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Dr. Deborah Aller
Senior Extension Associate at Cornell University
Debbie is a senior extension associate at Cornell University and program coordinator for the New York Soil Health Initiative. She is a soil scientist by training and conducts applied research and coordinates extension activities to assist farmers in adopting more sustainable soil management practices including the use of biochar. She has been researching and increasing awareness and understanding of biochar with farmers for the past 10 years. Debbie also serves on the board of directors for the United States Biochar Initiative. She earned her M.Sc. in Environmental Science and International Development from the University of Edinburgh and Ph.D. in Soil Science from Iowa State University.
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Eric Patterson
Cultural Anthropology Ph.D student, University of California-Davis
Eric Patterson is a Cultural Anthropology Ph.D. student at the University of California Davis and is also training to be a winemaker in the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program. A local from South Carolina, he obtained a B.S in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina before going on to work in Product Marketing Strategy in Chicago, Illinois. Deciding to follow his passion, he went on to obtain his M.F.A degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Arizona with a focus on China. His current doctoral research focuses on the social, political, and economic impact of regions from emerging wine cultures. Additionally, he is working with the UC Davis Soil Biodiversity and Health Lab to understand the combination of vineyard soil analysis with cultural vineyard management.
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Dr. Alexa McDaniel
Viticulture Research Scholar
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.
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Fiona Mak
Owner, SMAK Wines
An international woman of style and taste, Fiona grew up in Hong Kong before attending university in the US. After graduating with a degree in Hospitality Management from Syracuse University, she began her prolific career in the restaurant industry.
Fiona managed a series of reputable establishments such as Morimoto in Philadelphia, Haru Sushi in New York, and most notably Quality Meats, an upscale steakhouse in Manhattan. While there, she trained with the Court of Master Sommelier and earned the Certified Sommelier title.
Her drive to continue learning led her to move across the country and attend the Walla Walla Community College Enology and Viticulture program in 2013. During her studies, she was invited to work at the famed Opus One Winery in Napa Valley for the 2014 Vintage. Then, what began as part time lab work evolved into full time lab management at Artifex Wine Company. Her exposure to winemaking techniques and styles was invaluable due to the nature of the custom crush business which caters to over a dozen clients at once. This, along with her frequent travels to the French Riviera sparked the idea for a unique winery focusing only on Rosé, and SMAK was born.
What can you find Fiona doing when she’s not hustling to get SMAK to the masses? She and her husband Peter have started a Dumpling Company called Wallala Dumplings, an online shop that sells handmade dumplings in Walla Walla.
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Reggie Leonard II
Co-Founder, Oenoverse
Affectionately dubbed as the "Virginia Wine Hype Man" by VinePair, Reggie's authentic approach and gregarious personality have earned him a well-deserved reputation. In his role as a Virginia wine ambassador, Reggie partners with the Virginia Wine Marketing Office, championing the state's diverse winemaking scene. Serving as a judge for regional and statewide wine competitions (Shenandoah Cup, Monticello Cup, and the current Virginia Governor’s Cup) have been formative recent experiences in his journey. His influence extends beyond Virginia, as he is an award recipient and alumni ambassador for Wine Unify, an organization dedicated to fostering inclusivity in the wine industry. Reggie's notable presence in esteemed publications like SommTV, VinePair, Punch, and the Boston Globe underscores his rising influence in the industry. Being named part of the '23 class of The VinePair 50, and the '24 class of SevenFifty Daily's Drink Innovators further solidify his status as a rising force in the wine world.
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George Hall
Territory Sales Manager, Waterloo Containers
George Hall brings over 36 years of sales experience to the wine bottle and closure industry at the family-owned Waterloo Container. In the field, he & his team work closely with customers to identify their needs and to provide long term, competitive packaging solutions. A practitioner of the “servant leadership” marketing philosophy, drawing on the expertise of our world class industry partners.