An occasional series where we meet the team and unearth a few fun facts about our Bottleneck family. Next up: Bart Vivian.
Bart Vivian
Where are you from?
Omaha, Nebraska.
What is your role at Bottleneck?
Director of Operations.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Working with the store managers and seeing them develop and grow is probably the thing I enjoy the most. There’s nothing more exciting than watching a manager evolve to the point where they’re taking charge of their own career, making smart decisions, leading their people and truly doing for themselves.
What do you do when you are not at work?
I have two young daughters, so there’s a lot of ‘Frozen’ reenactments that I take part in. And I never thought, when I was a young buck, that I’d actually enjoy being Anna to my daughter’s Elsa. Who knew?
I really love reading – fiction, nonfiction, essays, whatever. So long as the writing’s good, I’m in. I also try to find time to write and paint, but not nearly as much as I’d like. And of course, I’m a big sports guy and a huge Cornhusker fan, so weekends in the fall can be a little intense in my house.
How did you discover Bottleneck Management?
I helped open Trace as a bartender, then the Boundary where I moved into management. I got the opportunity to open Sweetwater as the GM, then South Branch as the GM. So, in many ways, I’ve evolved right along with Bottleneck, a fact that I’m truly thankful for.
What do you enjoy about working with the team/company?
Hands down it’s the people. From the owners, to everyone at the Bottleneck level, to everyone at the stores, this company is packed with high integrity, high personality people. And if I couldn’t honestly say that, I probably never would’ve moved into management.
Current favorite drink?
Pretty much anything that’s in my hand in a given moment. And anything served in a really big mug. But lately I’ve had a renewed love affair with Bell’s Two Hearted Ale.
What is something that people probably don’t know about you?
I was once the victim of a drive-by egging while walking to a Christmas party in Portland, Oregon. I still went to the party and, yes, there was egg all over my pants.
Favorite TV/Movie Quote?
I have to cheat and choose two: “We’re going to need a bigger boat” from Jaws has a thousand applications in everyday life, or at least that’s my take on it. Equally as useful, and funny, is “this one goes to eleven” from This Is Spinal Tap. Working with much younger people as I do, I get a lot of really weird looks when I drop one of those, which is OK because I don’t mind appearing mysterious, vague and slightly odd (but in a charming kind of way) in my advanced age. But the ones that get it really get it.
Biggest party foul?
Close talking, I can’t handle that. I’ve been backed into walls by close talkers and it’s unsettling and mildly disturbing. It’s shocking to me that close talkers don’t notice the retreats they inspire, like a slow motion chase scene. The only people I allow that close to my face are dentists and my wife.
Favorites food(s)?
Bacon, capers and tomatoes. That’s really weird now that I see that in writing.
Share a moment of personal triumph:
Although the birth of my daughters is more my wife’s triumph, I was in the room and, while not particularly helpful, I didn’t get in the way.