Michael Ochsner

Michael has worked in restaurants his entire life, beginning his career in the industry as a 15-year-old dishwasher. He learned the ropes one position at a time, and to date has overseen the development and executively managed seven high-performing ventures. Michael is a level two sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. He speaks Japanese and loves to rock climb. In February 2009 he decided to purchase the nascent Plonk concept in Bozeman, MT with his best friend Brett Evje, after drinking a bottle of 2005 Orin Swift The Prisoner. Over the following 13 years he and Evje built the vision of what J.W. Heist is today. 

Michael has an 18-year-old sister who lives out of state. He has a tremendous love and empathy for her and for children living in the current social environment. BYEP is a tremendous program and a way for him to support kids in his sister's position.

Lastly, Michael thinks cats are the new dog.