Mark & Madelynn Korzon
Owners, Suttons Bay Ciders
For over 40 years, Mark and Madelynn Korzon have spent their summers hiking, swimming, cycling and exploring all of the activities that Northern Michigan has to offer. Following the sale of their Ann Arbor based landscape architecture business in 2013, they set out to find their next adventure and settled on a plan to combine their artistic talents with their love of Leelanau Peninsula agriculture and the result is Suttons Bay Ciders. For a few years, Mark and Madelynn planted orchards, remodeled an existing house, obtained hundreds of permits, and built a place to welcome guests to their Northern Michigan Hard Cidery. Thanks to all of that hard work, Mark and Madelynn bring you delicious hard cider in an unparalleled setting .
Geof
Cider Server Extraoridinaire
Born and raised in Suttons Bay, Geof spent 30 plus years in the metro Detroit area serving as a police officer. He retired as chief of police in 2017 and found that he could not stand sitting at home. Enter Suttons Bay Ciders who helped him fulfill his lifetime dream of being a bartender, without requiring him to stay up past his bedtime of 9:00pm. In addition to serving in the tasting room, he helps out with pressing and bottling down in the cellar when needed. Geof is often teamed up in the tasting room with Jon where they are frequently asked if they are brothers. Though not related by blood, these two bald guys are married to sisters. Outside of SBC, Geof enjoys grandkids, boating, golf and hunting.
Amy
Amy was born and raised in Suttons Bay and grew up right down the road and around the corner. Except for 10 years down in Grand Rapids, she has lived in this area her entire life. She is married to co-worker Geof (and co-worker Jon is her brother-in-law). Originally an event planner, she has spent most of her career working in marketing. She is currently the Regional Marketing Director for a miniature golf chain, along with pouring cider at SBC. Amy loves summer, Def Leppard, and French fries and hates winter, pepper, and campfires. In her spare time, she relaxes, basks in the sun, reads books and enjoys keeping up with kids, grandkids, family and friends.
Dennis Angel
General Manager & Cider Maker
Dennis grew up on a small farm in southeastern Indiana and that is where his love of apples began. His father and grandfather both owned apple orchards and Dennis worked side by side with them in caring for and tending to the orchards. After graduating from high school Dennis enlisted in the U.S. Army. Despite countless deployments around the world somehow he was able to find the time to attend college and earn two degrees. Also, during this time Dennis met his wife Caryn and they have been married for thirty-five years with three sons and one grandson.
After the military Dennis and family returned to Indiana to settle down and enjoy a more stable life. That’s when he discovered the art of wine and cider making. After several years of honing his craft he went to work at a winery and learned all aspects of making wine and running a commercial winery. Dennis and his wife then started their own business where people could come and make their own wines and learn how to become a better home winemaker. It was during this time that Dennis was approached by a start-up winery in search of a winemaker and he gladly accepted their offer to work with them.
Dennis was introduced to the beauty of the area while visiting relatives who live in Leelanau County. On one of his visits he discovered Suttons Bay Ciders and immediately fell in love with it. On the ride back to Indiana, Dennis remarked to his wife that he would give anything to be the cider maker there someday. A few years later, after overcoming many hurdles, he was able to obtain his dream job with Suttons Bay Ciders.
Dennis is committed to carry on the tradition of cider making that showcases locally sourced ingredients that represent the true essence of the area. So, in a sense he says that he has come full circle with his love of everything apples. In all, Dennis brings over twenty years of experience in the wine/cider making industry to Suttons Bay Ciders.