Presenters

• 

  Paul Wagner

  Instructor, Viticulture and Winery Technology Department - Napa Valley College

  Paul Wagner has been an instructor for Napa Valley College's Viticulture and Winery Technology Department for thirty years. He is also a guest lecturer at many universities, including the Wintour MBA program in Europe, OIV Wine Marketing Master Class at UC Davis, and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. He has spoken at more than ninety conferences throughout the world on wine, wine tourism, wine education, public affairs, and wine marketing. He currently serves as senior advisor of wine tourism for Expedia Cruise Ship Centers.

• 

  Jodi Songer Driedger

  Director of Undergraduate Programs for North Carolina State University's Horticultural Science Department

  Jodi Songer Driedger is a senior lecturer, college advisor, and Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Horticultural Science Department at North Carolina State University. Before joining NCSU five years ago, she spent 20 years teaching agricultural education and family and consumer science at an urban high school in Raleigh. She has instructed learners of all ages through 4-H, FFA, and senior programs, and has authored the textbooks Horticulture Today and Food Science Technology. With over 25 years of curriculum development experience, Jodi has received numerous honors, including the Career Science Math and Technology Award, Governor’s Environmental Educator of the Year, a Kenan Fellowship, and the Governor’s Teaching Network Award. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, canning, and spending time with her husband and children.

• 

  Dr. Sarah Lowder

  Extension Viticulture Specialist and Assistant Professor of Horticulture for University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

  Sarah Lowder is an Assistant Professor in the Horticulture Department and the Extension Viticulture Specialist at the University of Georgia. She serves as the extension viticulturist for bunch and muscadines grapes for Georgia. Her applied research focus seeks to help improve grape production practices in the southeast. She also teaches the undergraduate and graduate level Viticulture Production and Management Course, co-coordinates the Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Region Course (Cortona, Italy), and oversees the UGA Winegrower Internship program.

• 

  Dr. Drew Harner

  Assistant Professor of Viticulture and Extension Specialist for Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

  Drew Harner is an Assistant Professor of Viticulture and a Viticulture Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech. His research program explores how vineyard environmental conditions, insect pests and pathogens, and viticultural management practices interact to influence grapevine biology and fruit chemical composition. In collaboration with other VCE colleagues, his extension program provides educational programming and workshops to both new and seasoned Mid-Atlantic grape producers.

• 

  Nicole Chesney

  Executive Director of the NC Wine & Grape Council

  Nicole is the Executive Director of the NC Wine & Grape Council. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpersonal & Business Communications from George Mason University, a WSET Level 3 Certificate, and a Master of Business Administration in Wine Marketing & Management from INSEEC University in Bordeaux, France. She is eager to help elevate North Carolina’s reputation as a premier wine-producing region and dynamic tourism destination.

• 

  Jay Cummins

  Representative for Waterloo Container

  Jay is a strategic sales and marketing executive with over 40 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry. He currently works with Waterloo Container, a leading supplier of wine bottles and closures, to drive growth in the Southeastern U.S., focusing on the Carolinas and Georgia. Throughout his career, Jay has led high-performing teams across global markets, tackling market execution, complex sales challenges, mergers, diversification, innovation, and sustainability. He has held leadership roles at Gallo, Sazerac, Julius Schepps, Nomacorc, and Next Century Spirits. At Waterloo Container, Jay brings deep industry expertise to a company recognized as a one-stop shop for high-quality packaging solutions.

• 

  Dr. Alexa McDaniel

  Viticulture Extension and Research Scholar for North Carolina State University

  Alexa is the Viticulture Research Scholar at North Carolina State University. In her current role, she works with NC grape growers and NC Cooperative Extension Agents to provide extension education materials for best viticulture practices and conducts grower driven field-applied research. She received her Ph.D. in Horticulture from Washington State University where her research focused on alternative pest management tools for grapevines.