Year of graduation and degree:
2004, MBA & MS in Viticulture and Enology
Current job title/company:
Gallo, Chief Beverage Officer
What have you been up to since you graduated?
Gallo has provided me a chance to move around a lot. After graduation, I spent two years managing three pilot facilities including starting up a Pilot Winery. I spent three years managing winemaking in Livingston and Fresno. Next, I was the Director of Gallo’s Wine and Grape Supply team. In 2012, I became the Senior Director of the Gallo Spirits Making team right as New Amsterdam Vodka was launched. That was a wild five years of huge growth for Gallo in the Spirits world. Since 2017, I have gradually had parts of the winemaking team added to my responsibility. By 2021, all of Gallo’s Central Valley winemaking reported up through me. In 2024, the coastal winemaking and quality teams as well as international winemaking were added. In 2025, most of Gallo’s research teams were added to the team.
Do you feel your UC Davis experience benefited your career?
At Davis, I learned so much. Previously, I only had a background in process engineering. After Davis, I could talk about all aspects of winemaking from viticulture, microbiology, sensory and grape-specific chemistry to finance and business strategy.
What is the most rewarding part of being in the industry/your job?
I really enjoy growing and developing the teams that work for Gallo. From the fifty interns every year who are starting their careers to the forty-year industry veterans who are on my teams, I constantly try to help them develop something new in their career.
What are some of the most difficult challenges you have faced in the grape or wine industry?
The contraction of our industry over the last few years has been difficult. We were previously in a 30 year growth phase. The challenge we all have is to find a way to appeal to consumers who are increasingly turning away from alcoholic beverages.
Is there anything you would like to share with current UCD V&E students?
My advice to the students is to be open to whatever challenge comes your way. I was not a spirits or beer drinker. However, I tried to rise to the challenge of leading growing teams in those areas. New challenges are fun and exciting. Chase the challenge and do not succumb to the fear/doubt. UC Davis has prepared you for more than you know.
What is one unique thing about you?
My first job was playing professional rugby in the south of France (USAP-Perpignan).