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American Business Women’s Day celebrated today

MARQUETTE — American Business Women’s Day, which began in 1982, is celebrated annually on Sept. 22 to honor and reflect on the contributions and accomplishments of the millions of women throughout Michigan and across the United States in the workforce and those who run or own their own businesses.

Pike Distributors, a family-owned beer and wine distributor serving a seven-county area of the Upper Peninsula, is toasting the accomplishments of women in the beer and wine industry on American Business Women’s Day, which is today.

Roughly 10% of the distributor’s workforce is made up of women, including Vice President Sarah Ketvirtis, officials said in a press release.

“Leading by example is important, which is why I have spent time working in every area of our company over the last four years,” Ketvirtis said in the release.

Ketvirtis grew up at the family owned distributor, which was started by her grandfather Stanley J. Ketvirtis of Newberry, Michigan. Sarah and her brother Jack Ketvirtis now run the day-to-day operations, including overseeing warehouses in Marquette, Gladstone and Newberry. As children, the two often did odd jobs around the warehouse, like sweeping the floors and washing then re-packing breakage. In high school and college, she worked as a merchandiser and on the sales team.

Ketvirtis is a member of the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association’s newly created Women’s Advocacy Committee. It was created to highlight and amplify the important work women do at Michigan’s beer and wine distributors and to advocate for distributor interests in Lansing.

Pike Distributors operates out of warehouses in Marquette, Newberry and Gladstone, servicing retailers throughout the central U.P.

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