Winery OTHER REGION – Iza Babinska
Grants & Funding Committee Chair
Co-Owner, Manager, Folklor Wine & Cider
Izabela Babinska co-owns and manages Folklor Wine & Cider in Charlevoix, MI. Izabela has worked in Tip of the Mitt vineyards and tasting rooms since 2018. She planted vines at her home farm in 2021 and released the first Folklor wines in 2023. At Folklor, she is focused on growing and producing organically-farmed ciders and wines, including both vinifera and hybrid grape varieties. Izabela holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management and has spent over a decade in the non-profit industry. She is an experienced and effective grant writer and project manager.
[email protected]
NW Winery- Mike Laing
Owner/Director of MAWBYness, MAWBY
Mike was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. After graduating high school in 1997 he attended Miami University in Oxford, OH majoring in Mathematics Education, graduating in 2001. Mike taught high school math for 4 years in Barrington, IL and for two years at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Mike moved to Traverse City, MI in 2007 to work on his family’s vineyard in Suttons Bay, MI. Shortly through the summer of 2007, Mike started working at MAWBY Winery. In 2008, he traveled to Marlborough, New Zealand to work in another winery and gain more winemaking experience. Shortly after returning from New Zealand, the Laing family decided to partner with Larry Mawby. Working closely with Larry and his family over the next decade, Mike learned to make and sell sparkling wine. In 2010 Mike and his brother Pete Laing launched bigLITTLE Wines, a still wine focused brand, from grapes grown on the Leelanau Peninsula. 2023 was Mike’s 17th harvest at MAWBY. Today, the Laing family owns MAWBY outright, and Mike and Pete run the daily operations. Mike has a wife and two boys, and enjoys time with them as much as possible. He loves to cook, read, travel and stay active including playing golf, hockey, running and swimming.
[email protected]
SE Winery – Bob Utter
Owner, Flying Otter Winery
Bob grew up in western Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Bob had a 35+ year career in Design Engineering, Engineering Management, and Engineering Consulting that took him to Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, and, as it turned out, too much time in France, where he fell in love with French wine and cheese. Bob followed his passion for wine and started a vineyard in 2005 near Adrian, Michigan, adding additional vines and varieties until 2016. The Flying Otter Vineyard focuses on cold hardy varieties that thrive in SE Michigan. Bob received formal training and education in viticulture and enology through VESTA, which led to the opening of The Flying Otter Winery in 2011, featuring estate grown and produced wines. [email protected]
SE Grower- Bob Sorenson
Owner, Pleasant Valley Vineyards
Bob’s passion for wines began like many others – a love for the diverse choices, flavors, and pairings that they offer. What started as a challenge from a relative has evolved into a family venture that includes owning a vineyard, processing various wines, and establishing a tasting room. This journey has been both rewarding and challenging, with the Sorensen family embracing the yearly hurdles posed by Mother Nature, along with the ongoing learning and hard work that accompany this endeavor. Bob found great joy in the supportive and collaborative community of grape growers and winemakers, which has enriched his experience.
Until recently, Bob was a partner at Eastbrook Homes, a residential development and building company serving the West and Central Michigan regions, from Lansing to Holland and Grand Rapids to Muskegon and Whitehall. They focused on both suburban and urban projects, contributing to the growth of our cities.
Dedicated to education, Bob has been an advocate of the charter school movement in Michigan, serving as President of the Board at Eagle Crest Charter School for several years. Currently, Bob is a proud member of the Board and Executive Committee for Grace Adventures, a nonprofit family Christian organization based in Mears, Michigan.
NW Winery – Bonnie Hardin
Sales and Marketing Coordinator, Mari Vineyard
Born and raised in Traverse City, MI, Bonnie started at Mari Vineyards in 2016 after a decade of working in events and communications. After helping Mari to open their Tasting Room as a server, Bonnie was promoted to Supervisor, then Assistant Manager, and then Sales & Marketing Coordinator. Her role includes managing Mari’s marketing, social media, in-house wine education, off-site events, and local wholesale. In 2021 she was awarded her WSET Level 2 with Distinction, and plans to go for her Level 3 soon. Bonnie serves on the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail Marketing Committee and is actively involved with the Traverse Wine Coast, Michigan Wine Collaborative, and Dirt to Glass Conference.
Bonnie graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities, including minors in French and Religious Studies. A study abroad program took her to Tours, France for a summer in 2014, and she returned to Michigan with a heightened interest in regional wine and food. After graduation, she worked in the restaurant industry and beer world before converting fully to wine.
In addition to her work at Mari Vineyards, Bonnie is a freelance website and graphics designer, production assistant, and social media manager.
