We’re looking forward to introducing you to Betsy Duffy. Check out our conversation below.
Betsy, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My weekdays start early, at 5:30 a.m. sharp. After a morning routine with my family, I head to work by 7:30 a.m. as a process engineer at Pella Corporation, a company that manufactures windows and doors. No two days are the same, which I love. I dive into challenges and opportunities, brainstorming solutions that improve life for our operators, enhance our products, and better serve both internal and external customers.
My husband brings our son to meet me after work, and I drive him an hour for his soccer practice. While he trains, I shift gears, catching up on emails from our brewery, exploring new ideas, and crunching numbers in spreadsheets. It’s my quiet time to think creatively and strategically.
We get home around 7:30 p.m., and I squeeze in a few chores, share goodnight kisses with the kids, and then crash into bed ready to do it all again the next day.
Weekends? They’re a whirlwind of soccer games and beer festivals, blending family life with entrepreneurial hustle.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Meet Betsy Duffy, one of the proud owners of Gezellig Brewing Company, located in Newton, Iowa. Gezellig wasn’t born from a business plan, it was sparked by a love for craft beer culture, a deep appreciation for community, and maybe just a little bit of crazy.
Originally imagined for a nearby Dutch community, Gezellig found its true home in Newton, where it’s grown into a cozy, welcoming space that lives up to its name, a Dutch word that captures the feeling of warmth, togetherness, and good vibes.
Betsy isn’t a brewer, but she’s a passionate supporter of the craft beer scene and the connections it fosters. With a background in process engineering and a heart for people, she’s helped shape Gezellig into a space where folks can gather, celebrate, and feel at home.
Gezellig is a reflection of its team members and its loyal friends, the people who bring the energy, creativity, and heart that make it truly special.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I was in between careers, holding an elementary education degree and having spent several years teaching and I was absolutely scared out of my mind. Starting Gezellig Brewing Company wasn’t a calculated leap into entrepreneurship; it was more like diving headfirst into the unknown with a mix of passion, stubbornness, and a little bit of crazy.
From struggling with city governments and licensing, to writing business plans, buying used equipment, finding contractors to install it, hiring brewers, and even having to let some employees go. It was a rollercoaster. Then came COVID, which added a whole new layer of challenge. I became a STEM teacher while managing the brewery but then, funding for the STEM program was cut and I again found myself at an impasse. Through it all, one of my closest friends watched me fight for my dreams. One day, after listening to me vent and doubt myself, he said, “Betsy, LOOK at everything you’ve done! YOU did that! YOU figured all of this out. YOU have balanced everything. You are smart. You are capable. You are an engineer.”
That moment changed how I saw myself. I realized engineering isn’t just about equations or job titles. It’s about how you think. I had designed systems, optimized workflows, integrated equipment, and led people through uncertainty. I had engineered a dream into reality.
Now, I carry that identity with pride. I am an engineer. Not because someone gave me the title, but because I earned it through grit, creativity, and resilience.
That’s how a brewery-owning teacher became an engineer. And now? I love going to work every single day. All because my friend saw me.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You’re braver than you think, and you don’t have to have it all figured out to do something amazing. Your life will go up in ashes at times, messy, painful, and uncertain but you will rise from it stronger, wiser, and more grounded. The life you build from those ashes will be even better than you could have ever imagined.
Life is never perfect, and it sure isn’t boring. But you are always, always, always allowed to start over again. That restart isn’t failure, it’s courage.
And remember what my mom always said: Fear is the enemy. Don’t let it hold you back. Trust yourself. You’re going to be okay. In fact, you’re going to be incredible.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
If you asked my friends what really matters most to me, they’d probably say connection, with my family, my community, my team, and with everyone I meet, wherever I go. I care deeply about authenticity. I am who I am, and I show up that way in every space I enter, and I want others to feel safe doing the same.
I value resilience, because I’ve lived it. I’ve navigated career changes, business challenges, personal growth, and plenty of moments where I had to start over. And through it all, I’ve held tight to something my mom taught me: “Fear is the enemy.” I don’t let fear stop me from trying, failing, starting over, or dreaming big.
I believe in second chances, in building something meaningful from the ashes, and in the beauty of a life that’s never perfect but never boring. And above all, I love what I do, and I love the people I get to do it with.
Also? I truly value sleep because I’m really tired.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
If you asked me what I’m doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years, I’d say raising children. Without hesitation.
It’s a long-haul investment full of sleepless nights, hard conversations, and moments where I wonder if I’m doing any of it right. But I keep showing up, because I believe in who they’re becoming. Someday, they’ll be adults living on their own, being wonderful humans who contribute to society, and it will all have been worth it.
It’s not instant gratification. It’s slow, deep, and sometimes overwhelming. But it’s also the most meaningful thing I’ll ever do. And I know that the love, patience, and guidance I pour into them now will shape the kind of people they become later.
And when that day comes, I’ll look back and know this was the work that mattered most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gezelligbrewing.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-duffy-29a885104/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GezelligBrewing/
Image Credits
Gloria Montiel
The New Viewography
John Lee Photography
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