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Meet Maggie Skinner of Wisconsin Distributors
Posted March 8, 2018
Located in Wisconsin, Maggie Skinner started her career in the brewing industry at a Brenner Brewery in Milwaukee. While working at Brenner Brewery, Maggie participated in every event, brew fest, and ride along that she could. Despite the fact that her salary was nearly cut in half from her previous corporate job, she claims that she couldn’t have been happier to work in the beer industry.
“I was so happy. I had cut my salary in half from my corporate job, worked long hours and was somehow always covered in beer but I couldn’t have been happier.”
Working at a small brewery like Brenner allowed Maggie to learn by doing and develop a variety of of skills in the industry. While working at Brenner, Maggie learned how to fix items in the brewery, and how to bottle, brew, and properly pour beer.
Unfortunately for Maggie, Brenner Brewery hit a tough financial spot. Knowing that that she might soon lose her job, Maggie began looking for a new job in the beer industry. It didn’t take long before Maggie was hired by a very small beer company called Johnson Brother’s Distributing. Maggie’s position with Johnson Brother’s lasted only six months before she was asked to join Wisconsin Distributors.
Maggie stated, “DI had a much bigger portfolio and a bigger team. I jumped shipped late June 2017 and have been with WDI ever since.”
Maggie’s very first Craft beer was Goose Island’s 312. Maggie has tried many different beers since her first beer. Some of her favorites include: Central Waters HHG, Great Lakes Elliot Ness, 18th Street’s Rise of the Angels, EvilTwin’s Bozo Beer, Amager’s Danish Metal, Upland’s Champagne Velvet, and O'so Brewing’s Hop Debauchery.
Over the years, Maggie has noticed that there are more women starting to work for breweries and distributors. Maggie stated, “I’m definitely trying to reach out and let them know they’re supported & have a place in this industry.”
To help eliminate the stigma associated with women and beer, Maggie created National Girls Pint Out beer. This is a collaboration between Girls Pint Out and a local Milwaukee brewery. The Girls Pint Out program allows women to create beers that they want to see on the market. The 2017 winner created Girl Grey IPA, which has been recognized by The Washington Post.
Maggie also runs the Wisconsin chapter of the Pink Boots Society. “Every year, around International Women’s Day, the Pink Boots Society does a collaboration brew. All over the world, women gather this weekend, during this coming week and the following weekend to brew a beer with one thing in common. Last year, it was the style. This year, it’s a special blend of hops we did in collaboration with YCH Hops.”
When Maggie is not busy with the beer industry, she enjoys spending time with her thirteen-year-old son. Together they do anything from playing video games to taking summer road trips. She also loves to cook, bake, work-out, kayak, and read. Maggie is currently looking for a new book to read, but one of her favorites is Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Beer from the founders of Dogfish Head.
This year, Maggie is looking forward to it being her two-year term as leader of the Wisconsin chapter of the Pink Boots Society. Girls Pint Out will also be having another collaboration beer out with MobCraft in a few months.
When asked to give advice to women who want to be involved in the beer industry, Maggie stated,
“If you want it, jump in. Nothing is going to be handed to you in this industry. It’s hard work no matter your gender. This is your industry and your place to lean in. And when you’re swimming in the thick of it - there is a huge sisterhood of other women to learn, grow and gain support from.”
Tags: womeninbeer internationalwomensday craftbeer