Want to learn more about the people behind the Brew? This series will give you the answers to the most important questions (and some not-so-important questions) you may want to ask. This week, we’re chatting with Kaitlyn Estes, one of our Account Managers.

  1. Where did you grow up? I’m originally from the Midwest. I was born and raised in a small town in Southeast Michigan, about an hour outside of Detroit. Picture lots of cornfields, a historic downtown that only spans a couple of blocks, an annual melon festival — real quaint stuff. From there, I moved to Cleveland, Ohio to complete my undergrad degree at Case Western Reserve University, where I studied management and marketing. I adored my time in Cleveland, so if you’re ever looking for things to do in Northeast Ohio, I’m your girl.
  2. What do you do for fun? In my free time, you’ll likely find me on roller skates; I started playing roller derby right after college and never looked back (my alter ego is “Carmina Piranha, #0429”). These days I’m splitting my time between the derby track and the skate park, which has been equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. When I’m not on eight wheels, I really enjoy going to events out in the community, especially special exhibits, festivals, and local pop-up markets (i.e. farmers, makers, arts, etc.). I also love exploring new destinations and taking in amazing sights on road trips and camping trips.
  3. Did you always want to be an account manager? No, that’s a more recent career aspiration! As a kid, I was all over the place with my career goals. For a while, it was “actress,” then it was “naturalist,” then “aerospace engineer,” “geneticist,” “mechanic” — you get the idea. In college, I was highly involved with residence life and seriously considered going into higher ed, which ultimately catalyzed my interest in marketing strategy. Similar to higher ed, so much of what we do within marketing is rooted in the idea of driving towards something better, be it an experience, campaign outcome or otherwise.
  4. What’s your favorite brew? I’m a sucker for a good dark beer, especially porters. My favorite breweries include Gnarly Barley in Hammond, Louisiana, Wiseacre in Memphis, Tennessee, and Bell’s in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I also make cold brew coffee at home when the weather’s blazing hot (so, pretty frequently; thanks Louisiana).
  5. What’s your top Brew core value and why? Accountability — I look at this value as a commitment to showing up for my team and my clients. It’s about saying, “I’m here, I’ve got your back and know that you’ll have mine; we are in this together and we’re capable of doing great things.” It’s about being both present and proactive, perceiving where needs exist or could emerge and taking action to address them. It’s also about reflecting on what we’ve learned and then striving to be more intentional as we progress forward, which is one of my key motivators. When we look back in a year or two and see just how far we’ve come, what will that feel like? What can we take pride in and know was made possible through our collective efforts?
  6. Favorite local lunch spot? Baton Rouge’s food scene keeps getting better, y’all. My latest favorite would have to be Chow Yum Phat, an “Asian street food” eatery near the Perkins Overpass, where I recently had gochujang fried rice cakes and chocolate matcha cake that were absurdly good. Double cake life, total game-changer. Sushi Masa would be my backup, though. $19 all-you-can-eat sushi and sashimi lunch, please and thank you.
  7. What’s one fact about yourself that most people would be surprised to hear? I played the bagpipes in my high school’s marching band for a year.
  8. Which fictional character (tv show, movie, or book) do you most identify with? I went back and forth on this and landed on Ruth Wilder (aka Zoya the Destroya) from GLOW. Obviously, there are some parallels between the larger-than-life worlds of women’s wrestling and roller derby, but I also really love Ruth as a character. She’s passionate, resilient, ambitious, funny, quick-witted, and determined to affect change. She’s also a bit stubborn and can take herself too seriously at times, but she grows in meaningful ways throughout the show to become a strong, compassionate, and inspiring leader.
  9. What’s your ideal birthday celebration? Gathering with a small group of friends to enjoy a lovingly curated cheese board, drinks, board games, and something from the grill, followed by a quick disco nap and then heading out somewhere with good music and artsy lighting to keep the party going.
  10. Who do you want to be when you grow up? I can’t believe I’m picking a sports person, but Megan Rapinoe is such a role model to me. She’s a dynamic, clever, and precise player on the field with a big, brazen, joyful personality to match. She also knows exactly what she and her teammates are worth and has used her time in the spotlight to advocate for necessary change. She’s cheeky in all the right ways while also holding herself to a high standard of excellence and integrity. And of course, gotta love the purple hair.