Stephanie Gallo: A Legacy in Wine and Marketing

Stephanie A. Gallo is a Vice President of Marketing for E. & J. Gallo Winery of Modesto, California. The winery, co-founded by Stephanie’s grandfather Ernest and great uncle Julio 80 years ago, is now the largest family-owned winery in the world, exporting wine and spirits to 90 countries.

With a deep-rooted passion for wine and a strong commitment to family, Stephanie is leading worldwide marketing efforts for several prominent brands in the Popular Business Unit, including Barefoot and Gallo Family Vineyards. Under Stephanie’s leadership, Barefoot has grown from 500,000 cases to the largest bottled wine brand in the world. She also plays an integral role in the development of innovative new products, which has led to highly successful brand launches like Naked Grape, Vin Vault and Dark Horse.

In addition to her critical role in the growth of Barefoot, Stephanie’s key contributions to the business have included repositioning the Gallo Family Vineyards brand globally and pioneering the winery’s online advertising, social media programs and event marketing initiatives.

Many of the brands she manages are consistently recognized for outstanding success, including the Beverage Information Group’s Fast Track Growth Brand Award, Market Watch Magazine’s Hot Brand Award, Event Marketer Magazine’s Ex Award for Best Retail/In Store Event Program and the Cause Marketing Forum’s Halo Award. In honor of this success, Stephanie was named one of the Top Women in Grocery by Progressive Grocer Magazine in 2011.

In 1994, Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame. She then obtained an MBA from Northwestern University’s prestigious J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She served Notre Dame as a Young Graduate Trustee from 1996 to 1999 and as a member of the Advisory Council for the university’s Mendoza College of Business from 1999 to 2002. Today, she remains active with Kellogg as a regional campaign co-chair, student mentor and guest speaker.

Stephanie is involved in her community as a regular speaker on women in business, family business and the importance of community giving. Additionally, she is a leader in the company in supporting progressive work-life balance programs. For her work in the wine industry and in her community, Stephanie was named the 2007 Young Entrepreneur of the Year by California State University at Stanislaus. She lives in her hometown of Modesto with her husband Chris and their two children, Amelia and Harrison.

Systems Engineer with a Harvard Degree in Advanced Management.

Mrs. Henriquez is a professional with 38 years of experience, out of which 26 have been spent as President and/or CEO of multinational or global companies in Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina and now, France.

Mrs. Henriquez, better known as Maggie, is renowned for developing and implementing strategies to manage companies in difficult contexts and circumstances. For
26 years she contributed to different companies by developing and executing the right strategies to successfully lead the way as president and/ or C.E.O. of companies which produced and distributed wines and spirits in Venezuela, food in Mexico, sparkling and still wines in Argentina and now in the House of Krug, in Reims, France. The House of Krug is at the very top of the Champagne industry – it is the only house that has created only Prestige Champagnes since it was founded in 1843.

Maggie was also president of the Association of Manufacturers in Venezuela, Mexico and actively participated in the transformation of the Argentinean wine industry. In Argentina, she got deeply connected with winegrowing and winemaking during her eight years at the head of Moët Hennessy properties there.

During her experience leading different companies she was also a member of the international executive committees of Seagram, Nabisco, Moët Hennessy Latin America, Caribbean, Canada and Middle East, Moët Hennessy Estates & Wines, and now belongs to the Moët Hennessy International executive committee.

During her stay in Mexico, she was Professor of New Product Development for International Markets and Strategic Alliances at the Universidad Panamericana for post-graduate and/or Master degrees. Maggie has conducted seminars on various topics, which range from Wine, Champagne, Luxury Brand Building, Strategy and Marketing, Facing Crisis, Leadership, and Women’s Development.

Among other recognitions, she was appointed “Keeper of the Quaich” by the Scotch Whisky association in 1993; in Argentina in 2008 was

appointed among the best five executives of the year during the last 10 years by Fundaciôn Konex; and recently was appointed as the 2013 woman of the year by Drinks International – one of the most important trade media in the UK.

She is a system engineer with an advanced program in Harvard. She has two children
living in Mexico, 35 and 31, she is also a grandmother of a girl and a boy. Maggie loves sports, biking, water skiing, tennis, horseriding, aerobics and spinning. She is fluent in three languages: English, French and Spanish and understands Italian and Portuguese. Maggie is computer skilled, loves wines, gastronomy, traveling, arts, reading, music, opera and a good spa. 

Lynda Spillane    MA (res), MBA, BA (psych), Grad Dip Mgmt, Grad Dip Voice

www.lyndaspillane.com

Lynda Spillane is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of Public Performance having combined psychology, theater and classical subjects to produce a unique approach to the teaching of public speaking.

Career highlights include working with Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Keating, President Obama, and King Abdullah II of Jordan. She is currently working on the EKO Atlantic Project in Africa. This project will establish Lagos as the financial center of Africa thus contributing to Africa’s current impressive economic growth.

She has taught over 8,000 MBA students worldwide as a guest Professor at many Universities including Daniels College of Business, MIT, Harvard and the London Business School.

She conducts transformational workshops and coaching worldwide for CEOs, Presidents and Professional Women.

Her award winning Public Speaking Mastery program in Washington DC has been taught in New York, London, Pakistan, Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Portugal, Rome and Milan.

An internationally acclaimed speechwriter, her speech given by King Abdullah II of Jordan to a Joint Session of Congress is used in all Schools throughout Jordan.

She is a passionate animal activist. Current projects are fighting to have the NY Central Park Carriage Horses retired from an abusive existence, and speaking on behalf of the 70,000 Beagles currently abused and tortured in laboratories around America. Please visit www.searchingforsnoopy.com for more details – Password snoopy

Marilisa Allegrini: The Voice of Amarone

“The beauty that surrounds us still surprises me,” says Marilisa Allegrini, global representative and CEO of Allegrini Estates, on the Allegrini family’s acclaimed estates in Tuscany and the Veneto. Together with her brother Franco Allegrini, head winemaker for Allegrini Estates, Marilisa carries on the legacy of their father Giovanni, a visionary viticulturist in Valpolicella credited with revolutionizing Amarone and appassimento winemaking. Steeped in centuries of winegrowing expertise, the family is recognized for crafting the benchmark Amarone, pioneering a focus on single-vineyard sites, and consistently marrying tradition with innovation.

Sharing the Legacy of Italian Wine with the World Marilisa was brought up in the vineyard by Giovanni, and was heavily influenced by his dedication to Italian winegrowing of the highest caliber. After studies at the University of Verona, Marilisa became Director of Sales and Marketing for Allegrini and began traveling throughout Italy and the world to share the story of her family’s heritage and wines. Her passion and ambassadorship helped cement the reputation of Amarone as one of the world’s finest wines and Allegrini as its top producer. Today, Marilisa is president of Amarone Families (Famiglie dell’Amarone d’Arte), and has been recognized as one of the top ambassadors for Valpolicella worldwide.

Breaking new ground in Bolgheri.

Bolgheri in Tuscany represented to Marilisa and the Allegrini family not only a beautiful new domain but also a promise to continue their exploration of what’s possible in Italian wine. So in 2002, Marilisa, Franco and their late brother Walter embarked on a new winegrowing journey in the region’s renowned coastal terroir, focused once again on the premise of developing extraordinary vineyard sites. The family’s Poggio al Tesoro estate and its wines have already received acclaim, thanks to the dedication, relentless pursuit of quality and respect for the land the family upholds in all of its endeavors.

“Tradition is not immobility,” Marilisa says of the family’s Tuscan exploration. “When accompanied by true respect for a territory, there is always something to discover, to interpret, to see in a new light.”

Celebrating Italian culture and hospitality.

Marilisa and the Allegrini family channel their passion for hospitality at Verona’s Villa della Torre, their 16^th century renaissance palace, which was once home to visiting artists and bears a rich cultural past. Today, this world-class destination welcomes guests with the family’s phenomenal wines as well as dining experiences from a Michelin-starred chef. Every detail is thoughtfully anticipated, and the result is a distinctly Italian sense of welcome, grace and vivacity. “It is thrilling to us that the Villa della Torre’s façade, grand rooms, archways and gardens today recall their former 16th century grandeur—and thus reflect our commitment to honoring Italian culture,” says Marilisa.

Whether she is sharing the story of Allegrini’s enduring success in the Veneto or introducing wines from the family’s latest chapter in Tuscany, Marilisa draws on her singular knowledge to inspire and inform.

Eric Asimov is the chief wine critic of The New York Times and the author of “How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto,’’ published by William Morrow, and “Wine With Food: Pairing Notes and Recipes From The New York Times,’’ written with recipes by Florence Fabricant and published by Rizzoli.

His weekly column appears in the Food section of The Times. Naturally, he is on Twitter, too, @EricAsimov. A collection of his columns is included in “The New York Times Book of Wine,’’ published in 2012 by Sterling Epicure. Before he started writing full-time about wine in 2004, Asimov wrote primarily about restaurants and food. He created the $25 and Under restaurant reviews in 1992 and wrote them through 2004. He is a co-author of five editions of The New York Times Guide to Restaurants, and published four editions of “$25 and Under: A Guide to the Best Inexpensive Restaurants in New York.’’ In 2013 he was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. Asimov is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., and did graduate work in American Civilization at the University of Texas at Austin. He is married to Deborah Hofmann, has two children, Jack and Peter, and lives in Manhattan.

Gillian Ballance MS, DWS has spent the last 20 years working in the best fine dining restaurants in the United States.

Ms Ballance began her career at The Rainbow Room, one of the most beloved restaurants in New York City, and worked under Andrea Immer Robinson.  While there, Ballance’s thirst for knowledge and passion for wine became evident, so when Andrea became the Beverage Director at the Windows of the World Restaurant, she took Gillian with her.

Exposed to a cellar with over 100,000 bottles was the best education a passionate wine enthusiast could have and Ballance’s career soared. Her career includes opening up Cello in NYC, Wine and Beverage Director at Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, Plumpjack Group’s Wine Director, Wine Consultant and Sommelier for Bottega Restaurant in Napa Valley, Wine Director at the luxurious Cavallo Point. Currently Ballance is the  National Education Manager for Treasury Wine Estates.

Ballance has been featured in numerous publications like Wine Spectator, Food and Wine Magazine and an abundance of Trade publications. She has also judged at several wine competitions and conducts wine seminars and lectures across the United States.

In 2012 Ballance passed the esteemed Master Sommelier Diploma Exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers, representing one of 21 women  in the world. She received her Higher Certificate of Distinction as well as her Diploma in Wines & Spirits from the British Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Ms. Ballance has a BFA from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and grew up in Tulsa.

