Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/53575
Grapes Washington wine's YOUNG GUNS Washington's wine industry is equipping the next generation with leadership skills. by Melissa Hansen A Lynne Chamberlain wants to involve the wine industry's young guns. s chair of a statewide wine grape grower group, Lynne Chamberlain of Walla Walla Valley's Spofford Station Vineyard is focused on issues that help vineyardists grow quality wine grapes. But she's equally passionate about growing new grape leaders, a pet project she has helped nurture. Chamberlain, the first female chair of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, has been the driving force in the organization's leadership development pro- gram, a relatively new effort to equip the wine grape industry's "young guns" with the tools needed to become industry leaders. She knows that getting involved in industry organiza- tions can be daunting for the younger generation just out of college who lack years of industry experience, knowl- edge about issues, and personal relationships with indus- try leaders. So, as part of the group's education and outreach, the Grape Association has created an ongoing leadership development program to build skills of the next generation. Last year, during the annual meeting of the Grape Association, more than 80 young industry members par- ticipated in the group's first professional development session. During the workshop, the younger generation was introduced to current industry issues and challenges, wine industry groups at the state, regional, and national levels, and learned about group decision-making and consensus building. Since then, about 40 young industry members involved in both enology and viticulture have attended quarterly workshops featuring such topics as: giving an effective media interview, public speaking, building rela- tionships with industry leaders, and how to "work" a room. At the most recent session held in mid-December, 22 FEBRUARY 1, 2012 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com