Sunday Spotlight: Kara Obergfell
Our next Sunday Spotlight is on our Packaging Manager, Kara! Kara has been a part of the Mast Landing team since the beginning of 2020 and has made a huge impact since day one. As long time fans know, we drastically increased our production output towards the end of 2019, when we expanded to a much larger brewing-only facility at 600 Saco St in Westbrook just down the road from our tasting room. Ramping up production requires flexibility, hard work, and a process-oriented mindset - as a leader Kara brings all of those in spades, ensuring that every can and keg that leaves the building is of excellent quality.
Production Manager Weston Shepherd sees the everyday impact of Kara’s dedication:
“Kara never settles for anything that doesn't meet the high standards she sets for beer and package quality. She constantly looks for ways to improve our products and processes and her dedication to Mast Landing beer is infectious. Of equal importance, Kara cares intensely about her staff and coworkers at Mast Landing (an extension of the other animals she cares for with equal care outside the brewery). She works hard to make sure her team is supported with the training and tools they need to succeed.”
Over the past couple of years, our distribution reach has grown within New England and beyond, meaning that new people are getting ahold of our 4-packs every day. With that opportunity and growth, comes the challenge of ensuring quality - a challenge Kara and her team face head on.
“As Packaging Manager I always have to be ready for the unexpected,” Kara says. “Beer has a mind of its own sometimes, while packaging you have to be able to adjust quickly and make decisions that will not jeopardize the quality of our product and at the same time reduce as much loss of product as possible. Over the years I have learned to never just accept a result, there is always a way to improve things.”
Working on the last step of the beer production process might seem like an intense task, but that doesn’t mean that the mood on the packaging line is tightly wound. As a manager, Kara makes sure that her staff is able to succeed without feeling like they’re under too much pressure. Like any awesome manager, Kara brings out the best in her crew and is quick to acknowledge the collaboration-first nature of the job.
“I am fortunate to work with the best team of folks. Everybody shares the same passion for the quality of our beer; I can teach anyone how to do the job, but I can’t teach passion. Packaging is very much a team role, everyone has to work together in order to be successful. Our team has unique personalities and come from all different types of backgrounds. Having a team of people that can figure out what everyone’s strengths are and then working together really makes everything flow smooth.”
Next time you crack open a can of Mast Landing, or grab a pint at your favorite bar, be sure to give a little thanks to Kara and the packaging crew for ensuring that you have an exceptional beer in your glass.