Jan Barnes is the Vice President, Group Brand Director for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), the leading wine producer in Washington state and owner of wineries in California and Oregon as well as the exclusive US importer of Antinori wines, Torres wines, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte and Villa Maria Estate.

Jan has over 25 years of experience in consumer & brand marketing, promotions and PR.  Prior to joining Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in 1997, Jan worked with Millstone (gourmet coffee) and Proctor and Gamble. 

She is responsible for the brand marketing and strategic development for a 3 million case portfolio, including Chateau Ste. Michelle, Domaine Ste. Michelle and Eroica.  Chateau Ste. Michelle is currently the #2 premium brand sold in the U.S. (Nielsen) and was recently awarded its 22^th Winery of the Year honor from Wine & Spirits, more than any other American winery.    In addition to successfully managing and growing a broad portfolio, Jan was the marketing lead for Eroica, a joint venture between Chateau Ste. Michelle and Germany’s famed Dr. Loosen Estate. “I have a great passion for delivering exceptional winery experiences to consumers, be it through a glass of wine, the packaging or a promotion, or an exceptional visit to the historic grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle,” Jan says. 

Jan is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University. 

Mary Barranco,Vice President, National Training Director,Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.

Mary Barranco’s passion for education and commitment to the adult beverage industry led her in 2002 to accept the current position as Vice President, National Training Director at Southern Wine and Spirits of America. Prior to joining Southern Wine & Spirits, Mary held various sales and leadership positions for leading wine and spirit companies. In her current role, Mary leads a team of professionals and industry experts who design and implement learning and development activities for the 14,000 employees at Southern. She also champions trade education focused on wine, spirit mixology and service.

Mary co-authored with Bridget Albert, Market Fresh Mixology; a cocktail book highlighting recipes using the season’s freshest ingredients.

Nikki Mason Bazzo, Account Executive, American Wine and Spirits 

Nikki Mason Bazzo is a California native who began her career with Southern Wine and Spirits in 2005 as an entry-level merchandiser.  She was soon promoted to a Sales Consultant role which then transitioned into trade-development, ambassador and portfolio management roles.  Today, Nikki is currently an Account Executive for the American Wine and Spirits division and is involved in numerous company wide initiatives such as “Women in Wine” and the “Emerging Leadership Program”.  She is always enthusiastic to undertake new projects and responsibilities that will further contribute to her personal and professional development while continuing to support company wide growth.

Tia Boyle is the Los Angeles Regional Buyer for Costco Wholesale.

She has buying responsibility for Beer, Wine and Spirits for 51 Southern California locations and 7 Hawaii locations.

Employed with Costco for the past 27 years, she has spent the last ten years as Buyer for the liquor category responsible for over $500M in sales per year.

Tina spent 6 years in operations early in her career at the Hawthorne & Laguna Niguel Costco locations learning the culture and business from the ground up. From 1988 to 1993 she held various positions throughout Costco, experiencing everything from pushing carts & membership to supervising front end sales. In 1994 she joined the buying group as an Inventory Control Specialist for liquor and was promoted to Assistant Buyer for Candy & Tobacco in 1999. By 2001 she was the Sundries Assistant Buyer and was then promoted to Candy & Tobacco Buyer in 2002.  In 2004 she took over as Foods and Dry Grocery Buyer before moving back to the liquor category as Buyer in 2005.

Tina holds an Advanced Certification through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. She has furthered her wine education by visiting many wine growing regions around the world studying and tasting wines to bring to Costco Members.

Since 2008 she has been a Network of Executive Women committee member for Southern California and has been a supporter of the Christermon Foundation since 2005.  Her volunteer duties also include supporting The Children’s Miracle Network, Special Olympics, City of Hope and Compassion International.

Tina and her husband Mike reside in Orange County, California with their two daughters Justine age 14 and Cameron age 7.

Colleen Brennan is a wine industry professional recognized for her innovative sales and marketing achievements which span over 20 years in the beverage and restaurant industries. She is currently vice president of national accounts for Rodney Strong Wine Estates where she is responsible for business development, marketing, strategic planning, budgeting and sales for all on premise national account chains. Prior to joining Rodney Strong in 2012, she was director of global accounts and the on-premise marketing specialist at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates where she supervised sales to more than 30 restaurant chains. In this role, she increased sales by 65% over a six-year period and was recognized as the 2007 Salesperson of the Year for Antinori Italian wine brand.

Brennan has also held executive level positions with leading restaurant companies including O’Charley’s and Cypress Companies. She served as director of beverage marketing at O’Charley’s, in charge of managing and growing beverage programs and profits for the restaurant chain’s 200 locations. Brennan’s consultative and creative approach to sales and marketing includes developing an innovative wine and spirits training tool for servers at O’Charley’s that dramatically increased product knowledge and beverage sales. She also created successful incentive contests that boosted sales and team member morale. One promotion resulted in over 200,000 incremental beverages sold during the first 10 weeks alone, representing a 200% increase in sales of one featured drink which became O’Charley’s top-selling beverage.

Brennan’s creative strategies earned her a Cheers Beverage Excellence Award for best beverage promotion during this time. As director of restaurant marketing at Cypress Companies, owner of several chain concepts including Denny’s, Houlihan’s and An Tobar Irish Pub, she oversaw all marketing activities for 60 restaurants and pubs across five states. Brennan began her restaurant industry career at Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar and Grill where she served as a field marketing manager for all corporate-owned locations in Florida.

Brennan currently serves on the Board of Directors for The California Restaurant Association’s Education Foundation and is on the advisory board of Children of Restaurant Employees (C.O.R.E), a nonprofit organization that supports children of restaurant employees who have been afflicted with life-threatening conditions or affected by a significant life-altering circumstance. She has also served on several industry boards including the American Beverage Institute (Committee Chairperson), Cheer’s Magazine and the Millennium Group. Brennan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from Yale University. 

Deborah Brenner, Founder & President, Women of the Vine & Spirits

Deborah Brenner graduated from the University of Delaware with degrees in English and Journalism, and was soon hired by a television and film technology company that required international travel to countries for which wine is a part of everyday life. After over 20 years in the male-dominated field of high-end technology and owning a marketing and public relations firm, Ms. Brenner discovered during a fortuitous trip to Napa and Sonoma that many women in the wine industry - like in her own industry - are under-recognized. Compelled to tell their stories, she authored a bestselling collection of profiles on women in the wine industry, Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine, which Wine Spectator named a Critical Read of 2007.

Through the process of writing the book and championing its subjects, Ms. Brenner became inspired to enter the wine business herself, releasing wine from a first-of-its-kind collective of seven artisan women winemakers from Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles. For the following seven years, Ms. Brenner learned the business inside and out, but but eventually saw that producing wine wasn't the most effective way to support and advance women's careers in the wine industry. Shuttering the brand, she returned to the drawing board.

After one year of thought, research, and long conversations, Brenner organized a first-of-its-kind event: the inaugural Women of the Vine Global Symposium. The conference, first held in March of 2015, existed to support, educate, and connect women working in the alcohol beverage industry; registration sold out quickly to 500 women from five countries. Given the overwhelming response, Brenner and the Women of the Vine Advisory Board went to work developing a consortium that supports professionals in the alcohol beverage industry year-round. Thus emerged the Women of the Vine Alliance, a membership-based organization, anchored by the annual Symposium, whose mission is to empower and equip women worldwide to advance their careers in the alcohol beverage industry, fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large.

Ms. Brenner has received a Rising Star Award from Women for WineSense (2008), a New York Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion Of The Year (2009), a New York City National Association of Women Business Owners Signature Award (2010), the Lillian Vernon Award for Outstanding Community Service by the Women's Enterprise Development Center (2011), a NY Women in Communications Rising Star Award (2013), and the Rockland Business Women's Network Woman of the Year Award (2014). She is also a member of Senator Gillibrand's NY Agriculture Working Group. She resides in Rockland County, New York.

Karena Breslin,  Vice President, Digital Marketing, Constellation Brands, Inc.

As Vice President of Digital Marketing at Constellation Brands Inc., the world’s leading premium wine company, Karena manages digital strategy and execution for the company’s portfolio of 70 wine and spirits brands including: Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Kim Crawford, and SVEDKA amongst others. Since joining Constellation in 2010, Karena built an industry leading Digital Marketing department from the ground up. Her organization is responsible for all social media and website initiatives as well as digital advertising and content marketing. She also leads marketing technology, including web and mobile applications as well as Constellation Brands’ enterprise community.

Karena’s career in digital marketing and technology spans more than 16 years. She is a digital innovation and marketing leader with strategic and operational experience driving business growth for industry leading brands.

At California Pizza Kitchen, Ashley leads the development of the national marketing strategy which includes menu and creative development for the brand, beverage innovation, national promotions, loyalty programs, digital marketing, and philanthropic initiatives.

She has been instrumental in rolling out CPK’s Next Chapter initiative, a brand transformation underway in CPK’s 190 restaurants nationwide. “I am also proud to be a part of a CPK programs like the Eighth Move, an initiative designed to mentor women leaders in the workplace.”

Ceraolo is a strategic marketing professional who has worked with multiple national and international restaurant brands to develop and execute marketing campaigns, optimize brand loyalty and drive sales growth. A resident of Huntington Beach, and mother of two, Ashley is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is also a level one Sommelier.

Last May, Ashley was honored with the 2015 Most Powerful and Influential Woman of California. Ceraolo was recognized for her leadership by the National Diversity Council, an organization which fosters an understanding of diversity and inclusion as a strategy for business success and community well-being through various initiatives.

Laure Colombo, Winemaker, Vins Jean-Luc Colombo (Rhone Valley, France)

Only 30 years old and already a rising star of the Rhone Valley! Where does the fire and passion within her come from? When you meet Laure’s parents you understand that it is a typical trait of the Colombo family. Cornas is where she grew up. The vineyard was her playground. There she learned to love nature. She breathed in scents and aromas of all kinds, the very stuff that will bring any adult back to their childhood in a second.

She first studied a master’s degree in business in Lille. Following graduation she worked for a few months in the USA (at Disney World for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, at George Magazine and Wine & Spirit Magazine among others and as an aide-sommelier for Alain Ducasse at the Essex House). Her next step was to develop skills in marketing and communication with the prestigious Champagne houses of Dom Pérignon and Moët & Chandon and then with an Indian winery, Grover Vineyard, in New Delhi.

