Erik Owens

Erik Owens has extensive experience in leadership roles within the distilling and biotechnology industries. Currently serving as President of the American Distilling Institute since January 2020, Erik previously held positions as Vice President and Social Media Director within the same organization from May 2016 to January 2020, focusing on social media strategy and implementation. Prior to this, Erik worked at Bio-Rad Laboratories from October 2006 to May 2016 as a Technical Writer II and SAP Data Custodian, producing critical documentation and leading continuous improvement initiatives. Earlier, Erik gained cGMP manufacturing experience as a Manufacturing Associate at Chiron Corporation from June 2002 to January 2006. Educational qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and further professional development in project management and advanced teambuilding through UC Berkeley Extension and Santa Barbara City College.