Staff
Donnell Brown
Kait Libbey
Officers
Chair
Rich Schaefers
Nuveen Natural Capital
California
As Vice President of Viticulture at Nuveen, Dr. Schaefers protects vineyard investments through sound, science-based management practices. He is active in the grape and wine research community, with service on the Board of the American Vineyard Foundation, a commissioner with the Sonoma County Winegrowers and is a past president of the Mendocino Winegrape Commmission.
Vice Chair
Emily Hodson
Virginia Wine Board (Veritas Vineyard and Winery)
Virginia
Emily is head winemaker at her family business in Afton, VA. Her philosophy involves trying to achieve natural, balanced expression of the fruit--especially true Virginia-grown varieties--by focusing on attention to detail and cultural practices. She has served as the Virginia Wine Board's representative to NGRA since 2019 and founded its Virginia Winemakers Research Exchange.
Secretary
Chad Vargas
Atlas Vineyard Management and Advantage Vines Nursery
Oregon
In 2017, Chad co-founded NewGen Vineyard Services, followed by the establishment of Advantage Vines Nursery in 2018. These ventures allowed him to gain a unique perspective on the vine stock supply chain, both as a customer and a supplier. In 2023, Atlas Vineyard Management acquired both companies, and Chad now leads the operations of Advantage Vines Nursery.
Treasurer
Anji Perry
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
California
Anji is Viticulturist/Vineyard Research Director at J. Lohr, where she carefully analyzes soils to determine ideal sites to nurture specific varieties, oversees irrigation and crop load management, collaborates with vineyard managers and the winemaking team, and works with scientists as an industry collaborator.
Research Chair
Nick Dokoozlian
GALLO
California
Past Chair
Vacant
Regional Representatives
California
Keith Striegler
E. & J. Gallo Winery
California
Midwest Region
Nancie Oxley
St. Julian Winery
Michigan
Northeast Region
John Martini
Anthony Road Wine Company
New York
Northwest Region
Chad Vargas
Atlas Vineyard Management
Oregon
Southeast Region
Emily Hodson
Virginia Wine Board (Veritas Vineyard & Winery)
Virginia
Southwest Region
Seth Urbanek
William Chris Wines
Texas
Commodity Representatives
Juice Grapes
Mark Amidon
National Grape Cooperative / Welch's
New York
Wine Grapes
Eric Pooler
Nuveen Natural Capital
California
Table Grapes
Franka Gabler
California Table Grape Commission
California
Rootstock/Nursery
Dustin Hooper
Sunridge Nurseries
California
Vinifera Species
Andrew Zaninovich
Sunview Vineyards
California
Raisins
Jenna Smiley
Sun-Maid Growers of California
California
Native/Hybrid Species
Dennis Rak
Double A Vineyards
New York
At-Large Representatives
Stephanie Bolton
Lodi Winegrape Commission
California
Natalie Collins
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California
Nick Dokoozlian
GALLO
California
Paul Dray
American Vineyard Foundation
California
Matt Frank
Trinchero Family Estates
California
Randy Heinzen
Vineyard Professional Services
California
Justin Jackson
New York Wine & Grape Foundation
New York
Allison Jordan
Wine Institute
California
Kevin Judkins
Inland Desert Nursery
Washington
Joe Juniper
Vermilion Valley Vineyards
Ohio
Dan Martinez
Martinez Orchards
California
Michael Naito
Allied Grape Growers
California
Anji Perry
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
California
Jason Saling
Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group
California
Julie Tarara
Washington State Wine Commission
Washington
Jim Trezise
WineAmerica
Washington, DC
Vacant
Science Advisory Council
Sally Schneider
Bruce Reisch
