|
Board of Advisors
Steven Becker
|
| Mr. Becker has been First Vice President and Treasurer of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. since 1994. Prior to that he had been Vice President, Finance of the Company since he joined in 1985. From 1978 to 1985, Mr. Becker was employed by Knickerbocker Liquors Corporation, a large New York wine and spirits wholesaler. His duties included general management, legal and compliance as well as running their importing division. In 1978, Mr. Becker received his Masters of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1976, Mr. Becker received his Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law. |
 |
|
Born and raised in Montreal, Ken is fluent in French, English and German. These three languages made his cultural adaptation very easy. Ken consults world wide on many wine projects and runs his business from his office in Oakville, Ontario Canada. His educational programs on wine are keeping him busy as he travels the world expounding on wine and how simplistic and fun it can be. It is his dream to take the mystery out of wine and share his passion with others.
|
 |
| |
James (Jim) Brady
|
Jim Brady was one of the first Toast to Humanity Board Members, joining in 2000, Jim has been instrumental in the development of this worldwide brand.
Unlike our chairman, Ken Chase and several other distinguished Board Members, JIM was not (and is still not) a wine expert. his decision to become a Board Member was the result of Bonnie's passion and determination to pursue her dream of helping humanity, with wine being one of the vehicles. |
 |
|
Jim brings his business experience and common sense to this Board.
Early in his career, before entrepreneur was a household word, he was one! Over the years, he conceived, started, grew and eventually sold several businesses. Later, he was called upon to assist in turning around businesses as diverse as pest control distribution to ready-mixed concrete. He has mentored several businesses that led to initial public offerings. In addition to the Toast to Humanity International Board Jim sits on two other boards.
Jim is a Vietnam era Navy Veteran and the proud father of three truly wonderful children. Holder of two patents, his creative side is expressed in the concept and execution of things that make a difference.. |
| |
|
| |
Vivien Gay
Founder, Vinum Global
|
A Sales & Marketing Executive, with more than 20 years of experience in the wine industry, Vivien Gay is known for successfully building brands through aggressive and innovative sales and marketing strategies.
She has held Vice President level positions with Southern Wine and Spirits, Callaway Vineyards and Winery, St. Supéry in the early 1990s and from there moved to Sonoma-Cutrer as vice president of sales and marketing. In 1996, she founded her own consulting company, |
 |
|
The Isosceles Group, a sales and marketing firm for the beverage industry which specialized in cause-related marketing programs. During this time, Vivien designed marketing strategies that broke new ground for clients such as Diageo, Clos du Bois, Graham’s Port, Sokol Blosser, Domaine St. George, Firesteed, and Ramlosa Water. Eventually one of her clients, Clos Du Val, lured her away. For the past few years she has been heading up the team for both European and US sales and marketing supporting Clos Du Val Wine Company from Napa, Taltarni Vineyards from Australia and Domaine de Nizas from France.
After moving from London where she had grown up – via Pitcairn Island and a Royal Geographical Expedition – Vivien settled in San Francisco, CA over twenty years ago. It was not long after she found her way into the California wine industry, having had a something of a maverick father who owned a vineyard in Dorset, England.
Vivien divides her time between San Francisco and Sonoma. She is an active member of the local community in San Francisco and also the wine community both nationally and internationally.. She has regularly judged at the Reno West Coast Wine Fair and, prior to that, at the San Francisco Wine Fair. She is a frequent speaker at industry events, addressing topics from ‘Diversity Marketing’ to ‘Wine Trends for the New Millenium’. She is a founding member of Women for Wine Sense. She served on the Board of Directors for Project Open Hand, which delivers meals to people with AIDS in San Francisco and Oakland from 1998-2002. In addition, she supports the Human Rights Campaign at a local and national level through the Federal Club and was honored to receive the Charles M. Holmes HRC Equality Award for her work in 2002. In 2003 she also received an award for her visionary work with the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. |
| |
|
| |
Joseph M. Gill
|
| |
In 2001, with an eighteen-year career in tourism and hospitality sales and marketing, Joe began a new endeavor, opening the Miami office of The Golf Consultancy. Joe is the Managing Partner for this business.
Joe began his travel and hospitality career in Boston. Beginning with the global travel company Woodside Travel Management, he moved to several roles with ITT Sheraton. These included Director of Corporate Travel Sales Worldwide from Sheratons World Headquarters and then in New York City as Director of Sales for a 3-hotel complex offering a 2,450 room total inventory, The Sheraton Hotels of New York. |
 |
|
He was then recruited by Hutchison Whampoa, a Hong Kong based conglomerate and was named as the Miami based Pre-Opening Director of Sales and Marketing for the $500 million, 1,350 room Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, on Grand Bahama Island. As the projects first U.S. employee, Joe initiated all required business activities including incorporation of the company, selection and contracting for the resorts Advertising and Public Relations agencies, leasing of office space, full hiring and staff development as well as the creation of the full sales and marketing plan.
He actively worked with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism serving on the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board Executive Committee, as head of its Airlift Committee and on its Marketing Committee.