[email protected]
NW Grape Grower – Barry O’Brien
Owner- O’Brien Vineyards
After graduating from Michigan State University, Barry O’Brien began his career in the wine trade as a Wine Waiter and Sommelier in Boulder Colorado at The Flagstaff House, a Four Star restaurant and one of the first Grand Award winning wine lists. He then toured many European wine growing regions from a base in Barcelona, before moving to New York City to work for the Möet-Hennessy group in Sales and Marketing. While in NYC, Barry researched and completed his dissertation on Cool Climate Viticulture for The Institute of Masters of Wine based in London.
In 1997, Barry founded Select Fine Wine Imports to begin importing and distributing wines from New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and Spain. Following his marriage to Laura Minervini, the company was moved to Traverse City where they bought property and planted a vineyard on the Old Mission Peninsula. Barry’s interest in Cool Climate Viticulture resulted in planting Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer with a focus on Sparkling wines and dry farmed dry table wines. Following a return to MSU for a degree in Viticulture, Barry has recently launched ŌBrien Vineyards and has opened a tasting room at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City.
[email protected]
SW Winery – Matt Moersch
Partner, Winemaker and Distiller
Tabor Hill Winery, Buchanan, Michigan
Round Barn Winery, Distillery & Brewery, Baroda, Michigan
Free Run Cellars, Berrien Springs, Michigan
Matt Moersch’s wine career began as picking grapes in his family’s vineyard and apprenticing with his father, and he continued his studies with world-renowned winemakers and growers in France, Germany, and Hungary. Currently, he is partner of The Round Barn Winery and co-founder of Free Run Cellars, crafting more than 40 different styles of dry and sweet wines; more than 100 unique beer recipes; and 20 different types of fortified wines and spirits, such as bourbon, rum, and vodka. While focused on French-style wines and spirits, Matt draws from the vast diversity of European winemaking and distillation traditions to develop the diverse, award-winning portfolio for which Round Barn and Free Run are celebrated. At both wineries, he oversees and collaborates with winemaker Brian Carlson, a 25-year veteran of California, Oregon, and Washington wineries. Spearheading the Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance (GLSWA), a statewide sustainability initiative, Moersch is working to bring Round Barn’s sustainability mindset to a broader coalition of neighboring winegrowers. Modeled on Oregon’s premier LIVE certification, the GLSWA will encompass agricultural, cellar, and business practices; including key issues such as the elimination of herbicides from Michigan vineyards and aggressive water-reduction practices. “Good wine is made in the vineyard. So I always begin by understanding how I can better serve the grapes by honoring where they grow. When the vines are happy, the wine is, too.” All of Moersch’s properties are MAEAP-verified. Moersch has been a leading figure in building the nationally recognized reputation of Michigan’s famed Lake Michigan Shore AVA.
[email protected]
Tourism – Ed Peabody
Director, HOUR Custom Publishing, HOUR Detroit/Michigan Wine Country Magazine
Ed Peabody is director of custom publishing for Hour Media in Troy, Michigan, and has 18 years of experience working in the Michigan wine industry to produce Michigan Wine Country magazine. Ed joined Hour in 2000 to spearhead the company’s diversification into content marketing and book publishing. Before that, he was VP-Group Publisher at Campbell-Ewald, where he worked on integrated marketing initiatives for a variety of multinational clients in the automotive, financial services, and information technology industries. A lifelong Michigander, Ed has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Honors English from Wayne State University in Detroit.
[email protected]
Restaurant/Retail – Tamela Todd
Owner/Founder, T&T Sip n Read
Tamela C. Todd is a bestselling author, certified mental health coach, and entrepreneur, who is passionate about promoting mental health and self-care. Tamela also has a love for literature and wine. She plans to combine these passions by opening a Sip n Read Book Bar, where customers can enjoy a glass of Michigan wine while browsing through a selection of books. With her experience as a women-owned and minority-owned business owner, Tamela understands the challenges facing small businesses. She believes that promoting Michigan wines can help boost the local economy and provide a unique selling point for retailers. Tamela has honed her business sense with the completion of Retail Boot Camp at Tech Town Detroit, Build Basics at Build Institute, Scale Your Business Like a Boss at Operations School, and 3x Motor City Match awardee. She is also a member of Bamboo of Detroit and has been featured in various media outlets like Rolling Out Magazine, Metro Parent, She Leads Podcast, WDIV, and many others. Her vision for the Sip n Read Book Bar is to create a welcoming space where customers can relax and unwind, while also promoting local authors and literature.
Tamela’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas make her an asset to any team. With her experience in healthcare, mental health, and small business ownership, she has the skills and knowledge necessary to help retailers thrive.
