Meet the People Behind the Pour

Mountain West is powered by a small but mighty team of cider lovers, creatives, and community-builders. Whether they’re managing fermentations, crafting content, or pouring you a glass, this crew is passionate about what they do — and about keeping things local, thoughtful, and a little bit fun.

Jennifer & Jeff Carleton

Founders

Driven by their love of craft and community, Jennifer and Jeff launched Mountain West Cider with a mission to bring high-quality, Utah-made hard cider to the Mountain West. As founders, they’ve guided the business from day one — from fermentation to festivals — with a sharp eye for detail and a deep love for local.

Jennifer leads our bar operations and brand direction (on top of running an entirely separate career — yes, she’s a powerhouse). Jeff oversees the production side of things, keeping everything behind the scenes running smoothly, from tank to can.

Marcio Buffolo

Head Cidermaker

Originally from Brazil, Marcio brings a scientific mind and creative palate to every pour. He is the first Brazilian to be certified as a Pommelier — and is always experimenting with new techniques and flavors to push our ciders forward while honoring the craft. From wild yeast to barrel aging, Marcio leads the charge in developing ciders that are balanced, bold, and uniquely Mountain West.

Erika Palmer

Director of Sales

With years of experience in Utah’s beverage industry, Erika knows how to get good cider into good hands. She manages accounts, builds lasting relationships, and helps our products shine in bars, restaurants, and retail across the state.

Fun fact: When she’s not working with cider, she’s cultivating one of the most impressive backyard gardens you’ve ever seen.

Chandra Lloyd

Marketing Director

Chan brings the stories of Mountain West to life — online, on shelves, and everywhere in between. With a background in storytelling, content, and marketing strategy, she crafts the voice, visuals, and campaigns that connect people to the cider and the community behind it. From photography and social media to events, emails, and product descriptions, she helps make sure the brand stays as thoughtful and fresh as the cider itself.

Zack McAdams

Accountant

Zack keeps the numbers clean, the paperwork tight, and the chaos to a minimum. As our behind-the-scenes financial backbone, he brings a cool head to a job that’s anything but boring.

We’ll update this page as our team continues to grow. Until then, come visit us and say hello in person.