Meet Jessica Shook | Sales & Marketing Director, Vino Salida Wine Cellars

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Shook and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I have long believed that working in the service industry is an opportunity to change the world for the better. Everyday interactions with gas station attendants, bartenders, law enforcement, etc., have the power to influence more than just your emotional state. Every job I’ve held in the service industry, I’ve used as a tool to try to improve people’s experiences. When I began employment at Vino Salida Wine Cellars, the community was already rallied around the product and my job became how to shape the service element of the business. Setting high standards was easy. Comfortable furniture, a warm room, and gentle lighting is only a matter of money. The thing that matters the most is the sales staff. The bartenders and sales people that represent the wine are the ones that affect our community. It took time to cultivate a business model founded on trust, but once the staff felt respected and empowered, the high standard of service was easy to achieve. Guests to the winery are greeted warmly, guided through tastings, and treated like family. The response we get is rewarding in many ways and is the reason we all show up ready to work everyday. And you thought it was for the wine…

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was hired at Vino Salida in 2013, only learning about the available position from a friend who was working in the tasting room. The company was young, only 3 years old, which for a winery is infant status. Steve Flynn, owner/winemaker, was the sole employee and was busy pushing an aggressive growth model based largely on wholesale distribution. I brought customer services skills, event planning, nonprofit fundraising experience and my two-year old son. Steve gave me the title, Sales & Marketing Director, despite my insistence that I was not qualified. I now can see that good management is less affected by how much you know, and more about how well you adapt to challenges. There are always new personalities, global forces, and things to learn, no matter how much experience we have gained along the way. My drive to educate myself in business accounting, marketing, licensing, and more has made it possible for us to address needs and keep the business healthy. I am proud of the risks I’ve taken, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the foundation we have built to keep making great wine and sharing it with visitors to our beautiful Poncha Springs home.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When you visit scenic Chaffee County, the creative attractions are abundant. Salida is home to numerous galleries, restaurants and craft beer, wine and spirit producers. Vino Salida & Elevation Brewing Co. are in Poncha Springs. Mountain Spirit Winery in in Maysville. Woods High Mountain Distillery is in Salida and Deerhammer Distillery is in Buena Vista. There are numerous breweries too. Libations stops can be a treat at the end of a ski day at Monarch, a hike on any length or difficulty of trail, mountain biking, disc golfing, whitewater rafting, SUP boarding, roller skating or skate boarding at the new world class skate park, or just sit by the river, it’s beautiful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to Steve Flynn, owner and winemaker at Vino Salida Wine Cellars. His vision for a community winery has remained strong over the past 12 years. I have asked for his trust many times when the company faced major obstacles, and have received great support. If Steve was not able to be open to major changes and new ways to think about our business model, my success at the winery would not be possible. Steve believes in the team model and allows each staff member to support and care for the business as much as he does.

Website: www.vinosalida.com

Instagram: @vinosalidawinebar

Facebook: www.facebook.com/vinosalidawinecellars

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/vino-salida-wine-cellars-poncha-springs

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Vino Salida Wine Cellars