Washington Wine's New Leader Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Following a months-long search, the Washington State Wine Commission has hired a new Executive Director.
After more than 25 years with Gallo Winery, and a couple of years in semi-retirement, Kristina Kelley says she’s thrilled to be here …
KELLEY … “And even more important, I my home state, you know, that I would be working on a portfolio of wines that were here in Washington and that became very, very appealing to me, to be able to use this depth of experience into something I was very excited about.”
Kelley says there’s an incredible group of people behind Washington Wine and the state’s wine industry …
KELLEY … “I also think it’s this sense of community that really comes across very loud and clear. If you think about Washington wine there’s a wonderful sense of collaboration and I think that’s unique to our industry.”
Kelley says she’s already got a “to do list” …
KELLEY … “Right off the bat, we’re working on the new 5-year strategic plan, which we’re in the process of finalizing, which we should be ready to share here withing the next month. So, it’s looking at the 5-year strategic plan that was built and being developed prior to my arrival and now it’s just looking at it with a new set of eyes, understanding where we might want to lean in and where are the opportunities. So, finalizing that because it’s an incredibly important part.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on Kristina Kelley, the new Executive Director at the Washington State Wine Commission.
