Karen Hertz
Chief Brewista and Founder of Holidaily Brewing Company
What inspired you to start your business?
I started Holidaily Brewing Company in 2016 after surviving melanoma and thyroid cancers in my early 30’s. Doctors recommended I follow a gluten-free diet which was devastating to me as a craft beer lover in the state of Colorado and someone who worked in the beer industry. I figured there had to be others that wanted to have a good, quality beer but couldn’t due to dietary restrictions.
What three traits define you?
I’m a whole lot of fun mixed with a highly competitive and persistent nature. The beer industry is fun at heart. I love that part of it. It would be wrong, however, to think I don’t take it seriously. I usually don’t participate in something unless I know I can win at it.
How has being a WBENC-Certified WBE helped your business?
As a consumer packaged goods supplier, WBENC gives us access to some larger retailers, hotels, airports and other accounts to present our products to. I’ve also been to some of the programs and trainings that have proven valuable. As always, networking with smart, bold women is fun too!
What do you love about being a business owner?
I love building a community. I like to think that we provide a safe, fun place for our employees to spend 40 hours of every work week. If people are going to spend that much time doing something, it better be fun and fulfilling. We are motivated and we work hard but we play hard too. It’s fun to lead a group working towards a common goal.
What’s the hardest part about being a business owner?
Not having a crystal ball. As the owner, you have to do your best to take information and turn it into a gut instinct. I often say ready, fire, aim. You must be willing to take some risks and then correct them if you feel like you made the wrong decision.
What’s your favorite career moment?
The Super Bowl of the beer industry is called the Great American Beerfest. Holidaily won the gold medal in the gluten-free category for our Boombastic Hazy IPA in 2019. That was a very fun moment.
What are you reading or listening to now?
The Life ROI written by my good friend, Jung Park (www.jungpark.me)
What’s the best way to start your day?
I start every day with an early morning workout. I’m up and done with it before my kids or husband get up. It’s a gift to myself and it doesn’t cut into family time, which is important to me.
Fill in the blank:
When I face a challenge, I... build a team to tackle it.
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself… to buy stock in Zoom.
The one thing I couldn’t live without is… mountains.
By this time next year, I will be… distributing gluten-free beer to five or more major cities in the U.S.
The best thing that happened to me last week was… getting to watch my twin girls play soccer again!
To get my creative juices flowing, I… use a dry erase board or post-it notes and get all of my ideas/thoughts up on the wall.
holidaily brewing company
Holidaily Brewing Company is the passion project of Karen Hertz, a craft beer enthusiast and lover of living life to the fullest. Karen survived melanoma and thyroid cancer in her early 30’s, leading to a treatment plan including a gluten-free diet. The lack of good tasting, gluten-free options was a challenge for Karen – one that she was driven to overcome. And so, the idea of Holidaily Brewing Company was born: a company dedicated to creating excellent tasting gluten-free beer.