She then returned to France, got a degree in viticulture in Bordeaux working part time at Château Haut Brion for one year, then followed up with a master’s degree in oenology in Montpellier and a few vintages on the Southern hemisphere. She became a winemaker and joined the family domain in 2010, now working as a viticulturist, oenologist, and brand ambassador all around the world. She’s also developing her own estate on Saint Péray’s heights.

About Vins Jean-Luc Colombo

Hailed as the winemaking wizard of the Rhône, founder Jean-Luc Colombo has achieved a high-profile international reputation for making innovative wines that are original, memorable and bursting with personality. Despite a resolute aversion to change in the Cornas region, Colombo has brazenly introduced innovative methods in his vineyards and throughout the production process based on a respect for nature and his fundamental belief that good wine is the culmination of three key elements: terroir, human endeavor and modern winemaking techniques. The result? A more accessible style of Rhône Valley wines, reflecting an exuberance of fruit and depth of expression and showcasing the full potential of the Syrah grape when grown in the unique terroir of Cornas. Through his intense dedication, Colombo has brought the wines of Cornas into the international limelight. The company now embraces wines representing major appellations of the Rhône Valley as well as the Languedoc and Roussillon regions of southern France. Colombo’s daughter, Laure, joined her father and mother as winemaker in 2010. The wines of Jean-Luc Colombo are imported to the US by Palm Bay International. 

Jean-Luc Colombo: http://www.vinscolombo.fr/uk/

Palm Bay International: www.palmbay.com

Anita Cook-Motard has made a career in the wine industry with the Glazers Distribution organization working in many different areas of the company. Anita began her career with Glazers in 1982 as a sales rep and was promoted through the ranks of sales, marketing, and management. In 1997 Anita was part of the formation of the Domaines & Estates group within the Glazers organization – a specialized sales division dedicated to small and mid-size wine companies. Anita currently works with the D&E Fine Wine Group as Director of Strategic On-Premise Accounts.

Anita is active in many food and wine organizations such as Les Dames d’ Escoffier, the American Institute of Wine & Food, and the former Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival. Anita loves to cook and enjoys a glass of fine wine now and then.

Alison Crowe is an award-winning winemaker, author and blogger based in Napa.  She is the Director of Winemaking for Plata Wine Partners as well as the Winemaker for Garnet Vineyards and Picket Fence Vineyards brands, among others.  Alison’s clients include acclaimed “Top 100” brands, nationally-distributed wineries, national retailers, celebrity chefs and hot start-up brands.   Her wines consistently earn high scores in national wine publications.

Alison holds degrees in Viticulture & Enology and Spanish as well as an MBA from UC Davis.  She is on the boards of the Carneros Wine Alliance, The Unified Grape & Wine Symposium, and The Wine Industry Financial Symposium and is a frequent wine judge for international competitions.  She has penned the popular “Wine Wizard” column for Winemaker Magazine since 1998, writes for Wine Business Monthly and Wines & Vines Magazine and published The Winemaker’s Answer Book in 2007.  Her blog, GirlandtheGrape.com won “Best New Wine Blog” at the 2014 Wine Blog Awards. 

Kristen Decker is the President of Global Wine Company.  She joined the company in 2011 and has served as President and Director since that time.  Kristen is a driving force behind the growth of Global Wine Company within the wine club segment.  During her tenure, the company has expanded from three branded wine clubs (Williams-Sonoma Wine, The New York Times Wine Club and The Food & Wine Wine Club) to six (adding Mina Wine Club, The Washington Post Wine Club and More Uncorked) and launched its own Global Wine Cellars branded club.  Kristen believes the Global Wine Company wine clubs provide a superior wine club experience to their members, each uniquely designed to reflect the brands they represent and the customers they serve.  Previously, Kristen was the Controller of Peter Paul Wines, where she worked with the winemakers and within the distribution network in expanding the brand’s US presence, as well as overseeing all financial functions.  

Kristen came to the wine industry from the mortgage finance sector, where she is a founding member and the Chief Financial Officer of Headlands Asset Management.  Kristen manages all financial planning and analysis, reporting, tax and treasury functions for the company as well as legal, licensing and human resources.

Kristen has more than 10 years in the wine industry, and over 25 years’ experience in finance, corporate strategic planning and oversight.  Kristen began her career in public accounting at KPMG Peat Marwick.  She received her MF from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and her BA in Business Management from Sonoma State University

Jennifer DePaola, Vice President, Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer, Young's Market Company

Jennifer has over 20 years of Human Resources, Leadership Development, Talent Management, and Organizational Development experience. She has worked for a variety of organizations and industries including The Walt Disney Company, Anchor Blue Retailer, Ruby's Diner, BJ's Restaurant, Option One Mortgage, Allergan, and Advantage Sales & Marketing. She currently resides at Young's Market Company as the Vice President of Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer.  In her current role, Jennifer has responsibility for Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, HR Operations, Diversity & Inclusion and HR Business Partners.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication, with an emphasis in interpersonal and organizational communications, from California State University, Fullerton. She also holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a Management Certificate in Human Resources from Chapman University.  She is an active member of the Orange County Chapter of the National Human Resource Association. Jennifer is passionate about leadership development and has coached numerous managers and leaders to higher productivity and organizational responsibility.

Melissa Devore is the Vice President of Wine Buying for Total Wine & More, the nation’s largest independent fine wine retailer.  Melissa joined the Total Wine & More team in 2006 after obtaining her MBA in Marketing and International Business at The George Washington University.  Prior to joining Total Wine & More, she worked for Verizon Communications and Accenture focused on strategic leadership, consulting, project management, process improvement, and client relationship management. During her MBA education, Melissa pursued her interest in the wine industry, studying with a winery in Chile and working with a wine importer in the U.S.  Melissa’s role at Total Wine & More includes overseeing both the domestic and import wine buying team.  These teams are responsible for delivering a world-class wine assortment to customers, driving sales of the wine portfolio, and managing key supplier relationships. Melissa also leads the company’s Women’s Leadership Initiative.  Melissa obtained her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University and is WSET Intermediate Level Certified. 

Barbara (Barb) Egenhofer is a Human Resources and Organizational Development leader with depth and breadth experience in bringing a strategic business and integrated talent management approach to her work.

She is currently Senior Vice President, Human Resources for the Wine and Spirits Division of Constellation Brands, a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Italy. Constellation is the number three beer company in the U.S. with high-end, iconic imported brands including Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negro Modelo and Pacifico.  Constellation is also the world’s leader in premium wine company with more than 7,600 employees, 100 brands in their portfolio, sales in over 100 countries, and operations in over 40 facilities.  Constellation’s brand portfolio includes Robert Mondavi, Clos Du Bois, Kim Crawford, Rex Goliath, Franciscan Estates, Mark West, Ruffino, Simi, Estancia, and Jackson-Triggs.  Te company’s premium spirits brands include, Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, Casa Noble Tequila and SVEDKA Vodka.

As head of human resources for the Wine and Spirits Division, Barb and her team are dedicated to building the best organization by strategically delivering programs designed to attract, develop, retain and engage the diverse talent at Constellation Brands.   The team is aligned directly with the Company’s strategic imperatives, ensuring a competitive advantage in the market and solidifying exceptional talent dedicated to elevating life with every glass raised.

Prior to joining Constellation Brands, Barb’s experience includes Human Resource leadership positions in manufacturing, consulting, and healthcare, and has opened and managed her own business.  Barb truly believes in giving back to the community, and is an active member of the Bivona Child Advocacy Council HR Committee, the Nazareth HR Advisory Committee, the RIT Business Ethics & Corporate Responsibility Board and the Board of Advisors for the Moxie Exchange.  She is also a member of the Society of Human Resource Management

Barb is married with two children; and in addition to spending time with her family, she enjoys waterskiing, snow skiing, tennis, running, biking, horseback riding, hiking, climbing and wine!

Bachelor of Science - Nazareth College of Rochester, NY

MBA - J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management - Northwestern University, Chicago, IL  

Rachael Ellas is Northwest Region Vice President at Ste Michelle Wine Estates where she has directed a management team for 28 years. During her tenure with Ste Michelle Wine Estates she has worked in Oregon as a State Manager and Division Manager. She was promoted to Vice President for the Region in 1988 relocating to headquarters in Woodinville. Prior to working at Ste Michelle, she held management positions in wine distribution. She worked in both off premise and on premise in this role before she was promoted to Manager of all off premise trade channels. Her career started after college graduation with Altria, the current parent company to Ste Michelle Wine Estates, where she worked for 6 years in sales capacities to include trade channel and chains. She and her family, husband David and son Jordan, reside in Washington State.

Originally from New York, following graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Danielle immediately pursued a career in the film industry, something she always wanted to do. Working for 6 years at Miramax Films doing international PR, and eventually running that department, she was fortunate to be able to explore another passion of hers....to travel and see the world.Often times, when traveling with talent, Danielle got a taste of the finest food & wine around the world.

With frequent trips to Los Angeles for work, she quickly fell in love with the city and decided to move there. Her California adventure began as a personal publicist representing some of the top talent in the entertainment industry however she decided to make a change to pursue her other passion of food & wine/spirits.

She went from a VP at Miramax to starting at the bottom of the ranks to begin a new career in the wine & spirits industry, working for Bacardi USA. She worked for Bacardi USA for close to 10 years before joining Moet Hennessy USA just over a year ago to expand her portfolio of not only selling spirits but wine and champagne, as well.

Reflecting on her life, she realized truly how lucky she was - not just having pursued one career she loves but two - and she wanted to empower other women to pursue their dreams, as well.

She volunteers at the Downtown Women's Shelter monthly and then started a group called W.I.N.E. (Women. Inspire. Nurture. Empower) to help try and empower women. When Women of the Vine came along, it was a dream to be a part of something that could help foster women in this industry she holds so dear and is passionate about.

Gina Gallo: From Family Apprentice to Artisanal Winemaker

The Gallo Signature Series is a collection of wines handcrafted by Gina Gallo, the acclaimed third-generation winemaker from one of America’s most historic winemaking families. In many ways, these wines are the culmination of Gina’s journey as a winemaker, from her days spent walking in the vineyards with her grandfather Julio, to her time in the cellar, honing her craft as an artisanal winemaker.

A Winemaker’s Journey

Gina’s journey as a winemaker began when she was just 10 years old, tending the gardens with her father and grandfather and picking fruits and vegetables that her mother and grandmother would turn into family meals.  One of eight brothers and sisters, Gina has fond memories of working alongside her family. She spent her high school summers working at the Gallo family’s winery, and she joined the Gallo sales team after earning her bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame de Namur University.

