January 2014
| Business World Magazine | 173
Katechis had a connection to the area
through a friend that ran a local music festi-
val, and the more the idea was pondered, the
more it was clear that the area reminded him
an awful lot of home – thanks to its scenic
mountain bike trails, great fishing and small-
town Americana feel.
KEEPING IT REAL
Still, the move east in no way signals a desire
for a world domination.
“The idea of franchising is not really ap-
pealing,” Melis says. “What gets us off, com-
ing to work and fired up every day is being
engaged and being hands on. We don’t really
outsource anything. Everything is done in
house. We’re into being hands-on and being
part of the process and growing something
from nothing, so the idea of franchising is
not at all appealing to what we do and what
drives us. It’s not in our core.”
ANOTHER CORE ITEM:
GIVING BACK.
Oskar Blues was instrumental in the forma-
tion of a craft beer-related curriculum at Blue
Ridge Community College in Flat Rock,
N.C., from which 12 graduates have subse-
quently been hired either at the Brevard fa-
cility or at other area brewing interests.
