Ken Grossman

Craft beer pioneer Ken Grossman founded Sierra Nevada brewery in 1978 when there were only 45 independent breweries in America. Today, the $100 billion-a-year industry is dominated by global giants like Anheuser-Busch InBev. But big beer is stagnant, and double-digit growth is coming from higher-price, bolder-flavor craft beers made by smaller brewers. Sierra Nevada's famous Pale Ale accounts for 60% of the company's $250 million in 2014 sales. Grossman, whose son runs a new brewery in North Carolina, is keenly aware of Sierra Nevada's environmental impact. More than 10,000 solar panels are installed at the original Chico, CA brewery, and 99.8% of the facility's waste is recycled.