It’s no surprise that Gina found her true calling as a winemaker, following in her grandfather’s footsteps. She studied winemaking at the University of California at Davis and later became an apprentice winemaker at the Gallo family’s experimental micro-winery in Modesto, CA. Under the tutelage of Julio Gallo and Marcello Monticelli, a 30-year veteran of the Gallo team, Gina flourished as a winemaker. Three years later, she completed her first full harvest in Sonoma County, working side by side with her brother, Matt.  He grew the grapes and she made the wine, in a partnership that has thrived for more than two decades.

Nurturing a Personal Passion

Today, as the winemaker behind the Gallo Signature Series, Gina is intimately engaged with these special wines from the Gallo family’s premier estate vineyards in Napa, Sonoma and Monterey counties. She carves out the specific blocks on her family’s most sought-after vineyards to hand craft limited batches of wine. Gina’s personal passion is behind each bottle of Gallo Signature Series wine, which is why her signature is printed on every label.

“This endeavor has allowed me to follow a deep passion that was instilled in me by my grandfather Julio so many years ago: to craft wine with care, from start to finish,” explains Gina. “The Gallo Signature Series allows me to work with the best grapes from a handful of vineyard blocks on our incredible estate properties. I am able to stay close to the wines in the cellar, so that I can create something truly special. This is why I became a winemaker in the first place.”

Kelly Gamble joined Ste Michelle Wine Estates in 2012 as the Vice President, Human Resources.  Kelly has more than 15 years of experience in compensation, benefits and key HR disciplines and has held roles at various Fortune 500 companies, including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Marsh & McLennan.  Before assuming her executive role at Ste Michelle, Kelly's most recent role was Director of Client Compensation and Benefit Services at Altria Group Inc. She has a law degree from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Cleveland State University.

Sue Gannon is the Vice President of Human Resources for The Americas region and Global Marketing at Beam Suntory. Sue is a global Human Resources executive, with extensive experience in a variety of industries. Sue joined Beam in March 2012 to lead the global culture and talent agenda across Beam, and in her role as Vice President Talent, Culture and Organizational Development, she focused on a wide variety of Human Resources disciplines, including leadership development, requirement and assessment; employee engagement; performance management; talent acquisition and change management. In May 2014, Sue moved into the HR VP role, partnering with the Executives for North and South America Commercial and Global Marketing providing performance consultation to business leaders on strategic direction, critical priorities, long term direction setting, and organization implications. Sue also leads for the North America HR function, who are all focused on passionately pursuing the goal of attracting, developing and retaining the best and brightest talent to deliver strategic vision for Beam Suntory, now and in the future.

Prior to joining Beam, Sue spent eight years at the Campbell Soup Company, serving in a number of key strategic roles. Her last role was as Director, Global Talent Management, based out of Campbell’s headquarters in New Jersey, where Sue was responsible for implementing a global talent management technology solution for 6,000 employees, as well as a global change management framework. Prior to this role, Sue was based in Campbell’s Asia-Pacific region, serving as regional HR Director, Asia / Finance / IT, where she led the HR / change management initiatives for the Campbell Joint Venture in China. From 2008-2010, she served as HR Director, Strategy & Talent Management, developing Campbell Arnott’s talent acquisition strategy and repositioning the company as an employer of choice. Earlier in her career at Campbell, Sue served as an HR Business Partner in support of Sales and Marketing, as well as a Change Manager (2004 – 2006). Prior to Campbell, Sue led change management and learning teams at a number of businesses based in Australia and New Zealand.

Sue is a graduate of the University of New South Wales in Sydney and has received certificates in Learning and Development and Human Resources Management from Sydney TAFE College. Sue brings a unique combination of skills and experiences to her work including those in HR strategy, talent, people, training, organizational development and change management.

Sue was born in Sydney, Australia and has lived and worked across the globe, including in London, England; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; and a number of Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and China. Sue and her husband, Ciaran, relocated to the United States with their two children – Matilda, 6, and Charlie, 4 – in 2011. Sue’s greatest passions are her family and travel, which is fueled by a deep love of experiencing different cultures, environments, and places that challenge the senses and stretch the imagination.

Violet Grgich, Proprietor, Vice President, Operations,, Grgich Hills Estate

Violet’s passion for wine began at an early age, as she literally grew up accompanying her father, Vintners Hall of Fame inductee Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, in the vineyards and cellar. She spent her summers at the winery, doing everything from bottling line work to laboratory analysis and working in the tasting room.

Attending the University of California, Davis, Violet earned a BA in music while taking classes in biology, chemistry, and enology.  After graduation, she returned home to Grgich Hills to continue her education in the wine business, learning about daily operations of the winery from her father, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. She received her Master of Music in harpsichord at Indiana University, and then joined the winery fulltime in 1988. She’s now responsible for daily management of the winery, as well as sales and marketing. She says that she has the ideal job: “I believe that wine is part of a healthy, happy and long life. Wine brings people together and makes them happy, which makes my job extraordinarily fulfilling.”

Involved with every aspect of the wine business, Violet enjoys wearing many different hats, often at the same time.  She explains, “My dad insisted that in order to lead the winery I needed to work at every single position, starting at the bottom.” Violet continues to enjoy learning something new each day and following her grandfather’s and father’s philosophy of “Every day do something just a little better.”

Violet is pleased that the next generation of Grgich’s has joined the winery: Noel Grgich Shipman, her son born in 2005, accompanies her on sales trips, and enjoys every minute of it.

Cathy Huyghe writes for Forbes.com about the business and politics of the wine industry. She is the author of Hungry for Wine: Seeing the World through the Lens of a Wine Glass, which has received positive reviews from publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal to NPR to the Village Voice.

Cathy's writing has appeared in print and online for both general-interest and wine industry publications including the Harvard Business Review network, The Atlantic, Decanter, DailyBeast, The Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast, GlobalPost, Grist.org, and Daily Candy. She has also been featured on the BBC, WNYC, WGBH, and Nevada Public Radio.

Cathy is the founder of 365daysofwine.com and Red White Boston, a digital media company for the wine industry. Red White Boston produced daily content, monthly tasting events, and a location-based iPhone app of video wine recommendations from their network of 30 local partner stores. While in Boston, she also managed the wine cellar at WGBH public broadcasting station and managed wine events for donors and the public.

Cathy’s restaurant experience started when she knocked on the kitchen door at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. She also has worked for Jean-Pierre Vigato in Paris (at Natachef bistro and at his two-star restaurant, Apicius) and for Thomas Keller at Bouchon in Las Vegas. She studied at La Varenne École de Cuisine in Burgundy, France; she completed the Wine Studies program at Boston University; and she received Advanced Certification from WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust). 

Cathy received a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard in 2004 and a second master’s degree in Journalism in 2010, also from Harvard. She is also a trained mediator, and worked for two years at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School on a project in the Middle East.

Find her online at cathyhuyghe.com.

Alison Jerden is Senior Director of Human Resources for Domestic Sales and Affiliated Distributors at E. & J. Gallo Winery.  She and her team are responsible for providing strategic HR support throughout the sales organization, including talent development, total rewards, employee relations, organization design and performance management.

Alison joined Gallo in March of 2014. Prior to assuming this role, she spent nearly a decade at The Coca-Cola Company in various capacities of increasing responsibility. Most recently, she was Director of Global Talent Management, where she was globally responsible for succession planning, key talent pipeline planning and development, assessment, coaching, competency development, high potential programs and assessment. In this role, Alison also supported Coca-Cola’s General Management function, leading assessment, development and pipeline planning for Coke’s franchise leaders in over 200 markets.

Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Alison was a Consultant for Towers Perrin, focusing on talent management, change management/organizational development, and employee research. There, she worked with such clients as: Cox Enterprises, The Home Depot, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Whole Foods Market and Pfizer.

Alison earned a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association. She regularly presents at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s annual conference. 

Alison and her husband, Eddie, live in Pleasanton, California with their two young children. Besides being passionate about employees’ growth and development, in her free time she enjoys travelling, hiking and reading.

Rebecca Jensen Running brings over 20 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry to her role as VP National Accounts for Infinium Spirits. She has sales over site of national accounts on premise in the US. Prior to her move to Infinium Rebecca was the Vice President of National Accounts for Young’s Market over seeing National and Regional Accounts in Southern California.

Rebecca joined the Young’s Market Company after spending 5 years as the Director of Casinos for Moet Hennessy managing corporate Gaming and Indian Gaming. Rebecca spend 6 years with Constellation Brands as the National Account Manager West.

Rebecca served as the Chairman for Young’s Market Woman’s Group. 120 members and growing.

As the Senior Vice President for Veuve Clicquot, Krug and Ruinart U.S., Vanessa Kay directs and manages all business, brand marketing and events in the United States for the 3 champagne brands . Prior to stepping into this role in the fall of 2010, Vanessa was the Business Development Director for the Maison Veuve Clicquot based in France and was responsible for the United States and Asia Pacific regions. In her current position, Vanessa oversees each aspect of the brand including marketing, sales, distribution, events, public relations and digital efforts.

After earning a B.A. degree in French Literature magna cum laude from Cornell University, Vanessa moved to France where she completed an MBA at INSEAD in Fontainebleau and subsequently lived in Paris for 20 years. Prior to joining Moet Hennessy, Vanessa worked for Citibank in Marketing and Strategic Development for 5 years in both NY and Paris and subsequently in management consulting in Paris for over ten years across multiple sectors including banking, pharma, biotech and heavy industry.

Kristina Kelley is the Director of Public Relations for E. & J. Gallo Winery and oversees public relations strategy and media relations in the U.S. for the Gallo portfolio, comprising more than 80 unique brands sold in over 90 countries. Kristina joined Gallo in the mid-1990s, where she played an integral role in the creation of Gallo’s Fine Wine portfolio, developing a variety of domestic and import super-premium and luxury brands.

After attending Virginia Commonwealth University, Kristina looked to her passion for food and wine as she started her career, beginning in food and beverage management before transitioning to the wine industry. During her career, Kristina has held roles in a variety of functions, giving her a broad perspective on the wine industry that informs her strategic approach to a diverse portfolio. Roles have included wine distribution, sales, brand management and marketing, as well as public relations. Kristina is a Certified Specialist of Wine, a member of the Society of Wine Educators and an active member in the Public Relations Society of America.

