During her career at Heaven Hill, Ashley Cuyjet has risen from Retail Manager to General Manager for the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Along that journey, she’s gained knowledge and confidence and come to enjoy the people she’s been able to work with at Heaven Hill, who she now refers to as her family. Ashley talks to us about her wedding planning and what she loves most about working at Heaven Hill.
What do you love most about working at Heaven Hill?
I know a lot of employees say that they love that we’re family-owned and operated (which I do love), but, seeing as I’ve been working with most of my team for the majority of my time at Heaven Hill, we really are a family, and I love the people I have the pleasure to work with.
What would you say to someone considering joining your team?
The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience would be the place for you if you love talking to people from all over the country and world who are curious and or passionate about the wonderful world of Bourbon. Our team is an eclectic group of people from all different backgrounds who all love what we do – and above all the job is just fun!
Tell us a bit about a day in your life at the visitor center.
Every day is honestly completely different! It might be a normal day of tours with no surprises, and the next day I’ll have a motorcoach group show up unexpectedly and our registers will go down! No matter what we might encounter day to day, our team always comes together to take care of our guests and give the best possible experience we can!
Tell us an accomplishment you are most proud of in your career.
I’m proud of the confidence I have built for myself in my role. Starting out as the retail manager and now basically running the building has been quite a journey. I’m finally feeling that I have the knowledge and confidence to make decisions for my team and business, and that others trust that I know what I’m doing.
Looking ahead, what are some things that you’re really excited about?
I’m in the process of planning my wedding! So I’m looking forward to two things: one, finally being married to the love of my life; and two, being done with all the planning!
What’s currently on your Spotify playlist?
I’m currently curating a playlist with my sisters for my wedding ceremony in February – lots of 60s soul.
What is your all-time favorite book and why?
Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends is such a nostalgic book for me – lots of great memories reading this with my parents when I was younger, and I absolutely love the illustrations that go with the poems.
Using three words, how would you describe #LifeAtHeavenHill?
Spontaneous, fun, bourbon!