Chuck Hellmer, President and General Manager
Chuck walked onto the original Haystack farm in 2003 looking for a goat cheese that didn’t aggravate his cow milk allergies, and now he runs the place. He spent more than 20 years in the electric utility business, working as an Auditor, Process Improvement Facilitator, IT Project Manager, IT Account Manager and Financial Director. Chuck enjoys climbing 14ers, bicycling in the mountains and playing the guitar in his spare time.
Maureen Reagan, Sales Manager
Maureen joined Haystack Mountain in 2007, following an 11-year career at Wild Oats Markets, where she was National Cheese Buyer for the 110-store chain prior to its purchase by Whole Foods Markets. She works with distributors, retail stores and restaurants to ensure Haystack Mountain’s cheeses arrive at their destination on time and in perfect condition. Maureen also works with our cheesemakers to develop new cheeses and plan production.
Joanna Byrd, Sales Coordinator and Office Assistant
If you call the Haystack Creamery, you’ll probably talk to Joanna first. She joined Haystack Mountain with very little knowledge of goat cheese, but with a real enthusiasm for the subject. Now, she talks cheese daily with local chefs, national distributors and visitors to the creamery. She also happens to own her own goats, along with some horses, dogs and one lunatic bird.
Oda Wilson, Bookkeeper and Administrative Assistant
Oda brings 30 years of small business experience, including a stint running her own 90-acre fruit and vegetable farm, to Haystack Mountain, where she does bookkeeping, orders supplies and generally helps keep the place running smoothly. She was raised on a 210-acre farm in northern California, and she enjoys working with all the other animal lovers at Haystack Mountain.
Jackie Chang, Cheesemaker
Jackie has been making cheese at Haystack Mountain since 2004, and now heads our cheesemaking and production departments. She has been in and around the food business most of her adult life and has studied and practiced all kinds of cheesemaking. Jackie pioneered many of Haystack Mountain’s award-winning cheeses, including Aspen Ash, Chile Jack and Camembert.