Kristina’s culinary education began in childhood, when she and her family traveled extensively oversees. This early exposure to various flavors and cultures was the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of food and wine, and to the surrounding cultural elements that make them so engaging.

Today, Kristina splits time between Northern California and her family vineyard in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband, dog, horses and goats.

Karen was a dedicated member of the Union Square Cafe team from its inception.  Karen became Wine Director, responsible for developing and maintaining Union Square Cafe’s award-winning list.

The James Beard Foundation honored Union Square Cafe as the Perrier Outstanding Restaurant in 1997. An important ingredient of the restaurant’s success was its wine program and Karen’s advocacy of wine education for the staff.  In 1998, Union Square Cafe was one of five restaurants in the United States nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Best Wine Service.  In 1999, Union Square Cafe won the Hudson Valley Foie Gras Outstanding Wine Service Award from the James Beard Foundation.  In 2001, 2002 & 2003 Wine Spectator awarded Union Square Cafe’s wine list its “Best Award of Excellence”.   

Karen has taught wine classes at NYU, the French Culinary Institute, and the American Sommelier Association among others.  She has participated in tasting panels for The New York Times, Business Traveler, Wine and Spirits, The Dallas Morning News as well as the Aspen Food and Wine Classic.  She is an Advanced Sommelier certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers.  She was one of the featured sommeliers at the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival.

Karen became the beverage director at Gramercy Tavern; after a year or so she transferred over to be the Beverage Director for the opening of The Modern at MoMA.  After 20 years working with Danny Meyer and what became the Union Square Hospitality Group, Karen decided to try working with wine from the distribution side.   Today she is the Director of On Premise Development for Winebow in Manhattan.

Susan Kostrzewa is executive editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. She oversees the editorial direction of the print magazine, as well as all digital initiatives for the media company, and is a formal taster on the magazine wine tasting panel. 

Kostrzewa is the author of numerous food, wine and travel books such as Opus Vino, a comprehensive volume of worldwide wines and wine regions, Greatest Escapes, a series of books on literary travel, and Pairings, a guide on matching the eclectic wines and foods of the world. Before relocating from Sonoma to Manhattan in 2005, Kostrzewa was senior editor of Wine Country Living, as well as a contributing writer and/or editor for Savor Wine Country, Marin Magazine, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and several travel magazines.

Some of Kostrzewa’s more recent interview subjects include: Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, Tyler Florence, Francis Ford Coppola, Samantha Mathis, Joe Montana, Eric Trump, and Andy Rourke.

Unique to most, Tammy LaNasa has held leadership roles in all three facets of the wine industry supply chain. She began her career in New Orleans with Republic National Distributing Company. While there, she received "Salesperson of the Year" 8 times during her 15 year tenure. During her time with Republic, she served as a Key Account Manager, Hotel & Catering Specialist, and a National Account Manager.

In 2008, she left Republic for the rare opportunity to serve as a National Beverage Director for the prestigious Del Frisco's Restaurant Group which would become one of the highlights of her career. During this time, she was responsible for managing 100 MM in beverage and maintaining relationships with 86 beverage suppliers. Tammy will tell you that this experience was "like a second college education" in terms of growth within her field. She held this position for four years.

Longing to be back on the sales side where she started, Tammy joined Fetzer Vineyards in 2012 as their On-Premise National Accounts Director . In addition to Fetzer, she represents Bonterra, Jekel, Sanctuary, Vina Maipo, and Palo Alto wine brands. Tammy is responsible for maintaining and growing all National Account sales within the US.

A Texas native, Tammy attended the University of Texas at Austin for Journalism. She currently resides in the Hill Country just north of San Antonio.

Sandra LeDrew – Wine & Spirits Industry Executive

Sandra LeDrew literally grew up in the wine business and has been suspected of actually having Pinot Noir pulsing through her veins.   A seasoned veteran in the wine industry, she has over 20 years of experience and a verifiable reputation for driving outstanding results and a world-class culture of teamwork and collaboration.  

Sandra joined Treasury Wine Estates in March 2013 as managing Director for the Americas region, was quickly promoted to Chief Commercial Officer.  She was then appointed President of the Americas region overseeing more than 1,200 employees in the US & Canada, ten wineries and 47 vineyards covering 11,600 acres in California.  Prior to leaving Treasury, Sandra spearheaded the acquisition of Diageo Chateau & Estates wine business and increased Treasury’s production to just over 19 million cases.

Before joining Treasury, Sandra held multiple senior posts for Diageo. After several years in management positions she was named President of Diageo Chateau & Estates premium wine group in early 2009.  In September 2011, she was selected as President of Diageo’s newly launched Catalyst business unit. The group was tasked with a brand portfolio that included single malts, Tanqueray gin, Sterling vodka, Pimms, Moon Mountain vodka, Myers’s Rum, Rumple Minz and Goldschlager. The focus was on national activation in both on- and off-premise accounts, development of merchandising, promotions pricing and local marketing tactics. 

Kari Leitch is Vice President of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, which is the third largest premium wine company in the U.S. Ste. Michelle owns and markets wines produced in Washington, Oregon and California, and the company also is the exclusive North American importer of wineries from Italy, Spain, France, New Zealand and Chile.

Ms. Leitch began her career at Ste. Michelle in 1996. In her present role, Ms. Leitch manages corporate communications, government affairs and branded public relations programs for all wineries in the Ste. Michelle portfolio.

Ms. Leitch serves on the board for the Washington Wine Institute and is a member of the California Wine Institute’s State Relations Subcommittee and Les Dames d’Escoffier.

A native of Illinois, Ms. Kari earned her BA in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

As the daughter of wine industry pioneer Jerry Lohr, Cynthia Lohr spent some of her youth in the vineyards and at the wineries, absorbing aspects of the wine industry firsthand. As an adult, she chose her own path, establishing a reputation for excellence in strategic marketing and public relations, working with a who’s who of leading Internet and technology companies. In 2002, Cynthia joined the family business as director of communications for J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, and in 2009 she was named marketing vice president.

In this capacity, Cynthia works with a dedicated marketing team, overseeing J. Lohr’s advertising, public relations, editorial, promotional, Internet marketing, branding and communications initiatives, and is involved in direct-to-consumer strategy and partner sponsor relationships. Cynthia’s unique background has enabled her to enhance J. Lohr’s visibility while expanding overall brand recognition in both traditional and new media and throughout the marketplace. As one of three Lohr children to work actively in the business, Cynthia’s perspective on sustainability starts in the vineyards and includes growing J. Lohr to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Prior to joining J. Lohr, Cynthia was a vice president at AlexanderOgilvy Public Relations Worldwide, where her division served an array of clients including Covad Communications, TurboLinux, HomePNA, iPIX, Preview Systems, and Vicinium Systems. Cynthia also was director of communications for Alexa Internet, acquired by Amazon.com in 1999. In addition, while at technology public relations firm Niehaus Ryan Group, Cynthia led Yahoo!’s pre-IPO strategic messaging efforts, helping to build the company’s consumer brand throughout the mid-90s. She also directed strategic communications initiatives and executed numerous product launches for VeriSign, InsWeb and Organic Online. Before joining Niehaus Ryan Group, Cynthia was the director of business development at PRx, a strategic marketing communications firm serving Silicon Valley technology clients.

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in French with a minor in psychology from UC Davis. Her diverse background also reflects her passion for family and community, leadership, the arts and education. She lives in San Francisco with her family and serves on the board of directors for Slide Ranch, is a founding member and board director of the Paso Robles CAB (Cabernet and Bordeaux) Collective (the PRCC), serves on the Unified Symposium Program Committee, and is an advisory board member for Women of the Vine. Cynthia is also an experienced ethnic vocalist, who has performed in 20 languages and released CDs with local groups Kitka,Wazobia, Savina, Jou Jou, and Flying Without Instruments. Her vocal credits with Kitka include the film Jacob’s Ladder.

VICTORIA MACRAE-SAMUELS, MAKER’S MARK® BOURBON VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS

With more than 25 years of experience in the spirits industry, Victoria MacRae-Samuels holds the unique distinction of being the first woman to hold the title of vice president of operations of a bourbon distillery.

Responsible for overseeing every aspect of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, from supervising the entire bourbon production process to the upkeep of the National Historic Landmark, her expertise and the staff of 90 employees she supervises keeps things running smoothly according to the guidelines set forth by Maker’s Founder Bill Samuels, Sr., Chairman Emeritus Bill Samuels, Jr., and Chief Operating Officer Rob Samuels.

Victoria was introduced to the world of bourbon in 1989 when by chance she met legendary bourbon distiller Booker Noe, and he offered her a position as a research and development chemist with Jim Beam. She eagerly accepted and learned the science of making bourbon, preparing her for the role she would assume at Maker’s Mark some 20 years later. Coincidently, Booker Noe’s grandfather was Jim Beam, who was also Bill Samuels, Jr.’s godfather. 

While in the R&D department at Beam, she developed analytical testing that is now commonly used in the spirits industry. In 1992 she left the lab to take the position of relief supervisor for Beam’s Clermont and Boston distilleries; later transitioning away from Clermont to focus solely on the Boston distillery.

MacRae-Samuels went back to the Clermont distillery in 1997 to take the role of product processing manager, where she managed the creation and processing of all products in Beam’s portfolio – more than 30 spirits at the time. She then went on to become quality control manager for both Clermont and Boston Beam distilleries from 2005 to 2007.

In 2008, MacRae-Samuels came to Maker’s as director of operations and had an integral role in the first bottling of Maker’s 46, the distillery’s first ever new bourbon. Appointed vice president of operations in 2010, she is responsible for the production of Maker’s Mark and Maker’s 46, from the selection of the grains, fermentation and distillation to barrel warehousing, bottling and shipping, quality control and taste testing.  

Ms. MacRae-Samuels holds a B.S. in Chemistry & Biology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA and a M.B.A. from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. She also completed several years of graduate studies and taught chemistry at the University of Washington in her hometown of Seattle, WA. In July 2013, MacRae-Samuels was diagnosed with breast cancer and has since been active in raising breast cancer awareness through various speaking engagements, and in her ongoing work with organizations working towards prevention and cure. When not making bourbon, she enjoys early morning runs and spending time with her family.

Meridith May, the co-founder of THE TASTING PANEL Magazine, is responsible for the publication’s branding and content and has successfully increased the magazine’s circulation and readership in the past seven years to reach over 90,000 hospitality industry professionals every month. It has become the fastest growing, most widely distributed publication for the beverage industry. Meridith co-owns THE TASTING PANEL with Anthony Dias Blue.

