2024 Speakers

Jeff Bitter is a life-long resident of California.  Born into a family vineyard operation, Jeff has always had a passion for agriculture and specifically grape growing.  Jeff is the President of Allied Grape Growers (AGG), a 500-member statewide grape growers cooperative marketing association.  AGG markets approximately $100,000,000 worth of grapes annually to wineries, shippers, packers and dehydrators.  In addition to managing AGG, Jeff is a fourth-generation California grape grower on land he and his wife own, and live on, in Madera County.

Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business from California State University, Fresno and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the same.  Jeff is also a graduate of Class XXXII of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, a prestigious two-year fellowship program emphasizing leadership training and development for those involved in California agriculture.

Jeff participates on numerous industry boards, committees and task forces and spends his free time farming, traveling and enjoying time with family and friends.  Jeff and his wife April have four children, one of which is married.  Recreationally, Jeff enjoys boating/watersports and can frequently be spotted tasting wines throughout California’s winegrowing regions.

Nigeria Cole is a former educator who shifted career paths when she relocated to Northern California from Atlanta to transition into technical project management. While working in the tech industry, she further developed strategic operations management skills and has served as an administrative business partner to senior managers at TikTok, various startup founders within the global financial tech industry, and the nonprofit sector. Nigeria is currently the Operations Specialist for Sonoma State University's Wine Business Institute. Aside from analyzing industry data insights on the headwinds affecting the business of wine, she identifies prospective scholarship recipients for programs that promote diversity and equity in the wine industry. Pursuing an MBA in Wine Business, she aims to transition into executive leadership roles, driving impact and innovation in luxury beverage markets.

Working in the wine industry for over 20 years, Alicia has held general counsel positions at Treasury Wine Estates and Duckhorn Wine Company, guiding the regulatory integration of Treasury’s acquisition of the Diageo wine portfolio and Duckhorn’s integrations of Calera and Kosta Browne. Alicia founded Cronbach Law Group PC in May 2019 to focus on steering wineries, law firms and brokers through the complex maze of winery transactions.

Claire Hobday earned her BA in Law and Music from Keele University in the UK, gained her Chartered Accountant qualification with global audit and advisory firm PwC and most recently completed her Wine Executive MBA at Sonoma State University where she is now an adjunct professor. Claire lived in New Zealand for 13 years, joining the wine industry in 2011 with Treasury Wine Estates and transferring to Napa in 2013. She started as CFO with C. Mondavi & Family at the historic Charles Krug estate in St. Helena in 2018 and serves on the board of Appellation St Helena.

Janet Llamas is the Chief Financial Officer at Napa Valley-based Cliff Lede Vineyards. In her role, she oversees all financial planning and activities for the winery.

A Napa Valley native with over two decades of experience in the wine industry, Janet earned her degree in Business Administration from Sonoma State University in 2004 and began her professional career at Cliff Lede Vineyards as an accountant. She then gained valuable managerial experience running audit and accounting at public accounting firms Frank, Rimmerman + Co. LLP and Moss Adams, working primarily with wine industry clients. She later returned to the private sector in a senior financial role at Clos Du Val Winery, before returning to Cliff Lede Vineyards. Janet joined the Cliff Lede Vineyards team in 2019 as Director of Finance, was promoted to Vice President of Finance in March 2021, and rose to Chief Financial Officer by October 2021.

In addition to her undergraduate degree, Janet holds a CPA certification and her MBA from UC Davis. She lives in Napa with her husband and two daughters. In her spare time, Janet enjoys running and cooking for family and friends.

Allison Luvera is an award-winning entrepreneur and brand marketing leader who is best known as the Co-Founder & CEO of Juliet Wine, a mission-driven company disrupting the $65B wine industry. She is also currently a founding member of the Alternative Packaging Alliance. She previously worked across the luxury portfolio of brands at Pernod Ricard USA and spent nearly a decade working in media at Time Inc, Conde Nast, and Hearst Corporation. She holds a BS in Finance from Boston College, an MBA from The Wharton School, and WSET Level 2 Certification in Wine. In addition to her professional experience, she is a women’s rights advocate, previously holding the position of VP, Board of Directors for UN Women USA-NY.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonluvera/

Instagram: @allisonluvera

TikTok: @allisonluvera

As the President of Marketing at Bonterra Organic Estates, Rodrigo Maturana is a firm believer in the profound global impact of wine. Leading the marketing efforts for one of the world's largest B Corp-certified wineries, he orchestrates the strategy for a diverse portfolio of California and South American wine brands. Each of these brands is characterized by its unwavering commitment to quality, ethical business practices, and social responsibility.

