BOARD OF DIRECTORS

After traveling extensively throughout Europe where he was first exposed to European-style wines, Mike spent time in Walla Walla as the Washington wine industry hit its stride, which brought him into direct contact with Walla Walla’s pioneering wineries. Seeds for his future in the wine industry were sown, and he has relished the past 15
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Marty is Managing Winemaker and Co-Owner of L’Ecole N° 41 with his wife Megan and children, Riley and Rebecca.  Marty assumed the operation of the winery from Megan’s parents, Jean and Baker Ferguson, in 1989, six years after the winery’s founding. Today Marty’s primary focus is a hands-on approach to the winery’s viticulture operation.  Along
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Dr Wade Wolfe Thurston Wolfe Winery Thurston Wolfe is a small family winery owned by Wade Wolfe and Becky Yeaman, specializing in unique red & white table and dessert wines. Grapes are sourced from growers located in the Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley at sites best suited to the varieties produced. These sites and
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Ryan is Director of Communications for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Prior to joining the company, he served for five years as Communications Director for the Washington State Wine Commission. Prior to serving at the Commission, he was Director of Public Affairs in the Seattle office of MWW Group, one of the nation’s largest public relations
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Beau Hickman is the Director of Operations for Figgins Family Wine Estates in Walla Walla.  Prior to moving to Washington, Beau was a Liquor Operations Manager for various municipalities in Minnesota.  He has over fifteen years of experience working within the three-tier distribution and has great passion for the wine industry.  Beau received his Master’s
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Julie has been an owner and general manager of Treveri Cellars since its inception. After 25 years in the banking industry, Julie decided to join her husband and winemaker, Juergen Grieb, in opening Treveri Cellars. In her free time, Julie enjoys giving back to the community by serving on several non-profit boards including Wine Yakima
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A Business graduate from Washington State University who has an entrepreneurial spirit & passion for wine.  Originally hailing from Spokane, WA, Craig and Vicki Leuthold cashed in their corporate careers and followed their dream of starting a winery to Goldendale, WA. Located at the southern tip of the Columbia Valley appellation, the area is not
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Robin Pollard joins the Washington Wine Institute’s Board of Directors after several years of industry leadership as the past Executive Director of the Washington State Wine Commission from 2005-2011. Prior to the Commission, Robin developed a tremendous level of professional expertise as a Director within the Washington State Department of Community Development under Governor Gary
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Jess Zander, General Manager at Fidelitas, loves to sell wine.  She began her professional life in education, taking wine classes for fun before realizing that working with children wasn’t nearly as fun as wine, and switched industries.  Jess continued her studies with the International Sommelier Guild and, after a brief stint in fine dining, started
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