Happy New Year! We have some introductions to make!
Fall 2016 saw the departure of Direct Sales Manager, John Bellncula who left to pursue his career in wine in a climate conducive to his passion for skiing in Colorado.
While the DTC Team buckled down for a busy holiday season, we searched for the right person to lead them as Direct Sales Manager. We were pleased to find Katherine Stalmann, a seasoned Oregon wine industry veteran with over 10+ years’ experience combined at Adelsheim and Bergstrom wineries. We are excited to welcome Katherine to the team!
On the Distribution side, we’re excited to announce the promotion of Todd Stewart, Sales Manager (USA) to Director of National Sales. Todd has been an advocate of ECV wines for over a decade, first on the Distributor side and then as one of our ECV Sales Managers covering over 20 markets for Elk Cove. Many of you know Todd and his tireless efforts to build the Elk Cove brand around the country. He’ll also support Elk Cove’s other Distribution Sales Managers. Please join us in congratulating Todd!
Claire Cunningham has moved to Port Townsend, Washington to be with her fiancée. We’re excited for Claire and the happy life changes she is making. Her markets have shifted to our other Managers and they’ll be reaching out to you shortly. I’m happy to announce that we have created a new role for her as our Corporate Sales Manager. We hope with this focus Claire can find more opportunities for both Elk Cove and Pike Road around the nation.
This shift obviously left a hole so we searched for another valuable Distribution Sales Manager. Please join us in welcoming Cam Christie to the Elk Cove family! Cameron Christie is a recent Portland transplant and hails from the frigid, wind-swept Canadian prairies (you can’t make him go back). He spent a decade working in wine starting in the Caribbean, then working harvest in Burgundy and then on to London where he managed retail operations for Uncorked Wine Merchants, one of the most acclaimed independent wine merchants in the UK. After a few years in London, he moved to San Francisco to work in sales for Bacio Divino Cellars (Napa), first taking over the CA market, and then expanding into business development across the US and internationally. Most recently, Cam managed a team of eight specialists across Northern California for Moet-Hennessy’s Champagne Portfolio. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, cycling, hiking, camping, film and literary fiction.
One final addition: we have a newly created position for the entire Sales Team, a Sales Coordinator who will be the ‘glue’ that holds all these moving pieces together. Please join us in welcoming Margaret Popenoe to this position. Previously, she was a Tasting Room Associate at our Pike Road Tasting Room. Margaret has an extensive background in the service/hospitality industry with over 16 years’ experience as a server, caterer, barista, yacht stewardess and tasting room manager.
We’re excited to have some new talented people join our team and we hope you all embrace them as well! Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
