Appointed Officers

---

Pete Richmond, Silverado Farming Company
President of the Board
After receiving his degree in agriculture business from Fresno State University, Pete spent 15 years working as a vineyard manager in the Central Coast and Napa Valley. He worked for a number of wineries, eventually managing the Napa and Lake County Vineyards for Kendall Jackson, affording him his first exposure to growing grapes for high-end wines, including the Lokoya and Cardinale brands. In founding Silverado Farming Company, Pete’s goal is to work with small estate wineries where the focus is on wine quality and not the short-term bottom line. Additionally, Pete and his partners founded the One Percent for the Community Fund, where they pledge one percent of gross revenue to at-risk children and farm worker-related issues in Napa County. Pete is currently on the Board of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation and was named the 2019 Grower of the Year.

---

Karen Cakebread, ZIATA Wines
Vice President of the Board
The driving force behind boutique Napa Valley label ZIATA, Karen Cakebread relishes every small step that brings a wine from vineyard to table. Karen launched ZIATA—named for her beloved mother Mary Annunziata Webb—in 2008 with a widely revered Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Today, the collection also includes the Mia Madre Red Blend, a moving tribute to Karen’s mom. Karen's first foray into the wine industry came in 1988, when she began marketing Cakebread Cellars wines. Her role spanned 18 years and would see Karen traverse the globe as director of the winery’s corporate hospitality, wine education and international marketing initiatives. Karen’s roots are firmly planted in Calistoga, where she tends to her Sauvignon Blanc vines at the home ranch, with her affable Labrador Neela by her side.

---

Meaghan Becker, In Vino Veritas
Treasurer of the Board
Meaghan Qian-Fu Becker is a wine business executive based in Napa, California. Meaghan began her career in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs and eventually moved to San Francisco for a Strategy role in Silicon Valley after receiving her MBA at Harvard Business School. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for wine, moved to Napa and joined the wine business. She was most recently General Manager at Quintessa, an estate winery in the heart of Napa Valley and Publisher at JamesSuckling.com, overseeing all business and operational matters for the internationally renowned wine critic. She recently founded her management consulting practice In Vino Veritas LLC, focused on supporting winery clients in their path to growth. Currently she serves as Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee and is a partner, along with her husband, in Realm Cellars.

---

Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko, Yount Mill Vineyards and Napa Wine Co.
Secretary of the Board
Kendall, a fifth generation grapegrower in Napa Valley, is the President for Yount Mill Vineyards and Napa Wine Company. Managing over 15 varieties spread across 600 acres, her family takes pride in producing three distinct brands, Ghost Block, Oakville Winery, and Elizabeth Rose, from their organically certified vineyards. She holds an MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University and serves on the Membership Committee.

---

Board of Directors

Erin Bright Russell  | Rancho Chimiles
Committee participation: Development Committee, Viticulture & Environmental Stewardship Committee
Erin Bright (Wilson) Russell was born in Napa on a ranch in the southeast part of the County, where her family continues to grow wine grapes for several highly-regarded wine brands. When Erin was hired as Director of Sales and Marketing for Dean and DeLuca in St. Helena she developed and strengthened relationships throughout the Valley, even co-hosting a cooking and lifestyle pilot focused on local farms and purveyors. Later, as her life developed with a husband and children, Erin turned to community service and began her role as Program Manager for Agriculture in the Classroom with the Napa County Farm Bureau. Erin has since applied her background in marketing, design, production and media to effectively direct a number of comprehensive marketing projects for organizations such as the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa Valley Education Foundation and NapaLearns. Erin also had the honor to serve as Manager of Regional Fundraising and Communications for successful State Assembly and Senate campaigns for California State Senator Bill Dodd, Third Senate District representative. When Erin is not in the office, you will find her riding horses, reading trade journals, hiking, gardening and cooking delicious meals for friends and family

​Garrett Buckland | Premiere Viticultural Services
Committee participation: Viticulture & Environmental Stewardship Committee, Oakville Building Committee
Garrett Buckland grew up raising cattle and growing grapes in the Napa Valley, working for his father's business, Buckland Vineyard Management. Garrett continued working with his father, developing and managing vineyards across Napa, Sonoma, and El Dorado counties until completing UC Davis, where he received a B.S. in Viticulture and Enology. After graduation, Garrett went to work with Steve Matthiasson and started Premiere Viticulture, a vineyard consulting company based in Napa. Garrett is formerly a consulting winemaker. working with over 15,000 cases of ultra-premium wines, past President of the Napa Viticultural Technical Group, and past Conference Chair of the Association of Applied IPM ecologists.

