Barbara Stone Oral History Interview

Barbara Stone is the Western Key Account Sales Manager at John I. Haas, Inc., a premier hop supplier for North America. Born on Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Stone was primarily raised in Oregon City, although she has moved around the state throughout her life. She describes moving away from law enforcement and criminal justice—childhood professional interests—as she started her family in the late nineties. After discussing family life in Springfield in the early 2000s, Stone articulates how she entered the food and beverage industry at Oregon Ice Cream, where she developed skills in labor, technological, and supply distribution, which she further honed in the leather goods and frozen gelato industries. She describes joining Ninkasi Brewing around 2013—a transitional and expansive time for the company—and details the positive and challenging aspects of the familial, dynamic, and loyal work culture there.

Stone also details her transition to and more recent experiences working for Haas, developing relationships with partners and clients, and how her work was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She concludes with a discussion of improved, but still progressing, diversity and inclusivity within the hops and brewing industries, and describes her shifting perception of her role as an advocate for change.