrews Distributing Co. in Dallas.

Sullivan will remain vice president of sales and marketing for Kansas City-based Boulevard Brewing until he starts his new job. Boulevard COO Steve Mills then will take on Sullivan’s duties on an interim basis, until the company can hire a replacement.

Sullivan joined Boulevard in 1994, helping it grow into the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest and the 10th-largest U.S. brewery.

“Bob has played a key role in the growth and success of Boulevard,” President and founder John McDonald said in an email statement. “His passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence will be difficult to replace and truly missed. We thank Bob for his many years of exemplary service and wish him the very best, though we intend to hold him to his promise to double Boulevard depletions in Dallas.”

Sullivan was actively involved in the Kansas City community. He is a founder and past president of Kansas City Irish Fest. He was an executive board director for the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association and was an allied director of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association. He co-wrote a book called “Hometown Beer” that outlines the brewing history of Kansas City.

Andrews Distributing is based in Dallas, with operations throughout Texas. It’s the sixth-largest beer distributor in the nation, with more than 200 beer brands and 1,100 employees.

Sullivan said he wasn’t looking for a new job when he got an offer from Andrews Distributing CEO Barry Andrews.

“I didn’t immediately say yes,” Sullivan said. “I’ve put my heart and soul into Boulevard and always saw myself retiring here. So it was a difficult decision.”

Sullivan said that he considers Andrews to be one of the nation’s most respected distributors and that he was intrigued by a chance to get back to his roots. He got his start in the beer business in 1978 as a driver-salesman for the Sullivan Beverage Co. He’s the fourth generation of his family to work in the beer industry.

Sullivan said he found himself ready for one last adventure in the beer industry before retirement.

He plans to maintain a presence in Kansas City, where he was born and raised. He owns several acres of land in the Kansas City area with five horses.

“My daughter lives on our property, so I don’t need to sell it,” Sullivan said. “When I retire, I’ll be back in Kansas City. It is near and dear to me and always will be.”

Sullivan plans to commute to Dallas for now because it’s only a one-hour flight. He’ll re-evaluate whether it makes sense to move to Dallas a year from now.

“I’m starting a new chapter, and I’m pretty excited about it,” Sullivan said.