Today we’d like to introduce you to Trevor Bowles.
Hi Trevor, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Born & raised in San Diego and started in the hospitality industry when I was 13 bussing tables at Dino’s Gyros in Clairemont. It’s still open and totally recommend it! After working in and managing restaurants (Bencotto and Consortium Holdings restaurants) for 15 years, with brief breaks to pursue a career in musical theatre, I decided to make the jump to working for a local distillery and then going on to work for a spirits distributors. After a few years, I was offered the opportunity to interview for Maker’s Mark. Nine months and 11 interviews later, I was fortunate enough to become a Maker’s Mark Bourbon Diplomat. It has been the best job in the world. I get to work with local farms, nonprofits, bars & restaurants, with a focus on bringing the Maker’s Mark distillery to life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly… It has been pretty smooth. I have been incredibly blessed to have a lot of great mentors and I give a lot of the credit of the smoothness to them. My parents were also and still are very supportive of me in my career. Their love and encouragement to achieve my goals has shaped a lot of personality. Even the parts that may have been bumpy were still great learning experiences. The struggles were finding success quickly, probably faster than I was mature enough to handle. Learning to be a better listener. Realizing that better work life balance leads to better work overall.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My job as a Maker’s Mark Bourbon Diplomat is to bring the distillery to life, share our brand story, and the pillars that make our brand so special. That can mean so many things. I’ve always had a passion for sustainability and that is a massive focus of the distillery. Our distillery is on Star Hill Farms in Loretto, Kentucky. It has become one of my favorite places on the planet. Margie Samuels was our cofounder. It is her handwriting on the bottle, she came up with the red wax and name of the brand. Doing events to share her story has been a great focus as well. She is the hidden hero of the Maker’s Mark brand. For the past two years, I’ve hosted an event on International Women’s Day that bring together different female owned businesses to showcase their talents. That event has helped raise money for Kitchens for Good and Trans Family Support Services. Two organizations that close to my heart.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Showing hospitality and sharing gratitude have absolutely contributed to my success. The importance of saying and meaning “Thank you” has really helped and it is one of the easiest things one can do.
Contact Info:
- Email: trevor.bowles@makersmark.com
- Website: https://www.makersmark.com/
- Instagram: @committed2makers
Image Credits:
Photo Credit: ValerieDurhamPhotography
