Kelsey Schmidt is an experienced customer and employee experience manager based in Paso Robles, California. Born and raised in a small suburb in the East Bay, Kelsey grew up with an intense passion for soccer, Girl Scouts, and leadership. With two younger sisters who now live abroad, she currently resides in a converted barn in Paso Robles with her 12-year-old Anatolian Shepherd dog, Cooper, named for a wine cooperage.

Kelsey has held key roles at several prominent wineries, including Operations Manager at Pacific Wine Services and Consulting General Manager at Vin 13 Wine Bar. She brings extensive experience in tasting room operations, wine club management, and event coordination, having worked with renowned wineries such as L’Aventure, Epoch Estates, Broken Earth, Bianchi Winery, Le Vigne, and Chamisal. A graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agribusiness Marketing, Kelsey is known for her expertise in account management, marketing strategy, and client relationship management. She also excels in staff development and operational efficiency, always striving to make the workplace a thriving and rewarding space for all employees.

During the COVID pandemic, Kelsey started a podcast called “Purple Paso People” to stay connected with the community and share stories from the heart of wine country. Passionate about tasting and enjoying wine and as a big foodie, Kelsey’s ambition is to taste her way through cultures around the world.