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  • Olivia Campbell posted an article
    Global Diversity Thought Leader Series™ with Deborah Brenner see more

    Global Diversity Thought Leader Series™ 

    Deborah Brenner: Founder & CEO, Women of the Vine & Spirits

    Link to article

    June 19 2021

    Deborah, Can you tell us about yourself?

    I am a Social Entrepreneur and lover of wine from the ground to the glass, research, journalism, making connections and collaborating with people and companies large and small, and I am passionate about making a long-lasting, positive impact in the hospitality and alcohol beverage industries. I live in Rockland County, New York with my husband, Jack and have lived and breathed diversity, equity and inclusion for at least the last 15 years when I first wrote my book, Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine, highlighting the under-represented women in the wine industry. From there, my career in DE&I within the wine, beer and spirits industry really took off and became my full-time job.

    Deborah's Website

    What brought you to where you are?

    After spending 20 years in the male-dominated television and film technology industry I decided to transition to pursue my passion, which was working in the wine industry. During a fortuitous trip to the Napa and Sonoma wine regions, I discovered that similar to the tech industry, women were significantly under-represented.

    I was compelled to tell their stories and tapping into my love of research and journalism, I authored a bestselling collection of profiles of 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. We are celebrating the book’s 15th anniversary this year!

    Through the process of writing the book and championing these incredible women, I became inspired to enter the wine business, releasing wine from a first-of-its-kind collective of seven artisan women winemakers from Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles, CA. For the following seven years, I learned the business inside and out. Ultimately, I could not foster women in the wine industry the way I had hoped, which led me to dissolve the wine brand and return to the drawing board.

    During this time, I quickly realized there was a void in the alcohol beverage industry that needed to be filled: to facilitate change we needed a collective voice to advocate for diversity and women’s initiatives across all industry sectors and engage with senior leadership; both men and women, willing to support our movement.

    A year later, in March 2015, I organized the Inaugural Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, bringing women and male allies together to focus on actions the alcohol beverage industry could make to change the status quo. It was a sold-out success. The attendees eagerly supported the opportunity to connect through a global network and seek ways to accelerate their business and professional development. This forum allowed for collaboration across all industry sectors and inspired attendees to do business with like-minded women and men. It was clear to me that to make a positive impact on the alcohol beverage industry, women needed a voice year-round and Women of the Vine & Spirits was launched.

     Membership to the organization opened September 2015. What started off as a one-off event and grass roots movement quickly expanded into a global organization with corporate and individual members connected across the globe. Women of the Vine & Spirits has become a catalyst for creating a positive impact in the alcohol beverage industry by giving women worldwide a platform and a voice to thrive. 

    To further foster education and career pathing, the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation 501(c)3 was launched in 2017 and to-date has awarded 99 women with more than $260,000 in scholarships.

    In 2021, I launched another community called Badass Bartender™ to fill a void for female bartenders, giving them a safe space to unite, be empowered, support one another, explore career opportunities and network. 

    I am eager to help foster a better industry for all to thrive and succeed with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion and business development and innovation. We have already witnessed so many improvements and changes industry-wide, but we have a long way to go.

    What does DEI mean to you?  

    Diversity, Equity and Inclusion means giving voice to those who have historically been disempowered or silenced. It’s acknowledging privilege and structures of power and intervening and speaking out against injustice. It’s creating a workplace and industry free of harm, where all feel comfortable to share their unique perspectives and thrive and succeed. 

    DE&I also means success for business. I strongly believe that not only is DE&I the right thing for companies and our world, but it makes good business sense. DE&I leads to Business Development & Innovation (BD&I) because the more diversity we have in leadership and among decision makers, the more we look like our consumers and understand what our consumers want. This is something we emphasize at Women of the Vine & Spirits and work to instill and inspire in our members. It’s the right thing and its good for the bottom line.

    What is your proudest moment as a DEI professional?

    I am proud to have created a community that solidifies the legacies of women who have championed change in our industry. As part of our year-round membership, the women and men in our network have access to a myriad of resources, educational content, Live Chats, and mentorship opportunities. Seeing people take off their competitive hats and work across all three tiers of the industry has been incredibly inspiring to me. 

    With the support of our members, I have been able to expand Women of the Vine & Spirits into a 510(c)3 Foundation, which is the charitable arm of our organization. Launched in 2017, we have already awarded 99 women with more than $260,000 in scholarships to further their education and professional development. In response to COVID-19, we launched our Foundation Assistance Program. Recognizing that those in the restaurant and hospitality industry were disproportionately impacted by the closure of businesses, this assistance program is completely free, and provides 24/hour confidential legal, mental health, and resource support to anyone who applies. I am most proud to be able to “pay it forward” and provide tangible, financial support to the individuals who make our industry so great. 

