Owners Kaj and Else Ahlmann met in 1966 and started taking long nature walks as a pastime. They still enjoy walking and hiking together – now on the ranch. Natives of Denmark, the Ahlmanns and their four children relocated to Kansas in 1993. Kaj and Else purchased the ranch in 2000 and adopted it as permanent residence when they became empty-nesters eight years later. Kaj and Else are now the heart and soul behind Six Sigma, each bringing their own distinct strengths and personality to the business.
Kaj is often the face guests come to know and remember—he genuinely enjoys connecting with visitors, sharing stories, and making everyone feel welcome at the ranch. When he’s not on-site, he’s out on the road throughout Lake & Napa Counties, building relationships with local restaurants, ensuring they’re well-stocked with Six Sigma wines, and enthusiastically spreading the word about the region he’s so passionate about.
Else brings a quieter, yet impactful presence. She captures the beauty of the ranch through her photography, helping tell the visual story of Six Sigma. Behind the scenes, she plays a key role in shaping the brand’s voice—writing quarterly newsletters, proofreading marketing materials, and keeping everything organized and running smoothly. Together, Kaj and Else create a balance of energy and intention that defines the Six Sigma experience.
Lisa Lasley is the Six Sigma Admin who truly keeps track of everything—and everyone—making her an essential part of what keeps the operation running smoothly day in and day out. In addition to managing both accounts payable and receivable, she handles a wide range of administrative responsibilities with consistency and care. Lisa is someone the team relies on deeply; her dedication, attention to detail, and positive energy make a lasting impact, and quite simply, things wouldn’t function the same without her. Outside of work, she’s devoted to her family—she loves spending time with her daughter, her husband, and their two dogs. When she’s not at the ranch, you’ll likely find her enjoying time on the lake or heading out on a camping adventure.
Kathryn Finn joined Six Sigma in 2021 as Winemaker. She embodies Six Sigma's most important principles: natural winemaking, love of nature and a passion for food and family. She has a master’s degree in Environmental Resource Management, which made for an easy transition into a winemaking career. Before taking the position at Six Sigma in May of 2021, Kathryn spent six years at a neighboring Lake County winery, Steele Winery. During those years she worked closely with Jed Steele gaining the knowledge and experience required to be the winemaker she is today. To top it off, she also has winemaking experience at Mission Estates Winery in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and a harvest at Conn Creek Winery in Rutherford, California. When she is not making wine, she can be found in the garden with her husband, young son & daughter with winery-dog MJ close beside them. She also enjoys baking, cooking and canning with the fruits and veggies she grows.
Vineyard Manager Oscar Martinez plays a vital role across both the vineyards and the ranch, bringing a depth of experience and a strong work ethic to everything he does. Since 2008, he has been carefully tending to the vines, watching over the grapes, and working the land with a level of knowledge that only comes from years of hands-on dedication. Beyond the vineyard, Oscar also helps care for the ranch animals and is always the first to step in and support team members whenever something needs to get done—no matter the task. His versatility and willingness to help make him an invaluable part of the team. In addition to his work on the ranch, Oscar is an incredibly talented woodworker. Give him a spare wine barrel, and he can transform it into something remarkable—whether it’s a handcrafted chair, an elegant chandelier, or a beautiful bar table (yes, that’s likely where yours came from).
Katelyn Andersen is Hospitality Manager at Six Sigma. She moved to Lake County in 2018 and became a Six Sigma wine club member on her very first visit to the ranch. At the time, she was a full-time school counselor, pouring wine on the weekends at another winery. We felt she would be a great asset to Six Sigma, so we initially recruited her to be a weekend and event pourer at the ranch. It was an instant fit as she felt the Ahlmann family and whole team made her feel appreciated and at home on the ranch. “The warmth and love that surrounds this amazing place led me to accept the Wine Club Manager position and make the winery and its members my full-time career,” Katelyn said. (Thank you, Katelyn. We’re blushing!) She is now our Hospitality Manager, spearheading our events and marketing campaigns while continuing to take care of our awesome members.