Welcome to our second installment of The People Behind the Pinot!  Today we're featuring our Executive Assistant and HR Coordinator, Lauren Kanikeberg.  Lauren has been with Sokol Blosser for over 3 years, and does everything from coordinating travel plans to haggling for better benefits for employees here at SB.  Everyone appreciates Lauren's good nature, supportive attitude, and her amazingly delicious home brews that she shares with us on special occasions.  Meet Lauren!

 

Lauren Kanikeberg - Executive Assistant & HR Coordinator 

Bio: I graduated from the University of Portland in May 2007 with a BA in Spanish.  A month before graduation, I attended a job fair hosted by UP, anxious to find something to do with myself post-graduation.  At the job fair, I focused on organizations that I thought would allow me to use Spanish, but none of them seemed like a good fit.  I remember leaving the job fair and sitting on a bench in the hall, totally annoyed and discouraged that I had spent $5 on an attendance fee and printed a zillion resumes, but hadn’t handed them out to anyone.  Being the financially-challenged college student that I was, I decided, “I spent a whole $5 on this!  I’m not leaving without handing out at least one resume!” so I looked at the list of organizations present and told myself to just pick one that interested me.  Having fallen in love with wine during the 6 months I spent studying in Spain, Sokol Blosser instantly intrigued me, and everything fell into place from there.  I worked in the tasting room all summer, was hired for the position of Executive Assistant & HR Coordinator in October, and am extremely happy to be here!  Every now and then, things just seem to work out how they’re supposed to.  The verdict on life after college is: so far, so good!

 

Hobbies: Anything outside (camping, hiking, biking, etc.), reading, travel, photography, exploring Portland and all it has to offer, and spending time with my friends.

What you like about Pinot Noir: It has so many subtle nuances, and every Pinot is unique!  It amazes me what flavors and aromas one can detect within a glass.

Favorite Food: Anything grilled.  Gotta love the BBQ!

Place You’d Like to Travel To: Argentina is number one on my list at the moment, but Australia and Thailand are close seconds.  I’d also like to go back to Spain, and then lots of other places…

Favorite Drink Besides Wine: My friends and I are really into exploring Portland’s awesome brewery scene, so I am definitely a fan of good beer.  I also enjoy tequila.  I do like beverages that aren’t fermented or distilled, however, and those include water, hot cocoa, chocolate milk, and chai tea.