Amber Pollock
Backwards Distilling Company
Casper, WY USA
"Young people just have to, at some point, fight for the reins and demand a place at the table—because we deserve it."
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Amber's work combines: Business, Food, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Some people think that one person can't make a difference, so why bother? This sentiment is amplified in Wyoming because people see the state as stagnant and set in our ways. I don't agree. I actually think one voice can make even more of a difference here because of our smaller population. Wyoming is at an inflection point and I want to have a stake in our future, so I strived for a seat on our City Council. Making my community stronger also helps my business grow stronger, so it's a win-win.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Music Education
University of Wyoming
Graduate Degree
Music Education
University of Wyoming
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I grew up in Casper, Wyoming.
2.
I originally went to college in St. Louis, Missouri, for mechanical engineering, but quickly decided that wasn’t right for me, so I transferred to the University of Wyoming.
3.
I changed my major and earned my degree in music education—I’d played violin and taught lessons throughout high school, so this seemed like a better fit for me.
4.
After graduating, I took a job as an elementary school music teacher back home in Casper—along the way, I also earned my master’s degree in music education.
5.
My mother, father, brother, and I came up with the idea to open a distillery over dinner one night.
6.
I kept teaching as we gradually worked towards starting up our distillery—when we were ready to open, I quit my job as a music teacher to work full time at the distillery.
7.
We’ve now been in the industry for about seven years, through which I’ve been handling most of the front-end operations, like running the tasting room and working on our account relationships.
8.
In addition to my work with the distillery, I hold a seat on the Casper City Council and do a lot of work in my community.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
One person can't make a difference.
How I responded:
Some people think that one person can't make a difference, so why bother? This sentiment is amplified in Wyoming because people see the state as stagnant and set in our ways. I don't agree. I actually think one voice can make even more of a difference here because of our smaller population. Wyoming is at an inflection point and I want to have a stake in our future, so I strived for a seat on our City Council. Making my community stronger also helps my business grow stronger, so it's a win-win.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I've struggled with imposter syndrome while changing careers and running for elective office. I fight it by saying, "Why not me?" No one starts as an expert. I'm confident enough in myself to know that I can learn whatever I need to learn to succeed.