Jordan Espinoza is the director of production at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, an award-winning artisanal cheese shop in Seattle. “We have been making cheese since 2003 in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market.” Learn about Jordan Espinoza…
Follow at: @beecherscheese
Hometown: Sunnyside, WA
First job: I’ve never been one to sit still, so I took a job as soon as I could at 16, working as a night shift manager at Taco Bell.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WA: There’s nothing better than Washington’s lakes and forests. I enjoy spending time with my family hiking, camping, kayaking, and pretty much anything outdoors. Outside of that, I’m a big gearhead and love working on classic cars.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Beecher’s Flagship Reserve recently took home third place in “Best of Show” at the 2024 American Cheese Society competition. We are the only American artisan cheesemaker to win a “Best of Show” this year, so it was pretty exciting, and I couldn’t be more proud of my team.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: We recently remodeled our glass-walled cheesemaking kitchen in Seattle’s Pike Place Market to make it a little larger. Pike Place Market is over 115 years old and receives more than 10 million visitors annually. Pulling all the pieces together in a historical building in one of the most visited destinations in the world was not easy. Still, the team pulled together, we opened on schedule, and our cheesemakers are busy making cheese again.
Someone who inspires you and why: I started working for a large cheese and whey powder plant after graduating high school. I learned every role in the business, from the beginning with milk intake to the end with product packaging and shipping. The cheese plant manager encouraged me to continue learning and believed I could elevate my career into a leadership position. I was young and intimidated by the thought of supervising others, but I respected and trusted the cheese plant manager, so I decided to try it. I stepped into a supervisor role, loved the dairy industry, and never looked back. That manager is one of my closest friends to this day.
Favorite quote: “Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.” –Miguel de Unamuno
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I love Greek yogurt, and I once got to make Greek yogurt in Greece. It was delicious!
What makes someone fabulous: Someone who shows up in work and life, is kind, and is always curious and open to learning new things. And, of course, someone who eats Beecher’s cheese!