Meet the Bright Penny Team
Delicious food and excellent beer is what we do!
Best place to work, hands down!
Tory Williams, General Manager
Tory is an ambitious and driven chef, general manager and lover of beautifully crafted food who relocated from Rhode Island to North Carolina early 2019, with his wife. After joining the team of Bright Penny Brewing a few months before they opened, Tory has proven to be a significant asset, putting his skills to work creating their beloved menu.
Tory's vision extends beyond just great beer. As the Executive Chef and General Manager, he wanted to create a food concept that perfectly complements their brews. With his passion for beautifully crafted dishes, he has exceeded expectations and continues to push the boundaries of innovation.
Not content with stopping there, Tory has also been instrumental in the expansion of Bright Penny. Working tirelessly alongside his team, he is excited about the future growth of the brewery and ensuring that more people get to experience what they have to offer.
When he's not at work, you can find Tory cherishing moments with his family or attempting to find his golf ball in the woods after a particularly wild slice. With a love for his craft, Tory embodies the spirit of Bright Penny Brewing. Come and experience it for yourself!
Lance Furer, Head Brewer
Originally from Colorado, Lance relocated to NC in 2020 with his wife Natalie and their 3 dogs. Lance has been in the Brewery and F&B industry for 20 years, and has been brewing for the last 12, both as a Homebrewer and Professional Brewer. He takes inspiration from Food, Cocktails and Wine, is always researching and implementing new techniques and styles, while staying true to classic methods and approaches as well. Lance’s favorite beers to brew are Stouts, Barleywines and anything else he can age in Spirit and Wine Barrels. His all-time favorite beer is “Slow Pour Pils” by Bierstadt Lagerhaus out of Denver, CO. During his time off you can find him playing a round of golf with a couple of Bright Penny’s “Not Your Mama’s Sweet Tea” Sour Ales.
Steveo Valentino, Kitchen Manager
We speak for you when we say you are lucky to have him in the kitchen putting his creative mind to work.
Todd Vieau, Taproom Manager
Todd has been a part of the Bright Penny family for 3.5 years and has thrived in his role as Front of House Manager over the past year. 👏
Originally from Charleston, SC, Todd’s journey has been nothing short of incredible. He met his wife, Jennifer, at Clemson University, and both went on to serve in the U.S. Army—Todd as an MP Officer and Jennifer as an OR Nurse. Their journey took them across the country, from Fort Bliss, TX, to Fort Gordon, GA, and eventually back to Charleston, where Todd served for 15 years with the South Carolina Highway Patrol before transitioning into hospitality.
Todd and Jennifer have two sons, Ashton and Christian. Ashton graduated from Eastern Alamance in 2022, and Christian is currently a junior at Eastern Alamance, where he plays on the Varsity baseball team. The family has loved calling Mebane home, and the community has welcomed them with open arms.
In 2020, Todd joined Bright Penny as a bartender, and his passion and dedication quickly led him to his current leadership role. We couldn’t be more grateful to have him on our team!
Outside of work, Todd loves hunting, fishing, working out with his F3 brothers, and attempting to golf (but losing more balls than he started with! ⛳️😂).
Next time you're in the taproom, be sure to say hey to Todd! 🍻