    Why is DEI important to you as an individual?

     I want to create an industry that is safer and more inclusive for future generations. More women, which includes LGBTQ+ communities, women of color, and disabled women, means more opportunity for diverse talent to thrive in the alcohol beverage industry. Our consumers are incredibly diverse, but our industry is unfortunately not always reflective of that demographic. Diverse companies increase employee engagement and make more innovative decisions, which can provide a real competitive advantage. It’s simply the right thing to do. 

    If you could change one thing in terms of Diversity and Inclusion, what would that be? 

     The pace! I am very grateful that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is now at the forefront of our attention in many ways as a society. For companies small and large, DE&I has become a business imperative. We need more initiatives to help with implementation and long-term success. We need more education and engagement. 

    We know that true equality cannot be achieved overnight, for example, data shows that in corporate America at current rates, it will take over 100 years to reach gender equality in the C-Suites. But we don’t have that kind of time. We are seeing surges in racial hate crimes, violence and harassment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more women exited the workforce than we’ve seen in decades. These are major setbacks, and we need to work together to change the face of the industry and provide a safe, empowering and inclusive work environment where all can succeed. 

     At Women of the Vine & Spirits, we work as a catalyst for change to help prioritize and support DE&I initiatives across all three tiers in the alcohol beverage industry. 

    What is stopping your community, organization or company from achieving a more equal and equitable world? 

     Unconscious bias. It’s pervasive, and often goes unnoticed or unrecognized. But it has grave consequences and must be confronted. I believe that having conversations about unconscious bias is the first step in achieving long-term change. Our institutions are embedded in histories of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia and bias. Through education, training and hard authentic conversations, we can begin to confront as individuals how we have internalized many of these structures of power and where we have experienced privilege. In my opinion, awareness is the first step to changing behavior. It starts at the individual level, but if we can have these conversations company-wide, we have the possibility of implementing long-term change and creating more equitable institutions from the inside-out. 

    That is the fundamental goal of our organization. Through educational content, networking and securing the legacies of those who are under-represented in our industry, we can work towards collective change. Seeing more and more companies joining our organization as Corporate Members signals to the industry at large that together, we have made a commitment to furthering equity in the alcohol beverage industry specifically. 

    If you could say one thing to the leader in your community, organization or your company about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, what would you say?

    Use your voice to champion change! If you are in a leadership position, capitalize on your position of power to speak out in support of underrepresented communities. Listen and learn from the experiences of others and be willing to challenge the status quo. 

    Anything you want to share with your readers?

    Women of the Vine & Spirits is the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era that empowers all to succeed. There has never been a forum like ours, for industry leaders to come together to support, mentor, educate and network with one another through a yearlong calendar of events, trainings, and live chats. Learn more about our organization at www.womenofthevine.com

  • Olivia Campbell posted an article
    Pernod Ricard USA Supports WOTVS Foundation’s DE&I Mission with a $82,500 Donation see more

    Pernod Ricard USA Supports Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation’s DE&I Mission with a $82,500 Donation 
    Applications for the Foundation’s Scholarships are Open through June 30 

     

    June 22, 2021 (New York, NY) – In support of Women of the Vine & Spirits’ mission to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era for the wine, beer and spirits industry, Pernod Ricard USA, a Platinum Corporate Member of Women of the Vine & Spirits, has donated a generous $82,500 to the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)3, the charitable arm of the global membership organization. 

    The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation provides scholarships for the purpose of helping women advance their careers in the food, wine, spirits, beer, and hospitality industries through education, leadership, and professional development. The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation was established in 2017 and since its inception has awarded 99 women with a combined total of more than $260,000 in scholarships and awards. 

    “As part of our ongoing commitment to create a more inclusive industry and society, Pernod Ricard USA is proud to donate to the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation and its dedication to providing opportunities to help womxn advance in their careers,” said Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Lani Montoya. “We are thrilled that our donation will be able to help so many people achieve educational milestones and expand their professional development.” 

    “The Foundation is key to supporting our mission of DE&I because it propels the equity component, giving more people a fair and impartial opportunity for continued education and financial resources to attain professional or personal development,” said Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits and President of Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Deborah Brenner. “We are so thankful for Pernod Ricard’s incredible gift and generosity as an Advocate Donor to the Foundation. With this donation, the Foundation can award more scholarships to deserving candidates, especially at a time that the industry is recovering from a very challenging year.” 

