 |
 |
       |
|
     
|
|
Steven Becker Thomas Belelieu James Brady Jean-Pierre Brehier Roger Collis Vivien Gay Joseph M. Gill Barry Larvin James Sichel Richard Sowalsky Johnny C. Taylor, Jr Austin Towery Fabian Unterzaucher |
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.
Back to top Thomas Belelieu General Manager, Whitehall Hotel — a Chicago Landmark & Tradition The determination of learning more about wines and making friendship with winemakers devoted Thomas’ time to wine studies during his hotel and restaurant management classes in Switzerland. Soon, he passed a vigorous test and was admitted to the Sommelier Society in Switzerland. Thomas immigrated to Canada in the early seventies. Thomas ardently lobbied various colleges and institutions — along with the Ontario Government — for wine education. Ultimately he became the Founding Chairman of the Sommelier Guild of Canada, and held that post until 1988. Thomas was instrumental in developing and writing — along with a prestigious group of wine personalities — the Guild’s Educational Program and Examination. This examination is still being used in several Hospitality Colleges in Canada. Thomas introduced a complex wine educational program, and today WALT DISNEY WORLD has over 300 certified sommeliers, the largest concentration in any city or in any company around the world. Thomas was also part of the founding team of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Today he lives in Chicago. During his five years as General Manager at The Whitehall Hotel, Thomas brought to Chicago The Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certificate and Advanced Level Exams various times, along with the Society of Wine Educators’ local examinations. The Whitehall Hotel also proudly claims to be the “wine industry hub” of Chicago, as over sixty percent of national and international wine related travelers make it their home away from home there. Thomas has lectured around the world about wine, including France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and certainly North America. Back to top 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. Back to top Jean-Pierre Brehier Award Winning Gourmet Chef, Author, and TV Celebrity  Jean-Pierre attributes his love of cooking to the inspiration of the fresh Mediterranean
tastes that abounded where he grew up in Aix-en-Provence in the South of France,
and to the lessons he learned from his mother, an Italian Cordon Bleu Chef. He
further trained at Le Vendme in Aix-en-Provence and L'Ousta de Baumanière in
Les Baux-de-Provence, before coming to America in 1973.
His former restaurant, The Left Bank, where he was chef-proprietor for 21 years, was not only Gourmet Magazine’s choice as the #1 restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but has been named one of the best 100 restaurants in America by Condè Nast. In addition to being an award winning chef, Jean-Pierre is an author bringing you over 150 delectable recipes in his most current cookbook, Incredible Cuisine. He is also a television veteran. Jean-Pierre shot his first cooking series for PBS in 1981. In 1994 his program Sunshine Cuisine aired 80 shows on 200 TV stations across America, and in 1998 his show Incredible Cuisine aired on 250 stations. From 1998 to 2001 he made 28 appearances on NBC’s Today Show, as well as appeared on Discovery’s Home Matters, and TNN’s The Crook and Chase Morning Show. He has even appeared on Larry King’s Radio Show. In 1997 Jean-Pierre launched his gourmet cooking school. It quickly became the hottest place in South Florida to enjoy gourmet food, while learning the inside-secrets to gourmet cooking and entertaining. Back to top Roger Collis International Herald Tribune, London, England  Roger Collis is a veteran corporate in-fighter who long ago recognized that humor
is the better part of valor and left to become a writer and broadcaster, with
an occasional foray as a consultant into the management world. He is the author
of “If My Boss Calls, Make Sure You Get His Name,” a collection of satire
on the
corporate life. He has since earned worldwide recognition as a business travel guru through his acclaimed columns in the International Herald Tribune, “The Frequent Traveler,” now in its 20th year, and “Ask Roger Collis,” each Friday. The second edition of his bestselling book, “The Survivor’s Guide to Business Travel,” published in 2002, was described by The Times newspaper as “the best source of independent travel advice on the market.” Roger won a special award in the Carlson Wagonlit 2004 press awards for the Business Travel industry. The citation read: “In recognition of services to the business travel industry — for giving an international audience greater understanding of corporate travel’s complexities and for producing consistent, high quality coverage of the industry”. Roger was educated at Liverpool University in England. He is a member of the International Alumni Association of IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, and is the author of Harvard Business School teaching case studies. He served as a commissioned officer in the British Army during his military service. In the 1960s, Roger was a star copywriter with Colman, Prentis & Varley — the largest British international advertising agency at the time. He later became European marketing director and managing director of the Europe headquarters in Lausanne of the U.S. multinational Miles Laboratories, with whom he stayed 11 years; then spent four years as group vice president, responsible for marketing and new business development, with Cederroth, a Swedish-owned healthcare group based in Geneva. His last corporate job was marketing and sales director for Merck, Sharp & Dohme, the British subsidiary of Merck Inc. He subsequently spent as a year as associate editor with International Management magazine, published by McGraw-Hill, before becoming a full-time writer and occasional consultant. In frequent demand as a conference and round-table speaker, broadcaster and film narrator, he commutes worldwide, from his base in London. He is editor and publisher of Truth in Travel, a monthly on-line newsletter. Back to top
Vivien Gay 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. Back to top Barry Larvin  July
2000 to Present - Founder and CEO, Wine Design
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:
Credits and Affiliations
Back to top James Sichel Vintner, Maison, Sichel, France  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. Back to top Richard Sowalsky General Manager, Wine Maker, Buckhorn Cellars  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. Back to top Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. SPHR President, Rushmoredrive.com (A division of IAC)  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. Back to top Austin Towery Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Hampton Golf Clubs  Mr.
Austin joined his current company, Hampton Golf Clubs, in 1999 as the Membership Director at The Golf Club at South Hampton and was promoted to oversee the sales of all Hampton Golf properties in 2001. He was promoted in 2007 to Vice President of Marketing and Sales where he directs the firm’s development and implementation of all marketing, membership, sales and promotional strategies and activities companywide. He and his marketing and sales team create and execute marketing plans with a focus on customer experience and technological innovation.
Austin’s nonprofit affiliations are Toast to Humanity, Monique Burr Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is the co-founder of GodSend Clothiers. He also is the cofounder and host of the “infamous” Plaid Pants Party. A highly successful charity event held every year the Friday night of The Players Championship. In reference to the event’s unique party attire, Austin jokes “the uglier the better!” Back to top Fabian Unterzaucher General Manager, The Westin Poinsett Hotel, Greenville, South Carolina  Fabian’s
professional experience includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Past Advisory Board Members © 2006 Toast To Humanity | All Rights Reserved | info@toasttohumanity.com | Website designed by Aegis |
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.