For Rodrigo, marketing wine isn't just a profession; it's a means to cultivate a better world. His journey in the industry commenced as a Marketing Assistant for Concha y Toro's Casillero del Diablo. He ascended in leadership quickly increasing in responsibility. His accomplishments included negotiating significant sponsorships, including a high-profile partnership with Manchester United, and executing successful product launches across multiple markets. Notably, he led groundbreaking initiatives for the company's global brands, such as Casillero del Diablo, Sunrise, and Frontera.

In 2011, he joined Concha y Toro's US subsidiary, Bonterra Organic Estates, as Marketing Director. Today he oversees a portfolio that boasts prominent American brands like Fetzer, 1000 Stories, and the renowned Bonterra Organic Vineyards. This vineyard was honored as the American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2016. As part of the Viña Concha y Toro global winery family, Bonterra Organic Estates also imports iconic South American wines, including Chile's legendary Viña Don Melchor, Marques de Casa Concha, Concha y Toro Gran Reserva, Unrated, Casillero del Diablo, Diablo, Cono Sur, and Frontera, alongside Argentina's esteemed Bodega Trivento.

During Maturana's tenure, Bonterra Organic Estates became the largest Regenerative Organic Certified® winery globally. This certification underscores the company's unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship, community engagement, and employee well-being. Maturana reflects on this achievement, stating, "Bonterra Organic Estates' commitment to enduring social and environmental impact is what sets us apart. I'm humbled to advance the legacy of a winery that pioneered organics long before it became a recognized category."

A native of Chile, Rodrigo Maturana holds a master's degree in Marketing from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Santiago. He currently resides in Healdsburg, California, with his wife and three children, a powerful reminder that the actions we take today shape the future for generations to come.

Pam Novak leads Portfolio Innovations, where she provides strategic leadership in brand development and growth initiatives. With over 25 years of expertise in the wine industry, Pam has a proven track record in driving portfolio diversification and crafting innovative brand strategies. As Vice President of Marketing at C. Mondavi & Family / Charles Krug Estate Winery, Pam spearheaded a 250% expansion of the company’s portfolio, launching dynamic brands from California and Europe.

A seasoned executive, Pam has held leadership roles at Clos du Val, Rodney Strong Wine Estates, and Jackson Family Wines, where she specialized in brand innovation, strategic partnerships, and market growth. Through Portfolio Innovations, she continues to collaborate with industry leaders and clients such as Global Package, LLC, Affinity Creative Group, Corbin Cash Distillery, Vintner’s Institute, and VeroVino Craft Wines to elevate brand presence and drive business growth.

Pam holds a BA in Design from San Jose State University, a Sommelier certification, and a Program on Negotiation certificate from Harvard Law School. Active in the Napa Valley community, Pam is passionate about supporting local causes and enjoys hiking, entertaining, and gardening in her spare time.

Maeve Pesquera, is the executive vice president – luxury for O’Neill Vintners & Distillers. In her new role, she will provide strategic leadership and help continue development of the O'Neill luxury portfolio through acquisitions as well as the creation of new, innovative brands. A seasoned luxury brand executive with success and experience in creating and implementing brand, retail and culture strategy, Pesquera most recently served as senior vice president with DAOU Family Estates in Paso Robles, Calif. Active in several other organizations such as the Paso Robles CAB Collective, she's also the district director, Central Coast for the Wine Institute.

Emily Porter has been working in the wine industry for over 20 years and currently works with Sonoma State University both for the Wine Business Institute (WBI) and for the Graduate and Executive MBA Programs. She achieved her Executive Wine MBA in 2021 and now recruits for the program. Emily has competed in international wine tasting competitions with Oxford University and has a bachelor’s degree from Menlo College in Business Management. Emily is also a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)

Before SSU, Emily has done everything from tying vines in Australia to selling wine in competitive corporate hotels in San Francisco. She began her career with Frog’s Leap Winery in Napa and it was there that Emily decided that working with wine was her life’s calling. Her wine distribution accomplishments include representing E&J Gallo, Wine Warehouse, and Trefethen Family Vineyards throughout the West Coast. She has also worked with organizations such as Scott Laboratories and ForceBrands which have rounded out her experience and understanding of the wine industry as a whole.

Emily has worked with the WBI for four years now conducting survey research for the Financial Symposium. She will present a snapshot of the wine industry and highlight trends that have emerged over the last few years in conjunction with Ray Johnson and the esteemed panelists.  

Tom Steffanci brings more than 26 years of industry experience in general management, strategy, sales, marketing, distributor management and financial planning for the wine, spirits and beer industry. Known for his ability to unlock rapid above- and below- the line growth, Tom has held senior executive roles at some of the most successful drink companies in the United States, including Diageo, Allied Domecq, Terlato and Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. 

Since 2009 Tom has been the President of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, one of the largest family-owned wine and spirits companies in the United States. Over this time Deutsch has grown its Revenue from $390MM to $735MM, and profits have tripled. 