    With scholarship applications open until June 30, those interested in applying are encouraged to visit the Foundation webpage to review the various opportunities available. The Foundation provides annual scholarships and awards to those interested in continuing their personal and professional development and education for careers within the food, wine/spirits, and hospitality sectors.

    Made possible through donations like Pernod Ricard USA’s, this year, the nonprofit will award scholarships to qualified applicants across four categories, which include Professional & Leadership Development, Student Educational, Continuing Education and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Scholarships. An additional four scholarships categories are being made possible through the “Women Behind the Wine Educational Fund” supported by Patron Donor, E. & J. Gallo Winery. Those scholarship categories include Master Sommelier, Masters of Wine, Elizabeth Smyth Student and Fuel Your Dreams.

    For additional information about Foundation scholarship opportunities for 2021 or to apply visit womenofthevine.com/foundation.  

    The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)(3) is looking for donations to award scholarships in 2021 and 2022. To donate, and learn more about donor levels and benefits visit womenofthevine.com/foundation or contact Executive Director, Tara Davey at tara@eastwood-partners.com.  

    2021 Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation Donors 
    Patron ($100,000+): E. & J. Gallo Winery; Advocate ($35,000-$99,999): Pernod Ricard USA; Benefactor ($15,000-$34,999): Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Beam Suntory, Skrewball Spirits; Affiliate ($5,000-$14,999): Republic National Distributing Company, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Vintage Wine Estates, Cycles Gladiator, Riboli Family Wines; Supporter ($1,000-$4,999): Scott Laboratories, Inc., Coravin, Gabriel-Glas, Grounded World. 

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    About the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation  
    The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)(3) is the charitable arm of Women of the Vine & Spirits. The Foundation provides scholarships and awards for the purpose of helping women advance their careers in the food, wine, spirits, beer, or hospitality industries through education, leadership, and professional development, as well as fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com/foundation.  

    About Women of the Vine & Spirits 
    Women of the Vine & Spirits is the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era that empowers all to succeed. Our members connect through our global network and collaborate across all industry sectors. We provide our members with benefits that include education, training, mentorship, and networking as well as tools, services and resources toward DE&I, and personal and business development. For more information, please visit  womenofthevine.com

    Media Contact: 

    Olivia Campbell 

    olivia@womenofthevine.com  

    (323) 610-2322 

     

  • Olivia Campbell posted an article
    Lodi Collective Is Early Leader In Efforts To Increase Wine Industry Diversity see more

    Lodi Collective Is Early Leader In Efforts To Increase Wine Industry Diversity

    By Liz Thach, MW

    Link to article 

    June 16 2021 - “When I saw the George Floyd tragedy on TV, I wondered what can we do to help here in Lodi?” said Rodney Tipton, Managing Partner of Acquiesce Winery. “After working so many years internationally, I knew that people of color were underrepresented in the wine industry, so that seemed like a logical starting place.”

    As a retired manufacturing executive turned winery owner, Tipton was not one to sit around and muse about issues too long. Instead he jumped on the Internet and began searching for people and associations that could provide advice on how he and others in the Lodi wine region could help. One of the first groups to respond to his email was The Roots Fund, a non-profit organization with a mission ‘to invest in communities of color to provide opportunities to those seeking a career/education in all aspect of wine.’

    “I still remember when I first opened Rodney’s email,” said Ikimi Dubose, Executive Director of The Roots Fund. “I could tell he had a passion to make a difference, and that he was action-oriented.”

    Dubose, like Tipton, has a strong motivation to effect positive change. As a world-traveler and graduate of Johnson & Wales University, she was one of the youngest and first woman to complete the Marriott & Ritz Carlton management training program. Her career path eventually led her to open Leo Market in Washington DC, focusing on global cuisine and wine. Known for her leadership and mentoring ability with women and minorities, she is often quoted as saying: “When there is no room for me at the table, I usually stand on the table.”

    So when Covid hit and most of her friends in the hospitality industry lost their jobs, she knew the timing was right to follow a new dream. “There is a lack of opportunity for people of color in the wine space,” she reported. “When Covid hit and so many of us lots our jobs, I realized that we now have the time to talk about this…., and the world was watching.”

    Therefore Dubose started The Roots Fund in the Summer of 2020, along with Tahiirah Habibi, CEO of Hue Society, and Carlton Mccoy Jr., one of the youngest and the second African American to become a Master Sommelier (M.S.).  In a very short time they had recruited more than 30 wineries and wine associations as partners in helping to make the global wine industry more diverse.

