Nationwide Search for New Director Underway
October 11, 2018 (Paso Robles, CA) —Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Executive Director Jennifer Porter has announced her plans to leave the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance at the end of 2018 to pursue new opportunities closer to family on the East Coast. The search for a new Executive Director is actively underway. Porter will be assisting the Alliance with the search and the transition.
During Porter’s seven-year tenure working for the 500-member organization, she led a range of consumer and trade marketing efforts that built the regional, national and global reputation of Paso Robles Wine Country. Key achievements under Porter’s leadership were the recognition of 11 new sub-AVAs within Paso Robles, a “Wine Region of the Year” award by Wine Enthusiast in 2013, the integration of associate and hospitality members into the organization’s board of directors, and the publication of a study in 2016 that showed a total economic contribution of the Paso Robles Wine Industry of $1.6 billion annually. In addition, the PRWCA under Jen’s leadership ran four festivals each year that brought visitors to Paso Robles, oversaw a coordinated consumer advertising campaign to target markets, received CDFA grants to market Paso Robles in Texas and Florida, introduced a robust member education program, and oversaw multiple tours each year of media, sommeliers, and wine buyers through Paso Robles, and of Paso Robles wineries to key cities around the United States.
“It’s been a wonderful experience representing Paso Robles Wine Country for the past seven years,” said Porter. “The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is fortunate to have the support of nearly 500 members who truly believe in cooperation and collaboration, a spirit that sets the Paso Robles AVA apart. I am extremely proud of the work the team and I have accomplished in sharing the message of Paso wine.”
An 11-member Search Committee made up of all aspects of the Paso Robles wine community is in place and the search for a new Executive Director is currently moving forward. Interested candidates should look for more information in coming weeks on www.pasowine.com under Classifieds.
“Speaking from a grower’s perspective, Jen has been instrumental in introducing programs that have greatly elevated the quality of grape growing in Paso Robles,” said Jason Yeager of Niner Wine Estates, 2018 Chairman of the PRWCA Board of Directors. “It has been a great pleasure to work with Jen as a member winery, on the board of directors, and as board chairman. I thank her immensely for her years of service to the Alliance and wish her the absolute best in her future endeavors.” Vice Chairman Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard agreed: “Jen has done great work in elevating Paso Robles to the national stage as one of California’s great wine regions. We are confident in the team she has built and look forward to continued progress as we bring on new leadership.”
ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third largest wine region. It encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. FB and Twitter – @PasoRoblesWine, Instagram – @PasoWine, #pasowine
