Jane and Kent (the Schwickert family) are well known for their regional roofing and mechanical contracting company that bears the Schwickert name. Kent eventually merged his family's business into what is now a nation wide residential and commercial contracting conglomerate known as (Schwickert's) Tecta America, of which he is both a founding and leading stakeholder in. Jane was a local leader during the 1995 outbreak of Meningitis in Mankato Minnesota, as the clinic's local infectious disease expert. Jane eventually went on to work with world renowned epidemiologist, Doctor Michael Osterholm, after developing innovative methods for managing the Mankato outbreak. Last but not least, Jane and Kent Schwickert are the founders, managers, and largest stakeholders in Chankaska Creek Ranch, Winery, and Distillery based in Kasota, Minnesota.
In this episode we discuss Jane's time as a nurse and infectious disease expert, Kent's leadership in forming Tecta America, the couple's passion for wine and spirits, their eventual path to launching their own winery and distillery, their recent struggles with pandemic related operational constraints, their current and future plans for Chankaska, and a whole lot of personal stories and laughs in between.