    Formation of the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective (LAIC)

    With advice from Dubose, as well as conversations with other BIPOC professionals already in the wine industry, including the Association of African American Vintners , Tipton founded LAIC – a non-profit organization called the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective.

    The mission of LAIC is to increase diversity in the Lodi wine region and the industry at large. In a very short time, Tipton was able to recruit ten Lodi wine businesses to donate funds to host their first 3.5 day Enrichment Program. The educational experience included visits to Lodi vineyards and wineries to learn all aspects of the industry, from grape growing to winemaking, sales and marketing.

    Identifying 5 Scholars for the First LAIC Enrichment Program

    Through their outreach program, The Roots Fund was able to identify five scholars to attend the first LAIC 3.5 day Enrichment Experience held June 6-9, 2021 in the Lodi Wine Region. A second Lodi Enrichment program is planned for later this year.

    “We recruit,” said Dubose, “via the internet, newsletters, social media, and utilizing HBCU buzz. Since our start in summer of 2020, we have had about 200 applicants, and have accepted 67 scholars to date.” Scholars are eligible to receive scholarships, mentoring, and attend educational programs, such as LAIC.

    A major focus is to assist the scholars to obtain professional salaried positions in the wine industry, rather than hourly positions. “People working in restaurants and vineyards often have low wages, and many have no healthcare,” explained Dubose. “But who is the voice of these people? That is why we decided to start the Roots Fund, to help our scholars achieve professional positions.”

    Results of the First LAIC Enrichment Program

    The five scholars that were selected already had some experience in the wine industry, but were still early in their careers. After completing the 3.5 day program, their feedback was uniformly positive:

    1. Daren Clark (Winemaking Intern at Haynes Vineyard, Napa Valley) – “The networking was a blessing, the Lodi wine community was so welcoming. I learned the importance of the farming practices in the community and what it means to help out each other.”
    2. Chris Salcedo (Sommelier in Training, Irvine, CA) – “The main benefit was it opened up my eyes to the fact that that there are so many different paths in the wine industry, and if I see something in demand I can go and build that company / business.”
    3. Lindsey Rose (Sommelier, Seattle, WA) – “For me personally, this trip helped to open my eyes to the bounty of the less hyped and talked about domestic regions, while also pulling back the curtain on what wine production looks like. Seeing how a community of growers is working collaboratively to share their stories, enhance their community and make change, was inspiring.”
    4. Andrew Mihm (Completing M.S. in Viticulture & Enology, UC-Davis, CA) – “Getting the chance to immerse myself in a region I did not know in depth. I got to see how the winemaking community in Lodi allows for creativity and lower barriers of entry to young winemakers aspiring to own their own brand.”
    5. Jamila Janneh (Law Student Transitioning to Wine, NY) – “I truly got to immerse myself in multiple areas of the industry. My biggest takeaway is learning that there is so much room for creativity in the wine industry. As a millennial, and someone who craves innovation, this trip fed my creative spirit.”

    Measurement: When asked how LAIC plans to measure progress towards achieving their mission, Tipton simply responded, “Our key metric is how many new faces we will see in the Lodi wine business in the future.” He is also hopeful that some of the other 80 wineries in Lodi will consider providing financial support to help host more LAIC educational scholarships, wine education, mentorship, and job placement.

    Other Laudable Diversity Efforts in the Wine Industry

    The Lodi Wine Region isn’t the only appellation providing support for inclusivity. Napa Valley Vintners just announced a $1 million scholarship with United Negro College Fund to increase diversity in the wine industry, with an application deadline of June 30, 2021. Sonoma County Vintners are also beginning efforts to address this issue with the formation of a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee to analyze data and identify resources to increase diversity.

    Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in the global alcohol-beverage industry, offers annual educational scholarships, with a June 30 deadline. In 2020, there were 42 recipients, with 45% from BIPOC identifying communities. Additionally in 2020, the Women of the Vine & Spirits global membership organization started a People of Color Alliance and added related content events to their Live Chat platform.

    The Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University has raised over $3 million from wine industry partners to support underrepresented students since 2017. To date more than 100 scholarships have been awarded, with 26 specifically targeted for students pursuing a wine degree. University of California-Davis also has a Broadening Horizons program to recruit more Latinx students, and has achieved a 25% increase in the past few years. They also recently hosted a Zoom conference on “The Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Grape and Wine Industries,” which attracted 184 participants.

