Interview with Ilka Balk, April 7, 2023

Partial Transcript: Alright. I'll make a little introduction, and then we can get into it.

Segment Synopsis: Ilka Balk describes her upbringing in small town in Germany, stating she lived with her parents, sister, and grandmother who ran a tavern in their house. Balk also describes her elementary education and explains that the Catholic religion was ingrained into Germany's school system. Balk discusses Germany's education track divisions, stating she pursued the college track. Balk states while Germany had educational divisions, economic prospects across the divisions was fairly equal.

Keywords: Catholicism; Catholicism in education; Education tracks; Education--Germany--History.; Education--Germany.; Germany; Germany--Religion--20th century.; Germany--Religion.; Germany--Religious life and customs; Taverns

Partial Transcript: Um, what was your favorite subject in school?

Segment Synopsis: Balk states that though Germany began their educational tracks early, their system allowed its students freedom in pursuing whatever areas of study they were interested. Balk briefly describes her college education, referencing her studies in History and Political studies and her study abroad in California.

Keywords: California; College education in Germany; Education--Germany--History--20th century.; Education--Germany--History.; Education--Germany.; Germany; Political studies; Study abroad

Partial Transcript: Um, what do you think some values, um, your parents instilled in you?

Segment Synopsis: Balk describes the various behaviors her grandmother imparted on her, referencing her grandmother's tavern and the relationships she created. She also references her words of wisdom, ranging from never walking down the stairs with empty hands and seeing her fiancé drunk three time before their marriage. Balk describes the various alcohol her grandmother sold, including one type of beer and spirits akin to Everclear.

Keywords: Beer-Germany; Catholic families; Families--Germany.; Family values and social change; German beer; Liquors.; Spirits, Alcoholic; Spirits.; Taverns; Taverns (Inns)--Germany

Partial Transcript: Um, so where did you go to college, just for, like, the official--

Segment Synopsis: Balk says she attended the University of Göttingen and recounts some of the university's history. Balk describes the needed qualifications to attend certain colleges and degrees, ranging in difficulty based on the profession. She also discusses meeting and ultimately marrying her husband, as well as her decision to move to the U.S. Balk recounts working at a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C.

Keywords: College education in Germany; Education--Germany--History--20th century.; Education--Germany--History.; Education--Germany.; Foreign study.; Immigration; Political studies; Students, Foreign.; University of Göttingen; Universität Göttingen

Partial Transcript: What does Mr. Balk's--like, what is his Ph.D. in?

Segment Synopsis: Balk discusses living in the U.S. while her family lived in Germany, and how she was able to travel to Germany from her job in the University of Kentucky's College of Engineering's International student abroad program. Balk also recounts her work at the College of Engineering's Cooperative (Co-op) program. Balk discusses the benefits and hinderances of working in the same place as her spouse.

Keywords: College students--Employment.; Cooperative Education Program; Dual-career families.; Education, Cooperative.; Engineering students, Foreign; Foreign study.; International student programs; International students; School-to-work transition.; Students, Foreign.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering; University of Kentucky. Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Work and family.; Work-life balance.

Partial Transcript: Um, how did being an international staff member because you're from Germany--obviously, a very different background-- help you to do, like international program director in the College of Engineering?

Segment Synopsis: Balk says that because she had lived and was a native speaker of the place where the University of Kentucky's College of Engineering wanted to create an international program, it was an advantage in her hiring. She explains that being from Germany and running an international program there provided a safety net for her. Balk also discusses her husband's and children's experience in speaking English and German, as well as trying to learn English in school herself.

Keywords: Engineering students, Foreign; English language--Conversation and phrase books--German.; English language--Foreign words and phrases--German; English language--Study and teaching--Foreign speakers.; Foreign study.; German language.; Germans; Germany.; International student programs; International students; Second language acquisition.; Students, Foreign.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering; University of Kentucky. Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Partial Transcript: So, after the College of Engineering, you obviously became a big part of the Beam institute.

Segment Synopsis: Balk discusses the creation of the James B. Beam Institute at the University of Kentucky, stating it began from a certification in Distillation, Wine and Brewing. She describes the Beam Institute's relationship with Beam Suntory, referring to Beam Suntory's five million dollar donation and collaborative in projects and research. Balk also discusses her initial interest in working for the Beam institute and her eventual hiring.

Keywords: Beam Suntory; Beam Suntory, Inc.; Bourbon whiskey.; Brewing.; Distillation.; James B. Beam Distilling Company; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Kentucky Distillers' Association; Kentucky bourbon; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Engineering

Partial Transcript: Um, what are some of, like, the goals of the Institute 'cause I--

Segment Synopsis: Balk discusses the James B. Beam Institute's construction of a functioning, small-scale distillery, including a column still and maturation house. Balk states that the Institute hopes to further research in the bourbon industry as well as provide education to future distillers and consumers. She also discusses both the Institute and the bourbon industry's willingness to share information and practices, referencing the Institute's annual conference. Balk says that though she is not intimately involved with the Institute's distilling and teachings, she works to "herd cats" and makes sure the programs runs smoothly.

Keywords: Alcohol education; Alcohol industry; Bourbon whiskey.; Brewing education; Brewing.; Distillation.; Distilleries; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Kentucky bourbon; Liquor education; Liquor industry.; University of Kentucky; Whiskey education; Whiskey industry.

Partial Transcript: Um, what were some of your first impressions of, like, the bourbon industry, um, you know, coming from Germany, and then living in Lexington, and then now you're in the Beam Institute.

