Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/892087
November 2017 WINES&VINES 23 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS advanced from enologist to director of winery operations. Timm will work with Frank Fam- ily Vineyards winemaker and general manager Todd Graff. Amici hires executive VP Melissa Devore is the new executive vice presi- dent of Amici Cellars in Calistoga, Calif. Devore previously was the vice president of wine buying for Total Wine & More, and prior to that position, she worked for Verizon Communications and Accenture. As executive vice president, a newly created position, Devore will utilize her experi- ence in strategic leadership, sales, supplier relationships, project management, process im- provement and customer service. Devore holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and an MBA in marketing and international business. UC Davis honors Brenneman The University of California, Davis, honored winemaker and facility manager Charles "Chik" Brenneman with an award of distinction. Brenneman oversees all operations at the cam- pus winery, vineyard management at UC Davis and the Oakville Research Center, and works di- rectly with faculty to support the viticulture and enology program. Brenneman joined the uni- versity in 2006 after spending a decade gaining winemaking experience at several wineries in Northern California. He holds a master's degree in food science from UC Davis with a concen- tration in enology. Vinexpo coming to Sonoma County The international wine and spirits trade show Vinexpo will host its 2018 Vinexpo Explorer show in Sonoma County on Sept. 23-25. The program, which launched this year in Austria, is a two-day, invitation-only event offered to key international buyers, distributors and media. NORTHWEST Soon master winemaker at Vanessa Howard Soon is the new master winemaker at Vanessa Vineyards in Cawston, B.C. Prior to joining Vanessa Vineyards, Soon retired from a 37-year career at Calona Vineyards and Sandhill Wines, where he gained notoriety as master winemaker for his award-winning, single-vineyard wines. Formerly a brewmaster, Soon studied biochemistry at the University of British Columbia and business administration at the University of Manitoba before moving to the Okanagan to begin his winemaking career. Dugan promoted to CEO at DeLille Cellars DeLille Cellars co-founder Greg Lill trans- ferred his management responsibilities and role as president and CEO to Tom Dugan. Dugan previously served as general manager and chief operating officer of the winery in Woodinville, Wash. "We are very grateful for Greg's contributions to DeLille Cellars and the Washington wine industry," Chris Upchurch, co-founder and executive wine- maker, said in a news release announcing the change. "Our team will continue to forge the Melissa Devore Howard Soon