  • Article
    Women of the Vine & Spirits Launches a New DE&I Leadership Series Engaging Senior Male Executives see more

    Women of the Vine & Spirits Launches a New DE&I Leadership Series Engaging Senior Male Executives in Wine, Beer and Spirits
    The series will address diversity barriers through authentic and complex conversations

    April 22, 2021 (New York, NY) – Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS), the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era announced, today, the launch of a new ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) leadership series, called “Breaking Barriers” featuring senior male executives and DE&I leaders in the alcohol beverage industry. 

    This new series is in direct response to the requests received following our March 8th  WOTVS CONNECT! Male Allies Roundtable, where we realized this was a topic that needed to be a continuous conversation. To kick the series off, and honor the requests we received to do so, WOTVS invited the male leaders that were part of the March 8th panel to come back so we can have a deeper dive. 

    WOTVS is committed to making this a permanent series. Corporate Members that have Senior Male Executives or DE&I leaders that would like to participate in future segments are welcome to Contact Elizabeth, Director of Corporate Membership & Engagement.

    The first installment is taking place next week, April 29, and will include from Ste. Michelle Estates: David Dearie, President & CEO, Dan Heller, EVP of Sales and Melody Zhang, Chief Human Resources Officer.

    WOTVS Corporate Members will hear from senior male executives why they are committed to DE&I and what we can all be doing to break barriers and create a culture of inclusivity in our communities and companies. Joined by a DE&I leader, together, these unscripted live chats will dig into the topic through authentic conversation about why DE&I is important to them, who has influenced them along their life and career path, and their vision for the future of the alcohol beverage industry. Expect frank questions, honest answers and real-life lessons on how these senior male executives commit to taking action as an individual, a community member, and a corporate leader.

    “DE&I is not a ‘she’ thing or a ‘he’ thing, it is a ‘we’ thing, which is why since the inception of Women of the Vine & Spirits in 2015, we have engaged men to actively participate year-round in the organization,” said Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits, Deborah Brenner. “We know that change starts at the top and that the alcohol beverage industry is still primarily led by men. Together, we can accelerate the pace to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry for all to thrive.”

    Upcoming “Breaking Barriers” Live Chats will be facilitated by Deborah Brenner and include a powerful lineup of respected leaders in the industry, including:

    April 29
    David Dearie, President & CEO, Ste. Michelle Estates
    Dan Heller, EVP of Sales, Ste. Michelle Estates
    Melody Zhang, Chief Human Resources Officer, Ste. Michelle Estates

    June 16
    Terry Arnold, SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
    Barkley J. Stuart, EVP, Director, Government Affairs, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
    Marbet Lewis, CEO & Partner, Spiritus Law

    August 18
    Carl Carlson, President, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
    Bruce Hunter, Managing Director, Shaw-Ross International Importers
    Lauren Mutti, VP, Labor & Employment Counsel, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

    October 13
    Gus Bozzo, EVP, National Accounts, Breakthru Beverage Group
    Joseph Bruhin, CIO, Breakthru Beverage Group
    Kate Jerkens, SVP, Global Sales, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

    December 15
    Steven Billey, General Manager, Bronco Wine Company
    Marc Hirten, President, Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd.
    Clarice Turner, President, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

    The series is open to Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Members and their teams. To learn more, register for the events, or join as a member visit womenofthevine.com.

    Interested in Corporate Membership? Contact Director of Corporate Membership & Engagement, Elizabeth Campbell Boyd at elizabeth@womenofthevine.com.

    Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Members include Founding Member, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Diamond Members: Breakthru Beverage Group; Bronco Wine Company; Brown-Forman; E. & J. Gallo Winery; Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd.; Moët Hennessy USA; Republic National Distributing Company; Shaw-Ross International Importers, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Platinum Members: Beam Suntory; Constellation Brands; J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines; Pernod Ricard USA; and William Grant & Sons. For a full list of Corporate Members including those at the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Associate level, visit the Corporate Members tab at womenofthevine.com.

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    About Women of the Vine & Spirits
    Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) is the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive (DE&I) era that empowers all to succeed. WOTVS and its members recognize a diverse team leads to successful business development and innovation (BD&I). Our members connect through our global network and collaborate across all industry sectors. We provide our members with benefits that include education, training, mentorship, and networking as well as tools, services and resources toward DE&I, BD&I and personal development. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com.

    Corporate Membership Contact:
    Elizabeth Campbell Boyd
    elizabeth@womenofthevine.com
    925-980-7791

    Media Contact:
    Olivia Campbell
    olivia@womenofthevine.com  
    (323) 610-2322

     April 22, 2021