Meridith purchased The Sommelier Journal in December 2013 and has re-launched it in June 2014 as The SOMM Journal, increasing the circulation from 20,000 to 60,000 with a growing base of certified sommeliers, educators, chefs and other high profile hospitality professionals.

Her background in radio (KIIS-FM, KLSX and KABC in Los Angeles) and newspaper (Santa Barbara News Press restaurant columnist) – combined with her knowledge of food, wine and spirits, gives her an edge in understanding the changing trends of the industry.

CRISTINA MARIANI-MAY

"We are selling not just wine, but a way of life. It’s about something slower, calmer, more in touch with family.”        -- Cristina Mariani-May

Cristina Mariani-May is the family proprietor of the internationally renowned Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, Tuscany, and co-CEO of Banfi Vintners, a leading U.S. importer of fine wines. The youngest daughter of Banfi Chairman Emeritus, John F. Mariani, Jr., Ms. Mariani-May, together with her cousin James Mariani, represents the third generation of family leadership in the company founded by their grandfather, John Mariani, Sr. in 1919. 

Soon after completing her studies at  Georgetown University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, Mariani-May joined Banfi in 1993.

Among the first of many forward-thinking initiatives introduced by Mariani-May was the creation of progressive new tracking and monitoring systems at Castello Banfi, designed to elevate performance and establish new goals in the fields of customer satisfaction, environmental responsibility and social responsibility. In 2006 those procedures paid off when Castello Banfi became the only winery in the world to achieve ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and SA 8000 certification acknowledging leadership in these areas. This accomplishment underlines the strategic long-term vision, coupled with an ability to execute, that characterize her management of Castello Banfi.

A “pursuit of excellence” serves as a personal mantra for Mariani-May. It extends to every aspect of her work, in particular her family’s wines and nowhere more so than with the Brunellos for which Castello Banfi is renowned. Alone among producers of Brunello di Montalcino wines, Castello Banfi has conducted ground-breaking research aimed at defining and isolating the finest clones of the Sangiovese Grosso grape. Initiated in the early 1980s, the project moved into high gear after Mariani-May joined the company. From an original catalog of over 600 types, 15  have since been determined to possess the greater part of the grape’s inherent characteristics. Today Banfi has definitive results for six clones and research continues on the remaining nine. And like any good neighbor, Banfi has shared those results, as well as registering them in 1996 with the European Community. Of Italy’s 45 nationally approved clones for Sangiovese, six are from Castello Banfi.

Enterprise and readiness to experiment also factor into Mariani-May’s leadership, as illustrated by the recent innovation of new hybrid fermentation tanks at Castello Banfi. Most winemakers are faced with a choice: ferment in wood for added richness and roundness, or use stainless steel for maximum freshness. Unwilling to sit back and accept the status quo, Mariani-May has been the guiding hand behind the development of new hybrid fermenters, comprising a unique combination of a steel base and head and a wood middle section. Seven years of trial and experiment preceded the launch of the new, patented 4,600 gallon tanks (1/3 steel, 2/3 wood), which combine the best of both materials, balancing the flavor and aeration supplied by oak with the temperature control, ease of use and hygiene offered by stainless steel. Inaugurated in September 2007, 24 composite fermenters at Castello Banfi are currently used in the production of the estate’s Brunellos, Tuscan cuvées and single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

Marketing and promotion have always been strengths of the approachable and personable Mariani-May. In the course of her work Mariani-May travels extensively, visiting many of the 85 countries where Castello Banfi wines are sold. An engaging, charismatic speaker, she is a natural international ambassador for her family’s brand.

Mariani-May’s goals also include transforming Montalcino into a destination for wine lovers and turning Castello Banfi into an international name in wine tourism. A project close to her heart is the supervision and development of Castello Banfi – Il Borgo, a 14-room luxury hotel nestled alongside the estate’s medieval castle walls. The hotel, which opened its doors to the public in 2007, represents the jewel in the crown of the Castello Banfi estate and a beacon of Tuscany hospitality.

Mariani-May’s immediate family includes her husband, Marshall May, and their three young children.

A hands-on mother, she divides her time between Montalcino and Long Island, NY, home to Banfi Vintners. An avid runner and swimmer, she freely admits that much of her best thinking comes during her early morning workouts. The virtues of self-discipline, determination and endurance demanded of a long-distance runner might equally well apply to a sustained and successful leadership role in business.

Roberta Morrell is the highly visible and energetic Senior Consultant at Morrell, the venerable wine business started by her parent’s in 1947. Today, the Morrell Wine Group is comprised of the retail store, Morrell & Company, located at 1 Rockefeller Plaza in the heart of New York City; The Morrell Wine Bar & Café, adjacent to the wine store at 1 Rockefeller Plaza and Vintage Warehouse, a 60,000 sq ft temperature and humidity controlled warehouse, over half of which is dedicated to the storage of fine wines belonging to individuals and top restaurants. 

Roberta, who grew up in the business, is a member of numerous wine and food fraternities and considers herself “a foodie”, eats out at least three times each week, is a serious amateur chef, and includes among her friends several of the city’s most prominent chefs and restaurateurs. She was for many years a practicing interior designer and is responsible for the decor of the Morrell enterprises. Before re-entering the business she grew up in, she lived with her family for seven years in southern Spain.

Roberta is a supporter of the arts and of local charities and has steered Morrell into wine partnerships for charitable events with such luminaries as Carnegie Hall, St Luke’s Orchestra of New York, the Lincoln Center Film Society, Citymeals-on-Wheels, the Robin Hood Foundation and the Peter Michael Foundation for Cancer Research.

Roberta is often referred to as “The First Lady of Wine” and wine guru Robert Parker  has called her “the Philippine Rothschild of America.”

She is currently working on a memoir that spans her 50 years as a woman in wine.

Donna Morris is the owner of Winderlea Vineyard & Winery in Dundee, Oregon.  Donna established Winderlea in 2006 with her husband, Bill Sweat, with whom she shares management and day to day operational responsibilities.  Donna’s primary business focus is sales and marketing for their boutique winery specializing in the limited production of Pinot noir and Chardonnay from their estate and farmed vineyards. In addition to her responsibilities at Winderlea, Donna is a current board member and past President of Oregon Pinot Camp and the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association.  She is also the past Chair of the iSalud! Pinot noir Auction which provides the funds for healthcare services to Oregon’s vineyard workers and their families.

Prior to starting Winderlea, Donna was an Executive Vice President at Fidelity Investments in Boston, responsible for Product Management and Marketing for the company’s Institutional Brokerage division.  During her 24 year career, Donna held positions of branch manager in St. Louis and Washington, D.C. and later became responsible for all branches in the Eastern Region.  In 1997 she was named Executive Vice President of Fidelity Brokerage Services, Japan LLC.  The first woman to be admitted to the Japan Securities Dealer Association – her role encompassed the development and management of Fidelity’s direct retail business as well as marketing, product development, and communications for the whole of Fidelity’s operation in Japan.

Jaclyn Nelson is currently the National Wine and Spirits Buyer for Target Corporation bringing more than 9 years of Retail experience to her role.  Within that time, she has worked in several Grocery Departments including Dairy, Produce and Liquor. In addition, she has spent 2 years managing Target’s Supply Chain support team.

Jaclyn receivd her undergraduate degree in Mathematics with a minor in Psychology from the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minnesota.  Currently, she volunteers as a member of the Alumnae Board for her alma mater with a goal to develop strong women leaders and brighten the future of the students who come behind her.

Beyond work and volunteering, Jaclyn is a mother of 2 energetic children. She spends most of her free time with her husband, family and friends - primarily doing an activity outdoors. A proud Minnesotan, she enjoys camping, boating, playing card games or cribbage and sitting next to a bonfire any chance she gets.  Of course, all of these activities are made better with a good glass of wine! 

Maeve Pesquera, A Bold Blend of Innovation, Spirit and Passion

As Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar’s National Director of Wine, Maeve Pesquera oversees Fleming’s award-winning wine program, highlighted by the Fleming’s 100®, a collection of 100 wines by the glass, all also available by the taste, flight or bottle.

Nationally acclaimed as the steakhouse destination for lovers of fine wine, Fleming’s wine list is recognized annually by Wine Spectator magazine’s Award of Excellence. In 2013, Maeve was instrumental in the development and launch of the Fleming’s WiNEPAD™, a proprietary, award-winning web application, designed to elevate Guests’ experience with the Fleming’s 100®. Built to help demystify wine, the Fleming’s WiNEPAD™ is an easy-to-use, intuitive and interactive software. It provides label-specific tasting notes, the story behind the wine, and innovative ways to learn about wine all while making ordering fun and approachable.

In her role, Maeve collaborates with colleagues in operations, marketing, culinary and training leadership, as well as restaurant Partners and Wine Managers throughout the country to develop the wine and spirits program and to create meaningful training and education for the Fleming’s management team and Associates.

Maeve’s passion for wine has taken her to seek out an iconic winery and winemaker each year to create the Forty-Six Diamonds, a custom blend that is exclusive to Fleming’s. This small production, highly sought after wine is released annually in the fall at all Fleming’s locations and sells out almost immediately. Maeve works side-by-side with the winemaker and keeps the Guests in mind while creating a wine that is harmonious, balanced and pairs perfectly with the Fleming’s cuisine.

Throughout the curation of the Fleming’s 100 and the cocktail program, Maeve seeks out new, up and coming, small, boutique and family-owned wineries and distilleries and also develops hand-crafted, seasonal cocktail offerings. Maeve strives to make wine and spirits approachable for everyone and allow each Guest to have a unique experience and discover new wine, or their new favorite cocktail.

Maeve joined Fleming’s as the Opening Operating Partner for the first Fleming’s in Houston, which opened in 2002. She was recognized as Fleming’s Partner of the Year three times and is known for her tireless efforts on behalf of her community and various charitable endeavors.

Pesquera attended the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, where she remains a guest lecturer and mentor to students and graduates seeking careers in the hospitality industry.

Prior to joining Fleming’s, Maeve served as General Manager of Anthony’s Restaurant for nine years, working with the legendary Houston restaurateur, Tony Vallone.

Pesquera and her husband Luis, a talented restaurant executive in his own right, and their five children live in Laguna Beach.

Rachel Seder joined Southern Wine & Spirits on 2001.  Over the past 14 years, she has held several Human Resources position, and is now in the role of Senior Director, Talent Acquisition/Diversity & Inclusion.  Among many of her responsibilities, she has contributed to the growth of the company through the implementation of talent acquisition strategies at the corporate and divisional leads and the overall training and mentoring of human resource personnel across the enterprise.  Rachel has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Delaware and received a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certificate from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).  Rachel is the proud mom of her daughter Jordan, 13 and son Evan, 10.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children and manages to fit in a hot yoga class every now and then.

