Meet the Team
Joe & Kelly Blazosky - Founders/Co-Owners
As New York State began to focus on the craft beverage industry as a key economic driver, Kelly and Joe identified the lack of cooperage availability as a gap in the industry supply chain. Together they started Adirondack Barrel Cooperage, taking it from entrepreneurial concept to fully operational within three years, serving 100+ distilleries, wineries and breweries with premium high-quality barrels.
Joe mentored with master cooper Rick DeFerrari at Oregon Barrel Works and applied his 35 years of master carpentry and finish woodworking experience to the art of barrel making. Learning traditional French coopering methods, he quickly formed a passion for the trade. Applying that knowledge toward the development of a new cooperage in upstate New York, Joe set out to build a better barrel for the craft beverage industry.
Kelly handles the behind the scenes operations. With 19 years of experience in travel and tourism industry as president of Destination Marketing Organizations in Ohio and New York, she brings a broad knowledge of marketing, grant writing and business operations to the company.
Joe and Kelly have three children, Randi, Marcie, and Matthew, and an Airedale Terrier, aptly named Cooper.
Photo via Albany Business Review
Tony Hynes - Co-Owner
Tony Hynes has over 20 years of manufacturing experience. In 1992, he founded Precision Valve and Automation (PVA), a world class innovator of high quality, repeatable dispensing and conformal coating systems, and he started by selling dispensing valves out of his own home. Now headquartered in upstate New York, with regional sites stationed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, PVA engineers robust processes that introduce repeatable results that reduce waste, increase throughput, and lower manufacturing costs.
In 2018, Hynes saw an opportunity to apply his background in manufacturing to an industry that was new to him: barrel cooperages. Partnering with Joe and Kelly Blazosky, Hynes took his years of manufacturing experience to help scale their business. In 2019 alone, Adirondack Barrel’s production increased by over a third and has continued to grow throughout the past couple years.
Aaron Buell - Barrel Maker
Aaron is Joe and Kelly’s nephew. The son of Joe’s sister and brother-in-law, Rosanne and Mike Buell of Marietta, Ohio. He holds a degree in Educational Studies with a minor in Mathematics from Kent State University. After evaluating career options, Aaron decided to move to upstate New York with his cat, J3ffy, to join our growing team at Adirondack Barrel Cooperage as a barrel maker.
Matt Dyar - Barrel Maker
Matt is Kelly’s son and Joe’s stepson. He’s a graduate of Holland Patent High School and earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Troop 55. He studied Environmental Science and Natural Resource Conservation at SUNY Morrisville. He’s been learning the craft of barrel-making and helping Joe at the cooperage since he was 14. He’s an avid fisherman and hunter. Baseball is his sport…the beast at third!
Adam Hauck - Barrel Maker
Events of the past two years moved Adam to pursue a career change and seek out a position that connects with his appreciation for creative work and hands-on projects. He has a passion for the arts, has worked as a musician and vocalist playing in local venues for a decade, and is a self-taught silversmith. All that creativity and an aptitude for woodworking led to barrel making. Adam is a graduate of Mohawk Valley Community College.
Terry Warney - Barrel Maker
With an appreciation for hand-crafted, quality made products, Terry found the art of barrel making an attractive new career path. His background in construction trades and manufacturing were well aligned with skillsets necessary for coopering. He’s an artistic guy with talents for home winemaking, oil painting and guitar. He enjoys outdoor adventures especially fishing, kayaking, and hunting. And he’s a tattoo artist. Terry is a graduate of Herkimer High School.
Tim Sturdevant - Barrel Maker
After returning to Forestport from a few years in California renovating homes, a new career learning the art of barrel making appealed to Tim’s passion for woodworking. With a background in carpentry, HVAC, heavy equipment operation and prosthetics manufacturing, Tim’s experience and attention to detail have easily transitioned to coopering. He enjoys antiquing and has a woodshop with his brother in Boonville. Tim is a graduate of Mohawk Valley Community College.