Rooted in our Team: Helen Lewis
What do you picture when you hear Portland Cider’s name? Chances are, whatever you saw, our marketing director Helen was behind it. Helen oversees the words and pictures, sights and sounds that represent Portland Cider to the world–pretty much everything that isn’t the cider itself!
In her almost six years with the company, Helen has watched Portland Cider grow and change, but has been committed to maintaining its connection to its roots. Even now, Helen says, “People see the name ‘Portland Cider’ and assume we’re a really big company, but we’re still just a husband-and-wife-owned company making the best cider possible.”
In a small company like this, everyone pitches in where they’re needed. So Helen often finds herself contributing outside of the strict marketing box–which is fine by her! “Working across departments gives me a deeper understanding of our cider, how we make it and the care that goes into it, and how it all comes together from production to distribution.” Collaborating to launch a brand-new cider is one of her favorite parts of the job.
A life-long Oregonian, Helen’s Portland Cider connection took root years before she started working here. In fact, when she married her high school sweetheart ten years ago, our head cidermaker was the best man at the wedding! In Helen’s first year with the company, she helped open the Clackamas Pub and debuted the first run of the English Pub Cider–which remains one of her all-time favorites to this day.
“I tend to like drier ciders, and the English Pub just gets better and better each year,” said Helen. “I’m so happy that we’re offering this heritage-style cider in our 19.2-oz. Proper Pint cans this year–and just in time for Dry Cider January!”
Helen is a deeply dedicated team member, and a true fan of excellent cider. And while it may seem to some of us like she drinks, sleeps and breathes Portland Cider, she does actually have a life beyond our pub walls! She loves spending time with her husband and watching their daughter grow, taking day trips all around the region, and keeping her three dogs–who range from 6lbs to 200lbs!–healthy and happy. And yes, drinking cider, because those roots run deep!