Rita Seguin, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Diageo North America

With two decades of experience in the drinks industry, Rita Seguin is a Senior Vice President, Human Resources, at Diageo North America. In this leadership position, she guides the organizational design and people strategy for the commercial business.  Before being appointed to her current role in 2012, Rita served as Vice President of Human Resources for Canada since joining the organization in 2006.   

Prior to joining Diageo Ms. Seguin was Vice President of Human Resources for Pernod Ricard North America, responsible for five manufacturing sites.  Following the Pernod Ricard acquisition of Allied Domecq, Ms. Seguin was instrumental in leading the successful integration of the two organizations. Prior to the integration, Ms. Seguin was Vice President of the HR Delivery Centre for Allied Domecq North America, where she led the consolidation of back office HR services for five business units in North America. 

Ms. Seguin is a graduate of the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada.

Founder, Sokol Blosser Winery, Dundee, Oregon

Susan Sokol Blosser, wine industry pioneer, community leader, environmental advocate, and author, is a contemporary Oregon icon. When women were rarely decision makers in business or agriculture, Susan distinguished herself in both. Over three decades, she managed every aspect of Sokol Blosser’s vineyard and winery operation. As president, she saw Sokol Blosser grow to become one of the largest and most innovative Oregon wineries, with national and international distribution.

Susan was a forerunner in instituting environmentally friendly business practices at the Sokol Blosser Winery and practicing the triple bottom line concept of people, planet, profit. With its certified organic vineyard, the first LEED certified winery building in the US, and business practices based on the Natural Step model of sustainability, the winery made social responsibility and its environmental ethic priorities, while still pursuing its vision of producing fabulous wine. Sokol Blosser Winery has been honored by Oregon Business Magazine as one of Oregon’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and by the Portland Business Journal as one of the “Most Admired Companies in Oregon.”

After turning over the winery in 2008 to her two of her children, Alex and Alison, who serve as Co-Presidents, Susan stepped back, retaining the title of Founder. She started the Yamhill Enrichment Society (YES) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to build community through innovative and collaborative projects which promote childhood literacy, further music enrichment, encourage women leaders, nurture community history, and work towards a robust local food economy.

Susan holds a B.A. from Stanford University, an M.A.T. from Reed College, and an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Portland, citing her entrepreneurship within the context of environmental and social responsibility. She holds Lifetime Achievement awards from wine industry organizations and was the first non-California woman inducted into the Women for WineSense Hall of Fame.

She and her husband, Russ Rosner, Sokol Blosser’s Winemaker Emeritus, live at the vineyard with three cats, eight chickens and a Tibetan Terrier puppy.

An award-winning author, speaker, consultant, and television host, Leslie Sbrocco is known for her entertaining approach to wine and food, as well as inspiring others to live a life of passion.  Voted as one of the Top 100 most influential people in the American wine business, Sbrocco’s engaging personality, humor, and ability to connect with the audience – whether on screen or on stage – are her trademarks.

Sbrocco’s first book, Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing and Sharing Wine (William Morrow), has been excerpted by two national magazines, Redbook and Family Circle, and won the coveted Georges Duboeuf Best Wine Book of the Year award. Her second book, The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide (William Morrow), was released to wide acclaim, and she is currently at work on two new books entitled 100 Days…100 Drinks, Dishes & Destinations and Drinking for a Living: How One Woman Created Her Dream Job and So Can YOU.

As host of the PBS restaurant review series Check Please! Sbrocco has won a coveted James Beard award, three Taste Awards, and three Emmy awards in the span of 10 seasons on air. Sbrocco was a featured judge on the PBS national series, The Winemakers, and created wine content for the hit TBS show, Cougartown. She appears frequently on national television outlets including CNN, The Hallmark Channel’s Better TV, QVC, and is a regular guest on NBC’s Today Show.

Her work has been published in outlets such as People Style Watch magazine, Epicurious.com, O the Oprah magazine, Coastal Living, Woman’s Day, Health, Good Housekeeping and Glamour among others. Prior to completing Wine for Women, Leslie was a columnist for The New York Times online and General Manager of WineToday.com, a site of The New York Times Company. She is also the founder of the multi-media company, Thirsty Girl LLC.  Through her social media, print, online outlets and television appearances, Leslie reaches millions of consumers.

Sbrocco is one of the country’s most sought-after wine speakers and an emerging talent speaking to groups on how to turn their passions into their careers. She has showcased her energetic style at hundreds of events including O magazine's Hi Gorgeous tour with Oprah Winfrey, and the Women of the Vine, and Women in Insurance Leadership Symposiums. Her portfolio of corporate clients lists Liberty Mutual Insurance, The Wall Street Journal, Mercer, Cisco Systems, RedPrairie, and AON to name a few. Within the culinary industry, Sbrocco has appeared on stage with a roster of celebrity chefs including Marcus Samuelsson, Carla Hall, and Jacques Pépin. She has been keynote speaker at high-profile events including Food and Wine Magazine’s Aspen Classic, the Boston Wine Expo, Pinot Noir New Zealand, Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, the Boardwalk Wine Promenade, Tulalip Resort’s Taste of Tulalip, and SF Chefs.

Leslie has built programs for and consulted with companies such as Target, Harry & David, and Kimpton Hotels. Her educational and event clients include The Atlantic City Alliance, Wines from Spain, Trentino Wines, G7 Wines of Portugal, Crystal Cruises, and Holland America Cruise Lines. Sbrocco is member of the philanthropic society Les Dames d’Escoffier and a respected judge at global wine competitions including the Concours Mondial, The Argentina Wine Awards, Sunset Magazine’s International Wine Competition, Critics Challenge, and the San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition.

 www.LeslieSbrocco.com

Guy is one of only 215 Master Sommelier (MS) in the world. He is also a Certified Wine Educator (CWE), Certified Spirits Specialist (CSS) and previous President of the Society of Wine Educators. Guy has also served on the Board of Directors of the Court of Master Sommelier, and has been recognized as a Houston Icon for his contribution to the Wine and Food Industry of Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Hilton School.

He is the Corporate Account Specialist and Director of Beverage Education for The Glazer’s Family of Companies, covering 14 states.

Guy has been the guest featured “wine expert” on the PBS cooking series Cucina Amore with Damian Mandola and Johnny Carrabba, founders of Carrabba’s Restaurants. He has also appeared on a number of radio and television talk shows covering wine and food. He was a featured speaker at the Smithsonian Institute Folk Life Festival in Washington D.C. lecturing on the Texas wine industry.

Guy is a member of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association and owner of Stout Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country AVA, producing Syrah and Tempranillo grapes.

He is an active wine judge for a variety of national competitions; including the TexSomm International Wine Awards, California State Fair, Jefferson Cup, Missouri Grape Growers, Indiana State Wine Competition, and the Houston Rodeo Wine Competition.

Guy is also a member of the Houston Food and Beverage Managers Association and founder of the Houston Caesar Salad Competition for Charity.

He is an active spokesman for the adult beverage industry

Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Thach, MW is a Professor of Management and Wine Business at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California. Her areas of expertise include Wine Business Strategy, Human Resource Management, and Leadership Development. She started teaching as a full-time professor at SSU in the Fall of 2000. In addition to teaching, she currently conducts research and does consulting with multiple wineries and other local businesses.

In May of 2011 she was awarded the title of Master of Wine from the Institute of Masters of Wine in London, making her the first female MW on the West Coast and the 7th woman in the US to achieve this honor.

Liz holds a doctorate in Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University (1994); an M.A. in Organizational Communication and Management from Texas Tech University (1987), and a B.A. in English from College of Notre Dame in Belmont, CA (1983). An award winning writer, she has published more than 100 articles; 6 wine books and 8 book chapters. She is an active member in community organizations, and has held positions with the Board of Directors for Women for Wine Sense, Petaluma Gap WineGrowers Alliance, PASCO and many others. She is on the Editorial boards for International Journal of Wine Business Research and Wine Economics & Policy. In addition, Liz serves as a professional wine judge at many prestigious wine judging competitions.

In terms of honors, Liz was awarded a Fulbright Specialist Scholarship to teach wine business in Argentina, is the recipient of the Korbel Professorship for research, received the Andre Crispin Commanderie de Bordeaux Scholarship to travel to France, and was the winner of the Reh Kendermann Bursary that involved a trip to German wine regions. She has also received two teaching awards, and several writing honors including Best Wine Marketing Book in the World from Gourmand World. The National Women for Winesense organization recognized her with a Rising Star Award for at least 12 years of excellent service and contribution in the wine industry, and she received Resolution No. 422 from the California Legislature for being the first woman in California to become a Master of Wine.

Clarice Turner, Senior Vice President, Americas Business, Starbucks

As senior vice president of food, Clarice Turner leads the Americas Food business and the Starbucks Evenings program which she helped pioneer. In recent years, she led a key part of the U.S. Starbucks store portfolio as senior vice president, general manager of the U.S. License Business and as senior vice president in the U.S. company business. She pioneered the “Starbucks Evenings” (wine, beer & small plates) concepts.

Prior to Starbucks, Clarice was president, chief operations officer and board director of Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza, the fifth largest pizza chain in the country. Clarice joined Papa Murphy’s in 2007, following a highly-respected 16-year career with PepsiCo and Yum! Brands, where she progressed rapidly through a variety of executive management positions, including domestic and international general management in corporate, licensed, and franchise ownership models. She was instrumental at incubating new businesses, driving rapid growth, and leading downsizing efforts. Her previous experience, while earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees, included international sales and marketing and a stint as a financial controller.

Clarice continues a tenure of service on multiple boards, private, advisory and nonprofit. She currently serves on the Culinary Institute of America Board of Fellows, as an executive board director for the National Restaurant Association, vice chair of the Food & Healthy Living committee and past chair of the Sustainability committee, and the Advisory Board for the Washington State University School of Business. Clarice earned a Master of Business Administration concentrating in international business, a bachelor’s in geology from San Francisco State University, and attended Fudan University in Shanghai, China where she studied Mandarin Chinese and published several papers on her research and work.

Margo Van Staaveren has celebrated more than 30 harvests at Chateau St. Jean. During her tenure with the winery, Margo has played a pivotal role in every facet of the winemaking process. As winemaker, she makes the final decisions involving blend and style to produce consistently high quality wines in the super premium and luxury category.

