The Louis M. Martini Winery in Napa was the backdrop for a recent inaugural charity event for the Wine Business Program at Sonoma State University that inducted wine industry business leader Walt Klenz of Beringer into the school's "Wine Business Hall of Fame."
Klenz is a co-founder of the program along with Gary Heck of Korbel. More than 160 wine industry professionals, wine business program students, faculty and alumni gathered for dinner and a live auction to honor Klenz. $70,000 was raised that evening.
"I am excited to accept this honor and see the broad industry support that has grown for this wine business program," said Klenz. "When it first started, it was a truly innovative concept to have a business education program focused on the wine industry. Today it is more critical than ever and this program is poised to make a vital contribution to the entire industry."
"Honoring someone as highly respected as Walt Klenz as the first recipient inducted into the Hall of Fame sets the stage for leaders and professionals to embrace the program and ensure its future," added Gary Heck.
The Wine Business Program started in 1996, and has been successful in achieving its initial goals of providing education to students interested in pursuing a career in the Wine Business. The Undergraduate Program has more than fifty graduates and the Professional Development Program that has served over 2000 wine industry professionals since it was started.
Director Mack Schwing, joined the program in April of 2003 after retiring from Deloitte Consulting. "Being in the heart of wine country, it is a natural for this program to serve as a beacon for Sonoma State University attracting key executives from the industry and students who want to work in the industry," he said. The Executive Advisory Committee consists of many influential members of the wine industry. Gary Heck, of Korbel is Chairman, Caroline Bailey of E. & J. Gallo Winery is President.
Other committee members include: Jerry Lohr of J. Lohr Winery, Pat Roney of Girard Winery, Mike Sullivan of Wells Fargo Bank, Doug Walker of Foster's Wine Estates, Jonathan Pageler of Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines and Phil Woodward of Woodward/Graff Wine Foundation.
Together this advisory committee has set a vision "to be a leading wine business school globally" and its mission "is to develop people, programs and knowledge that serve the needs of our students, faculty, community, and the entire global wine industry".
An important strategy is to have a self-sustaining program that mutually benefits the industry and inspires students who want to get into the Wine Business.
"A charity event such as this honoring business leaders as well as raising funds for the program is a win-win in making this Program successful and self-sustaining for the future," said Caroline Bailey, Advisory Committee President.
"This event helps to integrate faculty, students, industry leaders and professionals which is the vision of the Board, and it is great to see its vision become reality here tonight".
For more information about the program, contact Mack Schwing, Director of the Wine Business Program, or visit the website www.sonoma.edu/winebiz.
CAPTION: Walt Klenz (left) receives the first Wine Business Hall of Fame honor from Gary Heck, one of the founders of the SSU Wine Business Program.
