Pat McQuillan

Pat McQuillan. Photo courtesy of NEWaukee.

What is your job and its responsibilities?

We all have several jobs and wear many different hats within the company (Central Standard Craft Distillery). Much like many small businesses, there is a lot of crossover and collaboration and we have to be able to make decisions quickly and trust each other. I am passionate about the strategy and vision of our company making sure we are also looking at the long-term plan to produce quality spirits that our customers enjoy. The boring, but important job I also have is accounting and financial reporting for the company.

Was there a point where you decided this was the city you wanted to live in?

I have been in Milwaukee for over 10 years and it didn’t take long for me to decide I wanted to make it my permanent home. This is a city you can make a difference and effect change if you really want to. The people in this area are quiet but powerful. They make things happen with their actions, not by puffing their chest out and asking for recognition. I love this city and it gets better every year which is why I was so passionate about starting a business to give others a chance to grow and create something.

What is the one thing you’d like to change about Milwaukee?

It is always a difficult question to answer but the one thing I would like to change is education. The next generation is our best generation and if we can’t give them a great platform to excel we will never recover. Milwaukee has an incredible talent pool who want to make this a better world. There is a collective group that is working on Milwaukee Succeeds and it is something I am very passionate about. By recognizing that we need to invest in the future leaders, this will make this city one that others look to for inspiration in the future.

Favorite place to grab coffee/an after dinner drink?

Milwaukee has an incredible coffee scene of Colectivo, Stone Creek, Valentine, and others. My favorite has to be Anodyne, Matt and his team are so creative and make outstanding coffee. They have created a very cool space from an old building and a block from the distillery that hosts a variety of things from meetings, concerts and weddings.

Favorite little known fact/secret/hidden gem in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee used to have one of the largest concentrations of distilleries prior to prohibition.

What do you think of Milwaukee as a place to work and do business?

Milwaukee continues to show that it is willing to work with businesses and wants to make it a destination for vacationers but also for businesses and young talent. Due to the support of the community and our patrons, we currently employ 10 people (and looking for more) which is more than we expected to have in the first three years! Milwaukee will support you if you take the chance to open a business and chase your dream.