That’s no small task considering Chateau St. Jean produces an extensive portfolio of Sonoma County wines as well as vineyard designated wines, limited-production Reserve wines, and the flagship Cinq Cépages Cabernet Sauvignon. Margo has been instrumental in the production of the Cinq Cépages since the premier 1990 vintage release.

Margo is a firm believer that great wines are grown—a conviction she shares with the Chateau founders who led the way for Chateau St. Jean to become a pioneer of vineyard-designated wines in the early 1970s. To achieve Chateau St. Jean vineyard designation the grapes must consistently exhibit exceptional varietal character each year.

The art of blending is the cornerstone of Margo’s winemaking philosophy. To her, one of the greatest accomplishments is to create a wine style or signature blend that carries from vintage to vintage while still capturing the uniqueness of that particular growing year. The Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County wines are appellation blends of a particular varietal. These wines give Margo the opportunity to blend together the distinct characteristics from each sub-appellation in an effort to make the best wine possible from that vintage. “I find that blended wines from the diverse Sonoma County region are even more explosive in their intensely forward fruit flavors,” Margo explains.

One of the things she enjoys most about her job is putting together the final blend for the Reserve wines. “Since no two vintages are alike, it gives us the opportunity to carefully search for the vineyard lots that offer the biggest fruit expression and the ability to age in order to create a wine that truly captures the best of the vintage,” says Margo. The Reserve wines represent the most concentrated, distinctive and balanced wines made at Chateau St. Jean.

Margo Van Staaveren graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Fermentation Science. Shortly after graduation, she joined Chateau St. Jean as a Laboratory Technician in 1980. By 1989, she had worked her way to being named Assistant Winemaker and later named Associate Winemaker. Margo was named Winemaker and General Manager for Chateau St. Jean in August of 2003, continuing a rich legacy of winemaking as the fourth winemaker in the winery’s history. In 2008 she was named “Winemaker of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

A Boston native, Beth moved to New York City in 1982 to pursue a career as a fabric designer and milliner. Beth found herself working in restaurants and developed a passion for all things beverage. A traveler by nature, Beth has absorbed culture and garnered inspiration from around the globe, travelling in Europe, Asia and Oceana.

Returning to the US she took her first sommelier position in 1994 at an East Village hotspot, Global 33.

Over the next two decades, she worked in restaurants such as Ansonia, Estiatoro Milos, Judson Grill, Nick & Toni’s and Porterhouse NYC.

In 2007 Beth founded her own company, MvB Consulting, to focus on education, training and brand development. Her clients have included Sir Terence Conran, US Open Tennis, Restaurant Associates, The Greek Wine Council, VOS Selections and a host of private clients. She has also worked with retail clients such as Zachy’s Wine & Spirits and Bowery & Vine.

Beth has contributed to publications such as; The New York Times, The Wine Spectator, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, More and Santé.

Currently, Beth is working with the Wine Council of Bordeaux, Northern Wines of Greece, and several small Spanish producers.

In the industry since 1990 – University of Colorado Boulder, Hawaii Pacific University, Graduated Alpha Sigma Lambda. Specialty in Public Relations, Marketing and Events. HSN contributor, owner of Closet Festish featured on Oprah’s O-List, InStyle Magazine, Traditional Home and Domino.

Hobbies include: Avocado Farming, Owns Bulldog Farms, a sustainable avocado farm with an English Bulldog Rescue, Owns lifestyle retro chic clothing line, Farm Glam.

Josh Wand is the Founder & Motivator in Chief of Force Brands: BevForce | FoodForce | FieldForce, a boutique recruiting and staffing agency that specializes in hiring strategies and organizational design for food, beverage and CPG companies. Wand developed Force Brands to provide the food and beverage industry with a full-service hiring and job search platform that connects good people to great jobs.  Force Brands is a comprehensive recruiting and staffing resource, providing services including: executive recruiting, interim placement, board of director assembly, field & event staffing and targeted industry job boards at www.BevForce.com and at www.FoodForce.com. Force Brands is headquartered in New York, NY with an additional office in Los Angeles, California.

Wand received a BS in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas known for its distinguished hospitality program.

He currently resides in New York City with his wife and two sons.

Carolyn Wente, Fourth Generation Winegrower and Chief Executive Officer

“My great-grandfather, C.H. Wente, was smart enough to see the potential in Livermore Valley when he purchased 47 acres back in 1883. That decision helped to establish my family winery as the oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery in America. I’m proud to be leading the family business and driving that legacy forward.”  

As Fourth Generation Winegrower and Chief Executive Officer, Carolyn Wente maintains the family’s longstanding commitment to producing 100% estate grown, sustainably farmed wines in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay & Arroyo Seco, Monterey. The winery’s 3,000 acres of Estate vineyards are located in these two appellations, both known for offering a unique microclimate that is particularly suited to producing award winning varietals.

Since taking over as CEO, Carolyn has been instrumental in the development of the Wente family's lifestyle business, which has brought Wente Vineyards worldwide renown and attracted visitors from around the globe. She also was a major influencer who encouraged her nephew, winemaker Karl D. Wente, to create a line of handcrafted, more limited production wines that would compete with the very best in the world.

Today Carolyn works with fourth and fifth generation family members and company executives to continue the growth of Wente Family Estates. She was chosen as one of the honorees for the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World in 2002, in an event sponsored by J.P. Morgan Private Banking, Baccarat and Hermès, among other leading luxury brands. She is currently the president of the California Wine Institute– the third member of her family to lead the organization that her grandfather helped establish eighty years ago. 

Carolyn was born and raised in the Livermore Valley, California. She earned a degree in history at Stanford University. She also studied in Europe and was a student intern on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Carolyn makes her home in the scenic Livermore Valley with her husband, Buck Layton, and their son, Buck IV.

Terry Wheatley oversees all commerce channels for Vintage Wine Estates, a family-owned wine company whose portfolio includes Clos Pegase, Swanson, Girard, Cosentino, Viansa of Sonoma, B.R. Cohn, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Middle Sister, Purple Cowboy, Girl & Dragon, Tall, Dark Stranger and many others. Terry manages wholesale, direct-to-consumer, exclusive labels, wine telesales and clubs, social media and winery tasting rooms. Over her career, Terry has mastered a complex, challenging industry through creativity, ingenuity, relationship-building and a deep understanding of what the consumer wants and needs. 

After many years in the corporate wine industry in sales and marketing with E&J Gallo and Trinchero Family Estates, Terry founded her own company, Canopy Management, in 2008.  The wine brand creation, sales and marketing company challenged the industry mindset and shattered the traditional mold. Wine Sisterhood, the social network created by Terry and her team to bring women and wine together through social media boasts over a half million fans. It is considered a case study on the creative use of digital media to market and grow wine brands and build a community of passionate wine consumers.

Canopy Management was acquired by Vintage Wine Estates in 2014. Terry continues to bring her insight and entrepreneurial approach to Vintage Wine Estates. She is a committed mentor of women in the wine industry and beyond and, as a breast cancer survivor, committed to raising awareness and money for early detection, research and to help families facing the disease. The campaign she founded, Tough Enough To Wear Pink, has raised over 22 million dollars through the grassroots efforts of the western and rodeo communities across the U.S. and Canada.

Her motto: “If you can dream it, you can do it”. (Walt Disney)

Tim has been in the wine, beer and spirits industry for quite a long time, in all tiers; retail, wholesale, supplier, importer.

Tim’s began in San Francisco importing wine beer and specialty spirits from Europe, Australia, Japan and even North Africa. A lengthy stint at Southern Wine and Spirits followed, working in the Northern California and Central and South Florida branches.

After spending three years managing stores for Beverages and More in the San Francisco region, Tim developed an interest in the organic beverage market. This led to work with a specialty distributor or organic wine and beer in California.

Tim is currently a Wine and Beer Specialist with Whole Foods Market in Northern California.

Deborah Brenner and Tim have worked together on a variety of projects and are now shares Deborah’s dream and commitment to make the Women of the Vine Global Symposium the must attend event in the wine and spirit world.

Chrissy Wittmann never intended to have a career in the wine industry. All she knew was that she wanted a life outside of her home town of Burbank, California, with its endless miles of concrete and urban sprawl.

An avid participant in sports—softball, volleyball, basketball and some occasional skiing—Chrissy pursued a degree in Physical Education at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. In her freshman year, Chrissy rekindled her love of nature during biology field trips and changed her major to Ecology and Systematic Biology.

With her B.S. Ecology and Systematic Biology degree, Chrissy began work at an independent environmental chemistry lab analyzing soil and waste water samples. Her first peek into the wine industry came when she filled in for a vacationing co-worker in the lab’s wine division. “I didn’t completely understand what I was doing at first,” recalls Chrissy, “in part because, at the time, I was a beer and ‘7 & 7’ kind of gal.” But her interest was piqued, two years later, she became a Wine Chemist at Meridian. After two years with Meridian, she was promoted to Laboratory Enologist. Realizing she needed further education, Chrissy returned to Cal Poly, where she earned an M. S. in Agriculture with a concentration in Food Science. She wrote her thesis, a dissertation on seed color and extractable tannin in Syrah during ripening, while she worked as the Lab Manager and Production Winemaker at Courtside Cellars.

In 2005, Advance degree in hand, Chrissy became the Assistant Winemaker at Scheid Vineyards, where she hit the ground running.  “That first year was a huge harvest, at least for me, with 12,000 tons of grapes coming into a brand new facility in which new systems were being tested for the first time ever,” she recalls. Chrissy rose to all the challenges.

Chrissy was thrilled when the Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards Assistant Winemaker position was available essentially ‘in her backyard.’ “You couldn’t live in San Luis Obispo without knowing and loving Wild Horse,” she says. “And it could not have been more fortuitous, since my husband and I had just welcomed the birth of our first son six months earlier.”

Just one year later, in 2008, Chrissy’s dream of becoming a winemaker was realized when she was promoted to the position of Winemaker; and in 2013 she was promoted to Director of Winemaking at Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards. “I couldn’t be happier.” Chrissy continues. “When I was younger, I hated the idea of spending my life sitting behind a desk all day. I wanted to be where things were happening. I wanted to have an opportunity to be outside and I wanted to be challenged every day.  And I’ve got all that here.”

When not busy at the winery, Chrissy enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. Their family time includes trips to Zion or Yosemite National Parks, multiple Bruce Springsteen concerts and San Francisco Giants’ baseball games.