![]() In 2016 the brewery opened a rooftop bar and indoor event center for private functions (including weddings). Together the two will continue to push Highland, which is distributed along the East Coast and can be purchased in grocery stores, restaurants, and specialty shops, into new territory. Women have more access now they can say, ‘I went through this program’ and show their credentials.” Back in the old days, if you had a gut and a beard, people thought you might be able to brew beer. “There’s been a proliferation of brewing programs,” said Stephenson, who chose between the only four programs she could find when she took a brewing program in England. Neither woman said they’ve had problems in a typically male-dominated industry, though Stephenson admits it’s in the back of her mind sometimes when she’s talking to other professionals at functions. I was in Charlotte and single and doing the city thing and earning lots of money.” I didn’t join the brewery for so long because I made more money and, at that time in my life, that was the most important thing to me. “I thought Highland was the coolest thing on earth. “I was on the sidelines and was a cheerleader for the brewery,” she said. Though the brewery was started by her father, Ashburn didn’t work in the family business until she became a sales representative six years ago. “I still don’t make as much as I did when I was 25, but it’s not as important to me any more,” Stephenson said. Both were in higher-paying jobs (Ashburn as a representative with yearbook producer Herff Jones in Charlotte and Stephenson as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.) but decided to work in the brewing industry. Stephenson, a South Georgia native, has a similar story to Ashburn. It’s wonderful to watch the growth and be a part of it.” “The more women who are turned on to beer, find they really enjoy working for breweries. “With the rise of craft breweries in the last several years, it’s nice to see women continue to have a positive role in all facets from production, brewhouse, quality assurance, upper management, as well as president and owners,” said Laura Ulrich, president of the Pink Boots Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the brewing industry. “If I’m not working, I’m doing something related to beer.” “I’m getting to interact with so many awesome people and share beers with those people after work, and be creative and working in my favorite hobby,” she said. The brewing team includes eight brewers, including two women. She oversees the managers of brewing, packing, and quality assurance teams, buys ingredients, oversees the pilot room and makes sure the processes are efficient. Her job has become less brewing and more management. ![]() Hollie Stephenson holds the position of brewmaster. A Stanford University study in 2014 found out that, of 1,700 breweries surveyed, only four percent had a female in that lead position. Stephenson is in select company, as there aren’t many female brewmasters. Stephenson, who moved from Stone Brewing in California in January 2015, had been Highland’s head brewer for less than two years. One of those managers she leans on is Hollie Stephenson, who was promoted to the company’s brewmaster position last September. I know how to talk about those things on some level, but they are the experts.” ![]() I’m not a technical brewer, and I can’t run a quality department, and I don’t know the ins and outs of packaging. “In my world it means I’m telling (a group of managers) and lots of other people that I’m relying on them completely. “It means different things in different companies,” she said of the title. ![]() Oscar Wong, who founded the company, has since turned the title of president over to his daughter. Highland Brewing Company was the first brewery opened in Asheville since Prohibition. ![]()
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