Blinking Owl Distillery | Founder, Chief Financial Officer
October 2014-June 2024
Following an epic exit from women’s health, Robin and her husband pursued their passion for farm-to-table products co-founding the first distillery in Orange County, Blinking Owl Distillery since prohibition. With a mission to work with organic grains exclusively from California farmers, this Orange County gem has received multiple local and national accolades for the superior organic California grain-based spirits they produce, alongside a unique and excellent destination. Navigating the brand new, complex California Craft Distillery license type, this world-class manufacturing plant and restaurant was launched overcoming complex regulatory challenges in a highly regulated market.
With her skill for business development in combination with her obsession with quality food and beverages, Robin contributes her expertise to the distillery as the CFO for the Blinking Owl. Starting with a meticulous 100-page business plan, Robin helped Blinking Owl Distillery navigate a massive undertaking to international acclaim.
Accomplishments
Ground-Up
Operational Excellence
Stellar Experience
With a multimillion-dollar execution, I spearheaded operational management, stakeholder and business strategy development, financial strategy, facility build-out management, journey mapping, business intelligence, accounting, and staffing.
Stellar Experience
Operational Excellence
Stellar Experience
Implemented rigorous hospitality operating procedures and standards of excellence for customer experience, resulting in achievements including the 2023 OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award, Eater Los Angeles Orange County’s 16 Hottest Restaurants in 2021, and Sunset Magazine’s "14 Best Distilleries in the West" in 2017
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Raised Millions
Operational Excellence
Operational Excellence
Raised >$5M in debt and shareholder equity through compelling investment decks and investor relations including a successful $250K crowdfunding raise
Operational Excellence
Operational Excellence
Operational Excellence
Vetted and implemented technology solutions for continuous performance improvement, leading to a 25% improvement in overall operational effectiveness and efficiency across manufacturing, product distribution, and hospitality management
Outstanding Product
Dominated During a Pandemic
Strategic Partnerships
Led strategic sales initiatives in the food and beverage markets, gaining over 400 accounts in California in the first year and expanding internationally
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Strategic Partnerships
Dominated During a Pandemic
Strategic Partnerships
Built strategic partnerships and joint ventures that evolved into M&A opportunities, resulting in negotiations for multi-million dollar acquisition offers from several prominent companies
Dominated During a Pandemic
Dominated During a Pandemic
Dominated During a Pandemic
Achieved >$1M in sales within 6 months by directing a massive overnight operational and FDA licensure shift to dominate the production of hand sanitizer during the pandemic reaching hundreds of prestigious clients such as Viacom, USPS, and Tesla
International Recognition
Dominated During a Pandemic
Dominated During a Pandemic
Caused a worldwide stir winning multiple prestigious international awards for all products and catching the attention of FORBES writer, Brad Japhe.
Heaps of Press
PRESS
Forbes
"But in fact, the real story here is another distillery that cropped up multiple times on the winner's list...Blinking Owl, out of Orange County, California."-- Forbes Magazine
Saute Magazine
"Orange County’s First Distillery is a Grain Changer "
Lonny Magazine
“Blinking Owl is one of the first distilleries in all of California with a tasting room, and boy, did it get the design on point. “—Lonny Magazine
Orange County Business Journal
High Spirits: OC Distilleries Marking Their Makes-- Orange County Business Journal
Rue Magazine
“The space is quite chic, and is a big departure from what you might expect a distillery to look like. This is in large part to Robin’s fashion-forward eye for interiors. “—Rue Magazine
LATimes
"If Wes Anderson decided to go into the liquor businesses, the result might resemble Blinking Owl, the quirky new distillery that’s home to the first spirits to be made in Orange County since Prohibition."--Daily Pilot | LA Times