MEET THE TEAM

ADMINISTRATION

Willie Blazer

Title: CEO/Founder

Favorite Drink: Bighorn Bourbon on the rocks

Favorite song to drink to: Rooster

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Special Forces

What did you want to be when you were little: Chuck Norris

3 words to describe working at Willies: Whiskey is smooth

Robin Hensley Blazer (11/24/1975 – 1/27/2022)
Title: Founder/Distillery Matriarch

Favorite drink: Chokecherry Mimosa, with real Champagne

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Archived photos and organized slides for the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration (NOAA). It was mostly of whales.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: A lawyer, then in the Peace Corps, then a food and travel writer, (I still want to be that last one)
Jeff Berke

Title: General Manager

Favorite drink: Bighorn Bourbon on the rocks

Favorite song to drink to: The Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Bartender Assistant – Playboy Club

What did you want to be when you were little: Taller

3 words to describe working at Willies: Enjoyable, Relaxed, Challenging

Alisa Nielsen

Title: Accountant

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Huckleberry Liqueur
Favorite song to drink to: Friend in Low Places – Garth Brooks
Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Grouting for my husband when he was working masonry.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: I wanted to grow plants (horticulture) or work with the Forest Service.
Three words to describe working at Willie’s: Exciting, growth, local

Shanna Mae Swanson

Title: Brand and Graphics Specialist

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Willie’s Rye Manhattan

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Photographing the President of the United States in Yellowstone

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: A teacher and a World Traveler

Clare Grillo
Title: Marketing Associate
Favorite drink at Willie’s: Honey Badger
Favorite song to drink to: Kenny Rogers – The Gambler
Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Dressed up as Elsa for kids birthday parties
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: A princess. Turns out princess school does not exist
Three words to describe working at Willie’s: One big family
Tyler Frings
Title: Customer Service/Coach
Favorite drink at Willie’s: Bighorn Bourbon
Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Professional Volleyball Player
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: A pilot like my father
Three words to describe working at Willie’s: Dream Come True.
Matt Melugin

Title: Compliance

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Willie’s Manhattan

Favorite song to drink to: Sober – Tool

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Cemetery Manager
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Batman

PRODUCTION

Terry Barsness

Title: Head Distiller, Production Manager

Favorite song to drink to: Jawgaboyz

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Pool Boy

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Pro Athlete

Grady Pearce

Title: Distiller

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Geophysicist

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: A hockey player

3 words to describe working at Willie’s: Hot, humid and whiskey

Chris Anderson

Title: Production Supervisor/Safety & Maintenance

Favorite drink: Rye Old Fashion

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: astronaut

3 words to describe working at Willie’s: Unique, laid-back, and proud

Arch Livezey

Title: Production Assistant/Safety & Maintenance

Favorite drink: Huckleberry Cream Liqueur on Ice Cream

Favorite song to drink to: Love Song by Jimmy Buffett

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Cubs Shortstop

Danny Callahan

Title: Production Assistant

Favorite drink: Bighorn Bourbon neat

Favorite song to drink to: Anything by Willie, Waylon, Merle or George Strait

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Gas station attendant during 1974 Arab oil embargo

Wyatt Simcox

Title: Production Assistant

Favorite drink: Honey Moonshine on the rocks

Favorite song to drink to: Africa by Toto

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Vegetable Farmer on a corn crew

Rob Carruthers

Title: Production Assistant

Favorite drink: Devil’s Brigade

Favorite song to drink to: Peaceful Easy Feeling -Eagles

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: None – Crude Hauler in Texas

What did you want to be when you grew up? Travel Writer

Three words to describe working at Willie’s: Relaxing, Precise, Unique

Megan Webster

Title: Production Assistant

Favorite Drink at Willie’s: “Purple Russian” or “I’ll be your Huckleberry” Yum!

Favorite song to drink to: Smoke on the water by Deep Purple

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Secret Shopper
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Hatchery Milker
Kyle Ransom

Title: Production Assistant

Favorite Drink at Willie’s: Bourbon

Favorite song to drink to: Anything by Blackberry Smoke

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Offshore Oilfield

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Rancher

Three words to describe working at Willie’s: Fun work environment

Kyra Lukomski

Title: Bottling Manager

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Cat Adoption Specialist

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Move to Africa and live amongst the elephants

3 words to describe working at Willie’s: Lots of fun!

Sharon Mead

Title: Bottling Assistant

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Bottling Department at Willie’s Distillery

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Rich & Famous

Favorite Drink at Willie’s: Cherry Limeade!

Ted Storch

Title: Bottling Assistant

Favorite song to drink to: Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon Album

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Crew member – Top Fuel Dragster

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Firefighter

Katrina Perkins

Title: Bottling Assistant

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Bighorn Old Fashioned

Favorite song to drink to: “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere” by Dwight Yoakam

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Shearing Sheep in Sweden

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Dairy Farmer

Three words to describe working at Willie’s: Damn Fine Whiskey

Justine Darrah

Title: Bottling Assistant

Favorite drink at Willie’s: I’ll Be Your Huckleberry

Favorite song to drink to: Anything by Colter Wall

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Vet Assistant

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Vet or Ballerina

Jamie Boer

Title: Bottling Assistant

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Sweet Tempered Mule

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Carnie

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Veterinarian

Three words to describe working at Willie’s: Never Ever Boring

SALES

Jerry Rogge

Title: National Sales Manager

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Willie’s Rye Old Fashion

Favorite song to drink to: Country Roads- John Denver

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Life in general is a pretty weird job…

Patrick Griffith

Title: Sales Manager – Montana

Favorite drink: Sweet Tempered Mule – Willie’s Honey Moonshine, ginger beer and lime

Favorite song to drink to: Sublime “Bad Fish”

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: G.I. Joe

Brenda Boys

Title: Territory Sales – Flathead Valley

Favorite drink at Willie’s: The Rye, 100%

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Whirl-a-Whip attendant at Pyramid Pizza, Manhattan, Kansas

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: National Geographic Photographer

Paul Crean

Title: Territory Sales – Southwest Montana

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Old Fashioned

Favorite song to drink to: One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Paul
Revere/Horseback rider

TASTING ROOM

Tori Williams

Title: Tasting Room Manager

Favorite song to drink to: Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Hair/Bridal modeling

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Zoo Keeper

Debbi Reed

Title: Tasting Room Assistant Manager

Favorite song to drink to: Have a drink on me – AC/DC

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Portrayed a living, life size Barbie for a weekend for Mattel

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Happy!

Marsha Acree

Title: Tasting Room Ambassador

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Working for a Gastroenterologist

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: A Southern Princess

Three words to describe working at Willie’s: So Much Fun!!

Quincey Johnson

Title: Tasting Room Ambassador

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Montana Mule

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Collecting salamanders for research

Favorite song to drink to: Gin & Juice

Tess Williams

Title: Tasting Room Ambassador

Favorite drink at Willie’s: Ramped up Coffee

Favorite Song to Drink to: “I’ve got you Under my Skin” Frank Sinatra

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: Professional Musician

Amanda Blake

Title: Tasting Room Ambassador

Favorite Song to Drink to: “All my Country Heroes” By Hank Williams III

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up: I told my mom I wanted to be a Smurf, but I also really loved the ocean & wanted to be a marine biologist

Three words to describe working at Willie’s: Rocking Good Time =)

Sheila Storch

Title: Tasting Room Ambassador

Favorite Drink at Willie’s: Chokecherry Manhattan

Most unusual job you’ve ever had: Newspaper Reporter

Three words to describe working at Willie’s: The Best Ever!