Throughout his career, Joe has served on a variety of industry Boards and Councils, has been a featured speaker at numerous trade conferences and established himself as a leader and innovator in product and program development. He is currently a member of the USGA (United States Golf Association) and the NGF (National Golf Foundation).
He is also a Board of Governors Member of the members Club at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, an Ambassador Member of The Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, Ireland and is a USGA golf course rater through the Golf Association of Florida.
A native of Boston he attended Northeastern University there. Through his career he has traveled to over forty countries around the world, is married, with no children and resides in Miami, Florida. |
| |
|
| |
Barry Larvin
July 2000 to Present - Founder and CEO, Wine Design, Founding Board Member |
| |
Wine Design is a wine label design business that focuses on food and wine. The signature label and pairings have been presented with success to a major retailer. Wine Design works along with Las Vegas Odyssey, a Celebration of Wine, Food, and Art. March 2001 to 2003 - Director of Wine, Siena Hotel Spa Casino, Reno, Nevada. |
 |
|
Master Sommelier of Siena Hotel’s Enoteca Wine Cellar; selects wine for an 18,000 bottle wine cellar and retail shop; goes beyond the wine experiences by offering 200 wines by the glass with wine flights; pares food and wines for guests of the Chefís Tuscan Table; gives wine courses for guests, customers, and employees; heavily involved in training programs for employees by overseeing, leading, and teaching the Enoteca team in all aspects of wine including control, costing, staffing, and pricing responsibility.
June 1996 to July 2000 - Director of Wine, Rio Suite Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Successfully created the World’s Best Cellar with complete autonomy as an interesting attraction and innovative wine bar while remaining a working cellar with a focus on profit. This has proven to be a world-famous operation due to the accolades and awards received. Particular emphasis has been placed on the following areas:
 |
Purchased all wines and highly desirable products that improve profit and enhance status. |
|
Increased wine sales from 100 bottles to 200 bottles per day for 30 internal clients. |
|
Instigated America’s most sophisticated wine-by-the glass program. |
|
Writing, creating, and designing wine lists for the hotelís seventeen restaurants, banquets, bars, room service, high-limit salons, and conference center. |
|
Responsible for National Airlines’ cabin crew training and buying of wines to enhance their high service profile. |
|
Conducted lectures and seminars to employees, clients, and private organizations. |
|
| |
|
| |
James Sichel
Vintner, Maison, Sichel, France, Founding Board Member |
| |
The Sichel Family have established one of the most exciting and original Bordeaux nÈgociant companies, through on going development ever since the foundation of the company in the 19th century. Being producers and winemakers Maison Sichel has based its success on innovation and tradition.
In 1938 James Sichel’s grandfather joined with three other families to purchase the legendary, but then very run down, CHATEAU PALMER (AC Margaux). Today, commentators and buyers in tasting notes and countless articles pay tribute to the fact that while classed as a third growth, it frequently out-performs many first growth estates. |
 |
|
In 1961 Sichel acquired another Margaux property CHATEAU D'ANGLUDET at Cantenac. It is a sizeable estate with vines covering about a third of its 200 acres. In 1961 it was even more run down than Palmer, today critics agree that it ranks as one of the top Cru Bourgeois of the MÈdoc.
In 1967 Sichel broke new ground by becoming the first merchant to set up its own winery, CAVE BEL AIR at Saint-Maixant near Bordeaux. Hitherto, nÈgociants bought and blended wine, aged it and offered it for sale. The Sichel way for 30 years has been to buy the grapes and make the wine, thereby creating and controlling the quality of the product at every stage. This, in essence, is the vital ingredient of the philosophy which guides the Sichel operation today.
To the outsider, who has always associated the Sichel name with Bordeaux, probably the most significant development came in the late 80’s. Recognising the potential for making quality wine in the South of France, Sichel took control of DOMAINE DU REVEREND at Cucugnan in the CorbiËres. It is a modern wine making facility with contract rights for buying grapes. In 1990, the family increased its CorbiËres investment with the purchase of DOMAINE DU TRILLOL. |
| |
|
| |
Richard Sowalsky
Clos Pegase |
| |
As winemaker at William Hill Estate in the benchland of southeast Napa Valley, Richard Sowalsky oversees all aspects of wine production, working closely with his winemaking staff and viticultural team. With extensive winemaking experience and a diverse educational background that includes enology, medicine and the culinary arts, Sowalsky is well equipped to maintain the wineryís outstanding track record in creating intense yet balanced wines with true Napa Valley character. |
 |
|
“I’m thrilled by this great opportunity and am excited to work with the extraordinary fruit coming off the William Hill estate,” says Sowalsky.
Before coming to William Hill Estate, Sowalsky spent six years at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville as associate winemaker. In this role, he was the “hands-on” winemaker responsible for all aspects of ultra premium wine production for Bordeaux varietals, including the Napa Valley, District and Reserve tiers. During this time, Sowalsky gained extensive exposure to many hundreds of acres of premium Cabernet family grapes grown in a variety of the choicest sub-appellations within the Napa Valley. Together with his vineyard team, Sowalsky monitored grape growth and development throughout the growing season, and was ultimately responsible for all harvest decisions. Previous to his promotion to associate winemaker, Sowalsky spent two years at Mondavi as a research enologist, before which he worked at other top wineries, including Handley Cellars in Philo, California, and Havens Wine Cellars in Napa.
