Jennelle Root Martell
Originally from the greater Washington, DC area, Jenn has a background in foreign affairs and anthropology with a master’s degree in Public Policy and Policy Analysis from American University. In DC she worked at an international exchange non-profit managing grantwriting and program development, including the implementation of international youth conferences and a water, health, and sanitation program financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. In 2013 she moved out to California with her husband and aussie/golden mix, Brooks.
Though cider was never on the radar except for pure consumption, the love of the beverage goes back to her early days in DC playing the Irish stick sport of hurling and being introduced to Magners by the pint. After moving to the SF Bay Area, she and her husband jumped headfirst into home-fermenting cider and soon set about creating South City Ciderworks in order to fulfill a need in the market for easy-drinking, approachable cider, in 12oz cans. Six years later Jenn manages the company – overseeing the small production and sales team, organizing cider distribution, and working in the back office to maintain accounting and compliance records.
To complement her work at the cidery, Jenn also recently started a podcast, Courage and Other C Words, which documents her journey as a cidermaker and entrepreneur and highlights the voices of other women making their mark on this male-dominated industry. In her “free” time she loves hiking with her family and friends and supporting other craft makers in the Bay Area. She is also expecting a little girl in June!