Segment Synopsis: Balk recounts only being a beer drinker when moving to Kentucky and not having much knowledge of spirits. Balk also says that learning about the bourbon industry is not solely for bourbon drinkers but instead an integral part of what people love about Kentucky. She says she listens to bourbon podcasts and reads blogs for insight into the bourbon industry. Additionally, she recounts sitting in on two of the introductory classes for the Distillation, Wine, and Brewing certification.

Keywords: Alcohol education; Alcohol industry; Bourbon whiskey.; Brewing education; Brewing.; Distillation.; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Kentucky bourbon; Kentucky bourbon heritage; Kentucky heritage; Kentucky--History.; Liquor education; Liquor industry.; University of Kentucky; Whiskey education; Whiskey industry.

Partial Transcript: Um, how does the Beam Institute, um, use media to kind of, like, educate the general public or, I guess, like the general UK, more specifically? Like, how do you guys kind of utilize that?

Segment Synopsis: Balk says that while the Beam Institute is expanding, they still seek to become more visible. Balk references the Institute's writers for press releases, university publications, and social media. She states that the Institute's annual conference and presence in Lexington on Cooper Drive works to make the Institute more visible to the community.

Keywords: Bourbon whiskey.; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Kentucky bourbon; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky; Whiskey industry

Partial Transcript: How have you seen the bourbon industry change 'cause I mean I've seen it change, and I've really only been apart of it for a couple years, so, you know, how have you seen it kind of, like, shift and focus its shift in the past few years?

Segment Synopsis: Balk discusses the various shifts in the bourbon industry, referencing diversity, sustainability, and social responsibility. In relation to diversity, Balk explains that more women are gaining visibility on every executive level, making the whiskey industry look more like America than it used to. She describes the efforts some distillers and companies are making into sustainability efforts, even if it isn't exclusively for profit. Balk also explains that more companies and organizations are making investments in social responsibility, referencing underage drinking.

Keywords: Alcohol industry; Bourbon sustainability; Bourbon whiskey.; Diversity in the workplace.; Industries--Social aspects.; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Liquor agriculture; Liquor industry.; Social responsibility of business.; Underage drinking; University of Kentucky.; Whiskey agriculture; Whiskey industry.; Whiskey sustainability; Whiskey.

Partial Transcript: You've obviously been in very male-dominated, um, industries with engineering and, you know, now bourbon.

Segment Synopsis: As she works in administration within the University of Kentucky, Balk states she has not experienced inequality in her workplace as she works with both men and women fairly equally, and because the university is supportive of its employees. Balk says that when she looks for speakers for the Beam Institute's students, women are more likely to volunteer. She explains that while she had not experienced or seen micro-aggressions in her work, she is not saying it doesn't happen within the bourbon industry.

Keywords: Alcohol industry; Bourbon industry; Bourbon whiskey.; Diversity in the bourbon industry; Diversity in the workplace.; Inclusion in the bourbon industry; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Liquor industry.; University of Kentucky.; Whiskey industry.; Whiskey.

Partial Transcript: Who have you seen as like your mentors going into this, um, 'cause you kind of were, you know, ground zero, and you've been building?

Segment Synopsis: Balk discusses her mentors, referencing another UK employee Kim Sayre. Balk says that while some employers focus on keeping their employees, people like Sayre focus on their employees' overall professional development. She also discusses collaborations with other women, stating that she is a member of an organization called Bourbon Women. Balk states that while her work-based collaborations focus on the technical aspects of bourbon, Bourbon Women focuses on the social environment surrounding bourbon.

Keywords: Bourbon Women Association.; Bourbon whiskey.; Bourbon women; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Kim Sayre; University of Kentucky.; Whiskey.; Women in bourbon

Partial Transcript: Um, how do you see the Beam Institute, like, cultivating, um--that's not the right word.

Segment Synopsis: Balk states that, like many other industries, the bourbon industry has a need for a wide range of jobs, referencing marketing, history, and accounting. Balk explains that because the bourbon industry has a wide occupational range of jobs, anybody, including women, is welcomed in the industry. She also discusses being from Germany and working in the bourbon industry, stating that while her German accent is not generally a hinderance, people have said that they found her intimidating. Balk recalls one of the Beam Institute's academic conferences, where one person complained about the conference's lack of southern hospitality and choice of food due to no one in the Beam Institute's leadership being from Kentucky.

Keywords: Bourbon industry; Bourbon whiskey.; Diversity in the workplace.; German immigrants; Germans; Germany.; Immigrant experience; Immigrant experiences; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; University of Kentucky; Whiskey.

Partial Transcript: Um, what is some--just kind of, like, wrapping up--what is some advice that you would give to students that are trying to enter the industry?

Segment Synopsis: Balk gives some advice to students entering the bourbon industry, stating they should take classes, apply for internships, and listen to guest speakers to gauge their interests in the industry's many fields. Balk also states that there's fun to be had on a university campus if you make it out of your dorm room, and engage with university resources.

Keywords: Alcohol education; Alcohol industry; Brewing education; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Liquor education; Liquor industry.; University of Kentucky.; Whiskey education; Whiskey industry.

Partial Transcript: Do you think there's any, like, important trends in the bourbon industry that we should be, like, paying attention to or looking for, especially since you're about to run an institute, like, long-term?

Segment Synopsis: Balk discusses her personal interests in some of the bourbon industry's trends, stating that blended bourbon could be a possible avenue of interest. Balk also discusses her interest in sensory training around drinking bourbon. She describes her hopes for the James B. Beam Institute, referencing the construction of the Institute's distillery, inclusion of more students, and creating engaging tours. Balk also discusses the Beam Institute's upcoming study abroad program in the U.S. Virgin islands.

Keywords: Alcohol education; Bourbon whiskey.; Distilleries; James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits; Liquor education; U.S. Virgin Islands; University of Kentucky.; Whiskey education; Whiskey.