HILLSDALE — When life gave Gian Marco Heilmann lemons, he made Meyer lemon rosemary jam.
The Swiss filmmaker said an unexpected divorce forced him to look inward. Guided by what he describes as a “gut feeling,” he ultimately purchased the small-batch jam company Les Collines and set out on an entirely new career path.
Now Heilmann is working to rebrand and expand the business while preserving its local roots and commitment to organic, minimally processed ingredients.
“When I walked in here for the first time, I knew this would be my next thing,” Heilmann said of HGS Home and Chef in Hillsdale, a teaching kitchen located in a historic 1870s house where Les Collines products are produced.
With virtually no experience in food preparation, the opportunity to purchase a well-established jam and jelly company didn’t make sense on paper. But he went with his instinct.
“I took the courage and went against the stream,” he said.
Born and raised in Zurich, Heilmann spent years working in media production, a career that took him to Munich, Stockholm, Budapest and Kazakhstan. At one point, Heilmann logged 120 travel days in a single year – an experience he described as both exciting and tiring.
The creative side of filmmaking drew him in, eventually leading him to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts and directing in Los Angeles.
“My goal was to learn the Hollywood way of filmmaking and bring that back to Switzerland because that would make me a rather unique player in the market,” Heilmann said.
He eventually returned to the United States after meeting and falling in love with his now ex-wife, helping open an upscale retail business in Millerton. When the marriage later ended, he said the experience forced him to reassess his life.
“It was really tough for me, but I got on my own journey of cleaning up my mental and emotional world, and that has been fantastic,” Heilmann said.
Looking for a new direction, he explored several possible ventures before stumbling upon the opportunity to purchase Les Collines from previous owner Brigid Dorsey.
Once he committed, Heilmann didn’t waste any time. He worked closely with Dorsey in the kitchen for around four months, learning the art and science of making jam, jelly and marmalade. He hired a business coach with experience in packaged goods and began refining the production process through trial and error.
One of his most memorable lessons came early on.
“I forgot to taste the batch,” Heilmann said, smiling as he remembered an entire batch of Meyer lemon rosemary jam.
He woke up at 3 a.m. with the realization and rushed to check the batch the next day. It wasn’t sweet enough. Nearly fifty jars of jam had to be thrown away.
The mistake, however, became an important turning point.
For Heilmann, premium quality is nonnegotiable. Today, every batch is carefully measured using pH and Brix testing to ensure consistent flavor and sugar levels.
“If we don’t hit the target, it’s garbage,” he said.
Authenticity is equally important to him.
“I want to educate customers that organic, unprocessed food can taste great too,” Heilmann said.
As the company grows, Heilmann said maintaining that philosophy will remain central to the brand.
His first employee shares a similar story of unexpected change.
Emily Redmond joined Les Collines as a production manager after losing her job at the North East Community Center’s Early Learning Program (ELP) in November 2025, just prior to its abrupt, permanent closure.
In her role as Director of the ELP, Redmond had earned a commercial kitchen handling certification – a credential she never expected to use again.
Now she oversees jam production and has quickly mastered the process.
The connection between the two came through Heilmann’s children, who attended the ELP. When he needed someone to help manage production, Redmond immediately came to mind.
“My criteria for hiring are very simple,” Heilmann said. “I need someone with a good attitude who is willing to learn.” Redmond, he said, ticks both those boxes and then some.
Just like Heilmann, Redmond said she never imagined working for a jam company.
“I was throwing it out into the universe that something was going to come up and be the thing I needed when I needed it,” she said. “Life brings you where you need to be sometimes.”
Looking ahead, Heilmann hopes to first establish Les Collines as a strong standalone brand, then eventually grow an overarching premium food company centered on leadership, innovation and authenticity.
“Back in the day, preserving was a necessity,” Heilmann said. “Now we want to make it into an art form.”
Les Collines products are available online at lescollines.shop, at local general stores and at farmers markets throughout the region, with hopes to soon expand into grocery stores.
Story and Pictures by Aly Morrissey, The Millerton News. Click HERE to see the article on millertonnews.com.