Lauren Kniebes, B.B.A.’13

The best dreams are the ones that come true. For Lauren Kniebes, her dream of turning a love for people into a profitable business became a reality with a degree in sales and business marketing from the Haworth College of Business.

Kniebes co-founded the Lazy Ballerina Winery in St. Joseph, Michigan, with her cousin just two years after graduating from WMU. The burgeoning business opened a second tasting room in Bridgman in 2017 and a new production facility in Benton Harbor in 2019. Prior to pursuing her passion in the Michigan wine industry, Kniebes worked as a recruiter, pairing companies with talented job candidates while learning the importance of having a strong team in the workplace.

Outside of operating her business, Kniebes loves to get involved in the community. She has served on the executive committee for Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber’s Young Professionals and was awarded the chamber’s Young Business Leader Award in 2018. She also serves on the marketing committee for the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail. Her proudest achievement, though, is creating Women Among Women, a networking group for women from all walks of life to share their stories of struggle, success and empowerment.