Main Responsibilities of an Owner and General Manager at Crux Winery
Brian, proprietor and general manager of the small Crux Winery, wears many hats, doing "everything from marketing to client relations to sales," even "janitorial work" and catering, reflecting the multifaceted demands of owning a small business. The upcoming harvest will see Brian fully engaged in winemaking, highlighting the hands-on, "farmer" aspect of the role alongside the business operations.
Entrepreneurship, Small Business Management, Wine Production, Agriculture, Marketing and Sales
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Brian Callahan
Proprietor and General Manager
Crux Winery
Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo
N/A
History, Art History
Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Sales and Client Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Brian's winery is a small, two-person operation, highlighting the hands-on nature of the work and the variety of tasks involved.
2. His responsibilities span all aspects of the business, from grape growing and winemaking to marketing, sales, and client relations, showcasing the diverse skillset needed.
3. The role is dynamic and changes with the seasons, with the harvest period being particularly busy and demanding, illustrating the demanding yet fulfilling nature of the job.
Transcript
What are your main responsibilities within your current role as owner of a winery?
We're a very small operation, literally just two of us. We started the winery as a passion project and intentionally didn't want to have employees, because in my day job, I deal with them, and they can be a hassle.
So, as any small business owner will tell you, you do whatever you have to do. As a two-man operation, that's even more the case. I do everything from marketing to client relations to sales.
On the production side, I grow grapes, so we're farmers. Right now, we're gearing up for harvest, which is probably about three or four weeks away. It's currently the middle of August.
At that point, I'm making wine. We're checking on vineyards and bringing wine grapes into the winery to make wine from. It's our busiest time, but also the most fun. But again, as a small business owner, I'm doing janitorial work and catering for events. It's a little bit of everything.