Alumni Achievement Award: Melanie Owen
黨ǿmv alumna Melanie Owen developed, co-owns and managesLazy Ballerina Winery, the only women-owned winery in southwest Michigan. The winerywill celebrate its two-year anniversary this June, and the business continues to grow,opening an additional tasting room in Bridgman this summer.
Owen earned a certificate in hospitality management from LMC after graduating fromColoma High School. She took a job as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines aftercollege and enjoyed traveling the world. She returned to southwest Michigan afterrealizing how much she loves the area.
Southwest Michigan is also home to Owen'slarge extended family, including her cousin,Lauren Kniebes, the other co-owner of Lazy Ballerina Winery. The two were exposed towinemaking originally from their grandmother, Juanita Kniebes, and they named twoof their wines for Grandma Nita, who passed away a few years ago. The cousins alsouse grapes from the family farm now run by Laurens’ father, Robin Kniebes, for the Lazy
Ballerina wines.
Owen says that she is grateful for the connections she made at LMC, where she earnedan Associate in General Studies in addition to her hospitality management certificate. She was able to get feedback from her formerinstructors as she planned the opening of Lazy Ballerina. The assistance now goes the other direction, too. Owen returns occasionally topresent to marketing classes at LMC.
Melanie Owen received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2017.