“I see winemaking as similar in some respects to jazz music: informed improvisation through a vision of individual style is key to success in either discipline,” notes Sowalsky. His philosophy involves becoming attuned to the particulars of a vineyard site and using his vast body of knowledge as a starting point for approaching each unique lot of grapes. Sowalsky’s passion for blending has been informed through many hours dedicated to tasting and experimenting with many hundreds of individual wine lots each vintage, resulting in a finely honed understanding of synergies achievable through this often-counterintuitive process. It is therefore not surprising that one of Sowalsky’s greatest assets as a winemaker is his diverse academic background, which includes study in enology, food science, culinary arts, immunology and neurology.
In the course of his education, Sowalsky pursued degrees from such prestigious institutions as U.C. Davis, University of Maryland, California Culinary Academy and Amherst College. He is a published author and sits on the editorial review board of the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. When not making wine or walking the rows of vines at the winery’s 142-acre estate, Sowalsky enjoys scuba diving, hiking and reading. |
| |
|
| |
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. SPHR
CEO, Thurgood Marshall Foundation |
| |
Frequently sought out by national and international media outlets such as CNBC, Reuters, Black Enterprise, HR Magazine, Time, Fortune, and The Wall Street Journal for his opinion and comments, Mr. Taylor has developed a reputation for providing creative strategic advice to employers facing complex human resource issues that have serious legal and public relations implications. |
 |
|
As President of McGuireWoods HR Strategies (MWHRS), Mr. Taylor manages an HR consulting firm that provides senior-level consulting on human resource issues that have significant legal and public relations implications. MWHRS specializes in the following areas: litigation prevention, diversity initiatives and executive search, labor/union consulting, affirmative action programs and compliance, employee benefits consulting, and immigration consulting.
In addition to his role at MWHRS, Mr. Taylor is the chairman of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest human resource professional organization, representing 195,000 members in 100 countries. He is also actively involved in various professional and community organizations, and serves on the following boards: Drake University Board of Trustees; Charlotte Chamber of Commerce (general counsel/Executive Committee member); University of Miami President’s Council; Blumenthal Performing Arts Center; and Queen’s University/McColl School of Business Board of Visitors.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods HR Strategies, Mr. Taylor held the following senior executive human resources and legal department positions: executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Compass Group USA, Inc., a $6+ billion food services company employing over 120,000 employees throughout North America; vice president, Human Resources/Employee Relations for Blockbuster Entertainment Group/VIACOM, a 50,000 employee, $2+ billion media retailer; vice president, legal affairs for Alamo Rent-A-Car, Inc., a $2+ billion auto rental company employing over 25,000 employees throughout the world; and general counsel and senior vice president of human resources, Paramount Parks Inc., the theme park and live entertainment division of Paramount Pictures/VIACOM, employing over 20,000 full-time and seasonal employees throughout North America and Europe.
Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Science in Communication (B.S.C.), with general honors, from the University of Miami; his Master of Arts in Mass Communication (M.A.), with honors, from Drake University; and his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.), with honors, from The Drake University Law School, where he served as research editor of the Drake Law Review and argued on the National Moot Court Team. He is a member of the Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C. bars, and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. |
| |
|
| |
Fabian Unterzaucher
General Manager, The Westin Poinsett Hotel, Greenville, South Carolina |
| |
Fabian’s professional experience includes, but is not limited to, the following: |
 |
|
|
General Manager at THE WESTIN POINSETT HOTEL, Greenville, South Carolina, 200 rooms, member of the “Historic Hotels of America”. |
|
Director of Operations at THE CHARLES HOTEL, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 293 rooms with two award winning restaurants “Rialto” and “Henriettas Table” and the Hall of fame jazz club “Regattabar” |
|
Director of Food and Beverage at the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, Boston, Massachusetts, a five star, 5 diamond hotel with the award winning restaurant “Aujourd’hui” |
|
Director of Food and Beverage at the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, Berlin, Germany, one of Europe’s top rated hotel. |
|
Director of Restaurants at the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, Chicago, Illinois, one of the highest rated hotels in the US. |
|
Chef at various restaurants, including: MAXIMS, Paris, France, PAVILLON ELYSEE, Paris, France, SPATENHAUS AN DER OPER, Munich, Germany |
|
| |
| His education and training include: |
| |
|
Hotel Management School of Lausanne, Switzerland (EHL) Alliance Francaise, Paris, France: Diploma for commercial studies Chef apprenticeship, Munich, Germany |
|
Director of Operations at THE CHARLES HOTEL, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 293 rooms with two award winning restaurants “Rialto” and “Henriettas Table” and the Hall of fame jazz club “Regattabar” |
|
| |
| Past Members |
|
