A distillery in Statesville, NC, uses their equipment to produce highly sought-after hand sanitizer.
Southern Distilling CompanyBaking flour, paper towels, bicycles and canning jars. What do all these things have in common? They were all scarce at one point during the pandemic. Another item that was really hard to find on market shelves early in the pandemic and came recommended as a means to slow down the spread of COVID-19 was hand sanitizer. In this interview, I talk to one of the hundreds of distilleries who answered the call to assist with the extreme hand sanitizer shortage of 2020.
Founded in 2013, the Southern Distilling Company is an award-winning distillery located in Statesville, NC. Their product line, Southern Star, was awarded thirteen medals in their first year of production by prestigious international spirits competitions. The company supports farms in their community by making their bourbon, rye whiskey and liqueurs with locally-sourced grain.
In this installment of Clocking In, I speak with the co-owner of Southern Distilling Company, Vienna Barger. Vienna has over 20 years of experience working in the health field. Vienna holds a bachelor’s in child development and family studies from Humboldt State University and a master’s in social work and master's of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina.
In this episode, we discuss how Southern Distilling Company came to be, the legislative obstacles in place throughout the country concerning the production and distribution of liquors, why they began producing hand sanitizer to combat the spread of COVID-19 and more.
LINKS
NCMEP
Southern Distilling Company
ABOUT
Phil Mintz
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state. He also leads the broader IES Extension Operations outreach unit of regional managers, technical specialists and business development leaders providing business engagement, assessment and improvement tools. This includes statewide peer networks, ISO 9000 quality management systems, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, environmental services, and health and safety solutions.
Vienna Barger
Vienna Barger is the co-owner of Southern Distilling Company. Before founding the company in 2013 with her husband Pete Barger, Vienna has over 20 years of experience working in the health field. Vienna holds a bachelor’s in child development and family studies from Humboldt State University and a master’s in social work and master's of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina.
Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.
E-53: From Pharmaceuticals to Biotech: How North Carolina is Leading the Way in Biomanufacturing
E52: Community Catalysts: Inside North Carolina's Community College System
E-51: Brick by Brick
E:50 - Forging the Future
E-49: From Idea to Reality
E-48: When Style and Consciousness Collide
E-47: Loud and Clear: The Manufacturing of Military Communication Equipment
E 46: Fostering Growth and Innovation
E-45: Safeguarding the Human Body
E-44: Investing In The Community
E-43: Carrying On a Legacy
E-42: Electricity, Water and Gas, Oh My!: How a Non-Profit is Making Sure Energy Companies Treat NC Manufacturers Equitably
E-41: Catching Up with Ketchie
E-40: Redefining Culture - Wieland Copper
E-39: Ready for Impact: How EDPNC Is Keeping North Carolina Competitive
E-38 A Sturdy Solution - BeachBUB
E-37: When One Door Closes…
E-36 Smart Textile Technology: The Future of Fabrication
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