Washington Business Winter 2020 | Washington Business | Page 46

business backgrounder | industry
Thinking back to his great-grandfather, who founded the company in 1889 on the spot
where Amazon’s world headquarters now sits, Nist said, “I don’t know what Jacob would think
today when 80% of the products we make didn’t exist when he started this.”
Two of the first winemakers in Washington, the husband-and-wife team of Rob Griffin and
Deborah Barnard, are still going strong nearly 40 years after bottling their first vintage. The
second generation is now part of the business: their daughter, Megan Hughes, is an assistant
winemaker at the company. She loves the impact that her product has on people during
memorable moments in their lives.
“I think there’s something really powerful about being able to craft something, to put your
love and affection into something, and then have it be enjoyed by someone,” Hughes said.
“I get to be part of their dinner, part of their celebration, part of their life, and I do it by
manufacturing.”
“I didn’t grow up thinking I
would be in manufacturing
but I took a wrong turn and
ended up here. It changed my
life. Manufacturing helps us
help people help themselves. I
see it every day.”
— Felicia Bowen, general manager at
Pioneer Industries in Seattle
46 association of washington business
take the tour with
online photo book
(including video)
Join the Manufacturing Week tour
through AWB’s online photo book.
Each stop has photos and
information, and videos from each
day of the tour are fully embedded.
Read the book here:
www.bit.ly/2019-MFG-Book