Kasey Helt

Kasey Helt has been working in hospitality specifically with wine for over 18 years. A 2003 graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Helt earned a degree in Agribusiness, with a minor in Wine and Viticulture. She knew immediately this was her passion and fell in love with the wine industry and lifestyle. Her first opportunity came right out of college, working with a vineyard management company in Paso Robles CA where she was able to get hands-on experience and learn the various aspects of vineyard management. She immersed herself in learning all aspects of the vineyard and growing process.

This led to her next job working for Still Waters Vineyard, a small estate family vineyard also in Paso Robles, CA. At Still Waters, Kasey started out in wine production but quickly transitioned to hospitality and was eventually named General Manager. She found her passion for differentiating the messaging of the company through elevated customer service. During her 15 years at Still Waters Vineyards, Kasey expanded the growth and development of the business through internet sales, social media management, tasting room design and efficiency. She grew the number of wholesale accounts, was instrumental in opening their tasting room, hosted a series of events and developed their direct to consumer (DTC) program. 

Looking for the next learning opportunity, Kasey was named Director of Hospitality for Center of Effort Wines (COE) in 2018, overseeing consumer sales, hospitality experiences and all events.

In April 2019, Kasey was instrumental in opening the newly built, state of the art member hospitality center. She manages a team of wine educators that have a passion for service and delivering elevated and luxurious wine experiences to VIP members and other guests through private tastings, tours and member events.

COE owner and founder Bill Swanson said that when he first spoke with Kasey, “she really resonated with what we wanted to do with the property, and we could see that she was someone in whom we could fully put our trust and who would be a valuable addition to our talented team.”

Kasey’s mission is to help Center of Effort evolve into the most well-known wine destinations on California’s central coast, establishing them as the standard of hospitality for wineries.

“The wine business is evolving and has become focused on the whole experience. The friends you are surrounded by, the food you are pairing the wine with and the environment you are in heightens the enjoyment of any wine. At COE, our emphasis is on customer, education and sustainable production,” says Helt.

Kasey also serves as Vice President of the SLO Coast Wine Collective Board of Directors, on the Economic Development Committee for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, and on the Steering Committee for the Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium.

When not sharing her knowledge of wine with others, Kasey and her husband Dan spend time with their two young sons. You can also find them looking for the perfect campsite, playing baseball with their kids, hiking the beautiful local trails or relaxing at the beach.