Session

Growing Our Future Leaders
Business/Operations Breakout Session

One of the challenges we face as an industry is identifying and supporting future leaders in vineyard, cellar, and business operations. From creating “on ramps” to enter the industry to providing vehicles for career development, this panel aims to share successful strategies for creating an environment -in our local communities and within our organizations – which will allow us to find and grow the next cohort of experts and innovators.

*Session receives 1.5 hours CEU: Professional Development - Leadership Skills, Meeting Facilitation   

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Moderator:

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Craig Ledbetter
Vino Farms, LLC, California

Craig Ledbetter graduated from California State University, Fresno; with a BS in Agriculture Economics. He is the part of the third generation that has joined Vino Farms, LLC, and the fourth generation in California farming.

Craig joined Vino Farms, Inc May 1st, 2006 as Vice President of Sales. While he manages the day-to-day operations of the family and clients 5300 acres of vineyards in Lodi, he also handles all winery relations and grape sales for Lodi and Paso Robles areas. He is part of the G3 generation that operates roughly 16,000 acres of vineyards throughout CA. He is also closely tied to several of Vino Farms large clients which requires him to travel the state.

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Speakers:

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Ray Johnson
Sonoma State University, California

Ray Johnson is the Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State, the first university in the United States to offer a BS in Wine Business in 1998, the first to offer a Wine MBA in 2008 and the first in the world to offer an Executive Wine MBA in 2012.

Johnson joined the wine business in 1986 at the Christian Brothers’ Greystone Cellars in Saint Helena, California. He went on to sell wine, first on the supplier side, and later in retail, working directly with consumers. He earned his Master’s in Wine Business from the University of Adelaide in South Australia and taught for fourteen years.

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Justin Leigon
Piña Vineyard Management, California

Justin Leigon became a partner at Piña Vineyard Management in 2022 after several years acting as Head Viticulturist. A proud husband and father of three, the family-founded company has been a perfect fit for his skills and aspirations.

Currently, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of high-end winegrape farming and is involved in vineyard development with Pina. After beginning his career in wine production, Leigon attended the University of California, Davis where he received his B.S. in Viticulture and Enology.

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Miguel Luna
Silverado Farming Company, California

Miguel Luna is a Partner and Viticulturist at Silverado Farming Co. in Napa Valley. He moved from his native country of Mexico to California at age thirteen and began working in the vineyards a year later. He then interned at Pahlmeyer, Dana Estates, Atelier Melka, and Bordeaux’s Chateau de Fieuzal. 

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Future Dates

SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
1515 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

January 23-25, 2024
Exhibits: January 24 & 25

January 28-30, 2025
Exhibits: January 29 & 30

January 27-29, 2026
Exhibits: January 28 & 29

January 26 – 28, 2027
Exhibits: January 27 & 28

January 25 – 27, 2028
Exhibits: January 26 & 27

January 23 – 25, 2029
Exhibits: January 24 & 25

January 22 – 24, 2030
Exhibits: January 23 & 24

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