[email protected]
Supplier/Vendor- Dennis Devitt
Speciality Crop Sales Manager/Statewide Viticulturist, Wilbur Ellis
Dennis was born and raised in California Agriculture. He managed large scale farming operations focused on wine grape production for 30 years with e majority of that time with E&J Gallo.
In 2018 he went to Washington State to be the first statewide viticulturist for the Wilbur Ellis Company where he was a member of the Washington Winegrowers and held a board seat for the Washington Winegrowers Foundation. During the 5 years Dennis was in Washington he has 2 grand children born who live in Michigan. Dennis and his wife Paula of 34 years decided to transfer with Wilbur Ellis to Michigan where he is the sales manager for 4 branches and again is the Statewide Viticulturist for Wilbur Ellis in Michigan to be close to family. “Im excited to see what Michigan has to offer the wine world. It is a unique climate and I think there are some creative visionary folks here who are going to show just that…the uniqueness of this place!”
[email protected]
Legal Seat- Mark Vanneste
Howard & Howard
Mark is a business attorney with a special focus on Wine Law and a partner with Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC, a full service business law firm. He and his partners come from an array of business backgrounds with diverse experiences and unique practice areas and take pride in assisting their clients with many legal areas impacting Michigan’s wine industry including licensing, regulatory compliance, real estate, land use, insurance, environmental concerns, and intellectual property, just to name a few.
Mark joined the Michigan Wine Collaborative in 2022, currently serves the Collaborative as the Honorary Legal Board Member and by providing general counsel services to the Collaborative. He also serves on the Membership Committee.
IT Specialist- Jeff Wheeler
Thistlevale Vineyard
Jeff Wheeler leads a global technology organization responsible for a platform supporting over $1 billion in annual revenue. With a passion for people, community, and the transformative power of AI, he is dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth across industries.
Outside of his corporate leadership, Jeff and his wife are pioneering the first vineyard and winery in the Caledonia, Michigan area. Committed to organic and regenerative farming practices, he aims to be a responsible steward of the land while building a community-centered agricultural business.
A devoted husband, father of two, and the proud wrangler of a golden retriever, Jeff brings a holistic perspective to leadership, balancing professional excellence with personal values of sustainability, family, and community impact.
Financial Strategist- Ed Bueche
Peak Financial Services
Ed is a West Michigan native who enjoys traveling around Michigan. A graduate from Aquinas College with both a BS in Accounting and MM; also earned the CMA designation.
He has a wide variety of experiences as CFO in non-profits (domestic and international), manufacturing, services and healthcare. Spent several years as the general manager for a small private equity fund that made 90+% of their investments internationally; primarily in Africa, Central America and the Philippines. He shares his passion for “all things business” as an adjunct professor at several local colleges and universities.
In addition to his current role as a CFO, his side gig is an accounting / tax / business consulting practice assisting individuals and businesses grow and develop. Also, as an amateur winemaker, he keeps trying to get better.
Ed brings his financial background to the Michigan Wine Collaborative by serving as the Honorary Financial Strategist Board Member.
[email protected]
Executive Director- Emily Dockery
Owner/Founder winemi
Contributing Writer, Michigan Uncorked
Inclusion & Expansion Committee Co-Chair
Having experience in the vineyard, the cellar, and the retail sales floor has formed Emily into a Michigan wine marketing master. From this experience, her most accomplished consulting and marketing management achievement blossomed. As Executive Director for the Michigan Wine Collaborative, Emily has curated a network of like-minded Michigan wine enthusiasts, professionals, and artists as well as consistently securing Michigan wines on the global wine stage. She was previously the wine buyer for Harding’s Markets in Southwest, MI for 7 years, and founded and owns a small consulting/marketing firm, winemi. Additionally, Emily is a contributing writer for wine publications such as Michigan Uncorked, American Wine Society Journal, and Wine Industry Advisor. You can read her pieces HERE!
[email protected]
Chuck Jackson, Jr
Wine Consultant, House of Pure Vin
Inclusion & Expansion Committee Chair
Visiting V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, California, started Chuck on his current path in the wine industry. After visiting V. Sattui, he came home to Michigan to start a winery tour business. The winery tour business led to an article in the Detroit News. That article led to joining the Detroit Chapter of the African American Wine Tasting Society (AAWTS). The AAWTS morphed into The Mahogany Tasters, which has led him to what he does today. After over 30 years of enjoying wine, Chuck is now a wine consultant, wine educator and wine mixologist. Stop into House of Pure Vin for the Chuck Jackson, Jr., wine experience.
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WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING TO FILL A SW GROWER BOARD SEAT.
Interesting in joining the board or a committee? Contact us for more information.
