Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics

Wine Business Institute Board of Directors

 

Gary Heck - Board Chairman
President & Owner, F. Korbel & Bros. 
Gary Heck is the owner, President, and Chairman of Korbel Champagne Cellars. Heck was appointed as the President in 1982 and has continued the legacy of his father, Korbel's previous owner. Heck grew up in the champagne-making business and now produces the leading premium champagne in this country. Learn more.

 

      

Caroline Coleman Bailey - Board President
E & J Gallo Winery
Caroline Coleman Bailey is a third generation member of the Gallo family and her experience within the company includes public relations, corporate and brand communications, as well as marketing and sales. She has served as the lead spokesperson for the Gallo Family. Learn more.

 

Kaj Ahlmann
Proprietor, Six Sigma Ranch & Winery
In 2000, Kaj Ahlmann and his wife purchased the 4,300 acre ranch in Lake County and named it Six Sigma Ranch. The release of the first wine under the label, Six Sigma Ranch, was celebrated in 2006. Kaj Ahlmann applies the Six Sigma methods on this ranch in both the grape growing and winemaking processes but continuously monitors and refines data at each stage. Learn more.

 

Tom Bonomi
President & CFO, Classic Wines

 

 

 

 

Roy E. Cecchetti
President & CEO, Cecchetti Wine Company
Cecchetti Wine Company marks Roy Cechetti's second time founding a California wine brand. He also co-founded Cecchetti Sebastiani Cellar with his brother-in-law Don Sebastiani. The company grew to become one of the fastest growing California wineries. Learn more.

 

 

Perry DeLuca
Senior VP and Team Leader, Wine, Food and Beverage, Wells Fargo
Perry DeLuca is a a 10-year veteran of wine industry finance. He is currently the industry head and team leader for the Wine, Food & Beverage group in Wells Fargo's Santa Rosa-based North Coast Commercial Lending Office. Learn more. 

 

Steve Gross
Director of State Relations, The Wine Institute
Steve Gross is Director of State Relations at Wine Institute, where he has been employed since 1986.  Steve's duties entail overseeing the activities of Wine Institute's six State Relations Regional Counsels and Regional Managers as they address state legislation affecting the wine industry, as well as coordinating Wine Institute's legislative and regulatory activities with staff, contract lobbyists and member wineries.

Steve regularly participates in many national programs dealing with issues facing the wine industry, both on the legislative and regulatory levels.  Steve serves on the Board of Directors of both Sustainable Conservation and the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB).  He also serves on the Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute's Executive Board.  A native of Nebraska, Steve brought to Wine Institute knowledge garnered during his ten years of employment in the on-sale food and beverage industry, as well as extensive experience in political campaigns and legislative activism.
Learn more.

Allan Hemphill
Owner and President, Hemphill and Associates
Alan Hemphill is a 55 year veteran of the industry, but it wasn't until 13 years ago he became the owner and President of Hemphill and Associates, a wine industry consulting firm. Before Hemphill and Associates, Allan got hired as a wine chemist and assistant champagne maker, eventually working his way up to Vice President of Operations at Korbel. He later led Chateau St. Jean's growth to 180,000 cases of wine and sparkling wine and served as President at Associated Vintage Group.

 

Ray Johnson
Director, SSU Wine Business Institute

 

 

 

 

James Kimball
Senior Vice President & Region Head, Commerical Banking, Wells Fargo
James Kimball is in charge of a team of 17 Commercial Banking managers that serve a territory stretching from San Francisco to the Oregon border. However, a crucial sector served by the team is California's wine industry. Learn more.

 

 

Walt Klenz
Vice Chairman, The Vincraft Group
Walt Klenz began his California wine industry career in 1973. In 1976, ge was named Director of Marketing at Beringer Vineyards. Klenz held a number of senior marketing, financial and operations positions at Beringer until his appointment in 1990 as President. After Beringer was sold to Foster's Group in 2000, he headed Foster's global wine business. Klenz served on the Advisory Board of ASC Fine Wines from 2008 to 2010 and also serves on the Board of Directors of J. Lohr Winery and Columbia Sportswear Company. He is a past President of Napa Valley Vintners and a past Chairman of the Wine Institute. He is currently a partner and Vice Chairman of the Vincraft Group. Learn more.

Robert Merletti
Publisher/CEO, Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine, Vineyard & Winery Services, Inc.
Robert Merletti is the owner and Chairman of Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine. Vineyard and Winery Management has become the of several of the largest wine industry trade shows in the nation. The magazine has given Robert Merletti an exclusive perspective of the industry as a whole. Learn more.

 

 

Frederick W. Pierce IV
President & CEO, Pierce Education Properties, L.P.; Trustee Emeritus, The California State University
Frederick W. Pierce IV is the President and CEO of Pierce Education Properties, a San Diego-based owner, manager and developer of student housing and education-based real estate. Learn more.

 

 

 

   
Ron Rubin

Owner, River Road Family Vineyards & Winery, and CEO of The Republic of Tea
Ron Rubin is dedicated to enriching people's lives through premium teas, education and innovation - emphasizing a "Sip by Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp" lifestyle. Rubin is also the owner of the River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, a small-production winery located in the Green Valley of Russian River Valley American Viticulture Area located in Sonoma County, California. Learn more.

 

Alex Ryan
President & Chief Executive Officer of Duckhorn Wine Company
Since 1988, the visionary leadership of Alex Ryan has been instrumental in establishing and growing Duckhorn Wine Company. During his illustrious tenure, Duckhorn has grown into one of the most highly respected and fast-growing luxury wine companies in the industry. Alex started at Duckhorn as the vineyard manager, was made general manager and chief operations officer in 2000, and then promoted to President in 2005. Having come up through the ranks in the vineyard and production side of the company, Alex has earned a reputation as a "winemakers president", known for his commitment to quality from grape to glass. At the same time, Alex's leadership has established excellence in every area, from the vineyards to operations, sales and marketing. Learn more.

William Silver
Dean, Sonoma State's School of Business & Economics 

Stephen Sterling
Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Esterlina Vineyards and Everett Ridge Winery
Stephen Sterling comes from generations of winemakers who believe in quality over quantity. Learn more.

 

 

 

Douglas Thornley
Principal, Gould Evans | Baum Thornley Inc.
Douglas Thornley has an extensive background in architectural practice and education. A bay area native, Thornley has a special interest in built form within the urban context. Learn more.

 

 
  

John Yandell
CEO, Yandell Truckaway, Inc. 
John Yandell started his tenure at Yandell Truckaway Inc. but eventually took over as President. While at Yandell Truckaway, he also founded Santa Clara Warehouses, Inc. John has become extremely active in the wine industry, serving a 20 year term as Chairman of the Wine Institute's Associate Members. Learn more.