Presenters

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.