One of the many pilons in the fermentation warehouse. The smell of ammonia is nearly overwhelming...

what cool job jon......how did you get involved in this type of work and discribe your typical day to us...if you dont mind? thanks

jamesconnors - Wow, do you want the 'short version?' LOL...

Essentially, I moved from Los Angeles to Nashville back in 1994. Soon thereafter, I fell in love with the world of cigars after I got my hands on an issue of Cigar Aficionado mag. Started writing letters to everyone in the industry - coincidentally, I found that CAO was headquartered here in Nashville. Four months after I wrote my letter to the owner, I got a phone call - interviewed twice - landed the gig in 1996, and have been in bliss every day since.

My daily 'routine' is anything but. I'm involved with everything from public relations to advertising to marketing/branding to desiging our merchandise (caps, t-shirts, etc.) to evaluating new blends. Put it this way - I've been with CAO since April 15, 1996 and have NEVER felt like I had a "job" where I merely went in to punch the clock. Every day here is an amazing experience and an opportunity to do something truly creative and special.

When I came on board, we were primarily a humidor company and had only the original CAO Black label (Honduras). Things have changed quite a bit over the last 7 years and I've been very luck to have been a part of the 'ground floor.'

Where did you want me to send my resume:-)

if you need any "work from home" samplers, just let us know

Jon: Your mention of ammonia, and fermentation, has me very interested/curious.

I'd love to know the process of making a cigar, from an insiders perspective. Can you give me a brief description from the planting / choosing of plants to the time they're sent to retailers? I'm sure there's got to be a heck of a lot more to it that what I 'm thinking. Thanks Jon.

You're absolutely right in that there IS a heckuva lot more that goes into the making of a cigar than you could even imagine...

Put it this way - I've been on "this side" of the business for some 7 years but after spending 72 hours in Esteli and Danli, I realized how much more I still need to learn. There really is NO substitute for going down to a factory and smelling, tasting, touching, and picking the brains of people who have decades of experience with the growing and processing of tobacco. It is truly such a labor-intensive art that now when I see someone asking about the "best cigar for a buck," I see that is an insult to the vast amount of knowledge, expertise and labor that is required to manufacture a premium cigar.

LOL Jon,
Are we to read a price increase into that last statement?
CAO is one of the best bangs for the buck out there period. Unfortunately, a lot of other companies are still living in the boom time. I do have to admit though that I only get my CAOs from Cbid because of the greater savings.

FWIW, CAO has not had a price increase since 1996.

Graphics! Graphics! I do Graphics! LOL!

Made me jealous, thanks for the info.

Jon, if I were to visit Nashville sometime would I be able to visit and get a tour?

Jon@CAO:

Great pictures! Great occupation!

Please send me your address and I will send you some of the promotional items my company manufactures...it may be something you guys could do at CAO in the future...no pressure though! ( silver and gold money clips, golf tools, cuff links etc.)

-RT

Jon: Sorry. igolfscratch at yahoo dot com.

Jon, I think C.A.O. needs to move the company headquarters to Encinitas, California...

Ok, my town doesn't have an industrial park, per se, but up the road in Carlsbad there are plenty of 'em and Palomar airport to fly in and out of to see the factories from...and, of course, ME! Your biggest female fan!

Will work for cigars is my new motto!

figured i'd bump the other one i found too since somone else was interested.