Tom works very close with Bill & Peter Deutsch in running all functions of the company and all the functions report directly to Tom.  As President, Tom has led the Deutsch Family team in the creation and delivery of an ambitious long-term strategic plan and has built the organizational structure to deliver against the strategy doubling headcount since joining the company in 2009.  Over that time the company has accelerated its growth of both the top and bottom-line, growing the profits of the enterprise at a compounded annual growth rate of 13% , which has accelerated to over 20% in the last 5 years, more than doubling the company’s profit in that 5 years period alone.  Tom has also led an acquisition strategy that resulted in the addition of 17new brands, 9 of which Deutsch owns outright.  Tom was the driving force in the discovery and acquisition of Josh Cellars, a brand that was acquired at 30k cases and is now a 3MM case behemoth, it is the largest premium wine brand in the world at its price point or higher, and still growing at double digit rates.  During his tenure, the company established a Spirits Division that is now profitable and rapidly growing part of the business.  

Prior to joining Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Tom was COO of Terlato Wines International.  Prior to that, President of Allied Domecq’s Northern Business Unit, and before that he spent 8 years in various senior roles including running North America’s largest business unit as Senior Vice President and General Manager, California Spirits.  

Kristin Taylor is the Founder and CEO of KT Winery, which is shifting the wine culture and community. Kristin currently lives in Denver, CO but hails from south-east Virginia 

KT Winery was founded in 2020, when Kristin joined forces with Macie Mincey, the two of them created the flagship brand, Mom Juice. As the founder and CEO of KT Winery, Kristin oversees all operations, regional sales, marketing, tastings, and approval of new wine varietals and making sure it is getting on shelves across the country. 

Kristin’s background in marketing and branding comes from her time working for DISH Network, SLINGTV, and other brands like eBay. Throughout her career, she’s helped launch new brands like the women-owned BIPOC wine brand, The Guilty Grape by building their team, brand, and operational systems from the ground up. Her interest in wine stems from her past as an event planner while partnering with companies like Tito’s, Diageo, RNDC, and Constellation for in-person activations and marketing efforts in Charlotte, NC. 

Kristin believes that wine and food are the great equalizers in life and culture. There are so many bonds that can be made over storytelling, wine, and laughter. She has been featured in Forbes, the Today Show, WWD, PureWow, and Bravo’s Real Housewives of Potomac.

Kaleigh has 9 years of NIQ experience and considerable background working with clients in multiple categories. She has been involved with the Beverage Alcohol category for the last five years working on Thought Leadership, industry insights, and client specific business questions and projects. Kaleigh brings a unique skillset of analytic capabilities, as well as commercial selling story creation, and has significant background in bringing consumer insights to the forefront in support of sales trends. She has been pivotal in the NIQ strategy and tactics for Beverage Alcohol as the industry changes and develops.

Dana has been in the wine business for nearly 20 years, mostly in an investment management capacity. She is currently CFO at Far Niente Wine Estates in Oakville, a private equity-owned luxury wine business comprised of six world-class brands, three beautiful wine estates and hundreds of top-quality vineyard acres in Napa and Sonoma.

Prior to Far Niente, Dana worked at GI Partners, as the Portfolio Manager for an institutional investment portfolio of 25 vineyard properties and 1,600 acres in Sta. Rita Hills, Sonoma Coast, Napa Valley and Willamette Valley.

Dana spends her free time supporting her husband’s boutique wine business, serving on various industry committees, visiting her in-laws in Burgundy, and convincing her kids to teach her their ukulele songs.

Callum Williams is Senior Economics Writer at The Economist, an author and a speaker on economics, politics and global trends.

As Senior Economics Writer for The Economist, Callum’s economic insights are highly sought after. Callum has a unique perspective on the intersection between the economy, markets and politics. He is a regular contributor to The Economist‘s podcasts and seminars, and he has been interviewed by the BBC, Fareed Zakaria and Sky News. Audiences value his no-nonsense style, and come away from his speeches feeling more clever than when they arrived.

At The Economist, he covers global economic trends including artificial intelligence, the future of work, inflation and globalisation. In October 2023 Callum authored a highly popular “special report” on the future of globalisation, which focused on the risks and opportunities from industrial policy and AI.

He can speak on a wide variety of topics. Living in San Francisco, he has an inside view of the AI boom, bringing rigorous data-driven analysis to the topic. He can talk about the relationship between stockmarkets and the surge in inflation. In 2023 he argued, against the consensus, that the world economy would avoid a recession.

He is also the author of The Classical School: The Birth of Economics in 20 Enlightened Lives (2020), which explores the history of economic thought.

Callum has studied at Cambridge, Oxford and Harvard, where he was supervised by Amartya Sen.