Cathy Corison | Corison Winery
Committee participation: Grower Services Committee
Cathy Corison’s winemaking journey began nearly 50 years ago when she took a wine appreciation course at Pomona College on a complete whim. After a move to Napa Valley, a master’s degree in Enology at UC Davis followed, and then a harvest internship at Freemark Abbey and winemaking positions included Yverdon and Chappellet Vineyard. Her career led to founding Corison Winery, a small family farm. Over three decades, Cathy Corison and her husband, William Martin, have produced Cabernet Sauvignon known for power and elegance, recognized throughout the world for their longevity and consistency.

Tom Davies | V. Sattui
Committee participation: Finance & Audit Committee, Development Committee, Viticulture & Environmental Stewardship Committee
Tom Davies has always loved wine, and even hosted wine dinners with friends when he was in college. A native of Palm Springs, California, Tom graduated from Chico State University in 1979 with a degree in Business Management. He was so committed to getting into the wine business, he slept in a tent at the State Park in the Napa Valley to save money while searching for work. Impressed with his attitude and enthusiasm, Dario Sattui hired him in the summer of 1980 at $5 an hour to work in V. Sattui Winery’s tasting room and cellar. Tom was among the first 10 employees hired at V. Sattui. His great business sense and knowledge of the wine industry propelled him to the top where he now serves as President and Managing Partner. Tom served as co-Chair of NVG’s annual Harvest STOMP fundraiser in 2015.

Suzanne Groth | Groth Vineyards & Winery
Committee participation: Development Committee
Suzanne Groth graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history. Throughout high school in St. Helena and during summer breaks from college, Suzanne helped out around the winery. After deciding on a career in wine, Suzanne spent four years with the Henry Wine Group, a California wine distributor, selling fine wine to restaurants and retailers in the San Francisco Bay Area. She says, “It was only after selling other people’s wine that I was able to appreciate how very special Groth Vineyards was.” She returned to the family business in 1998, working in sales, public relations and marketing. In 2017, she became President and CEO. Painting is Suzanne’s right-brain passion. Inspired by the vineyards and natural beauty of Oakville, she has plenty of subject matter for her landscapes and farming vignettes.

Justin Leigon | Piña Vineyard Management
Committee participation: Executive Committee, Grower Services Committee
Justin Leigon became a partner at Piña Vineyard Management in 2022 after several years acting as Head Viticulturist. A proud husband and father of three, the family-founded company has been a perfect fit for his skills and aspirations. Currently, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of high-end winegrape farming and is involved in vineyard development with Pina. After beginning his career in wine production, Leigon attended the University of California, Davis where he received his B.S. in Viticulture and Enology. In 2006, Leigon spent time abroad in Australia learning about global wine styles. Upon returning, he honed his skills in cellars around the Napa Valley. He is passionate about working with both winemaking and vineyard teams to produce ultra-premium quality wines by using minimal inputs and targeting key aspects of winegrape development. Leigon is involved in community outreach and is an advocate for ag education.

Dan Petroski | Massican Wines
Committee participation: Viticulture & Environmental Stewardship Committee, Finance & Audit Committee
After attending Columbia University, Dan went to work for Time, Inc. While there, he earned his MBA from NYU and worked his way up the ranks towards a promising future in magazine publishing. Dan learned wine, by walking his expense account with advertising clients through the lists of Manhattan’s top restaurants. When the Wall Street Journal tried to poach him, Dan took a moment to reflect. Deciding a change of life was in order, he jettisoned to Sicily for a year, where he interned at Valle dell’Acate. While Dan’s intention was to return to New York to sell wine, a harvest invitation from Andy Smith at DuMOL in 2006 was too good to pass up, and Dan left the city again, this time facing west. After harvest, Andy Smith hired Dan as Cellar Master at Larkmead. The following year, Dan was promoted to Assistant Winemaker, ultimately claiming the Larkmead Winemaker title in 2012. Dan is a gifted, instinctual winemaker, and his old-world palate has guided his philosophy on wine.

Mark Pulido | Pulido~Walker
Committee participation: Development Committee, Capital Campaign, Governance Committee
Mark Pulido, an advisor, investor, and philanthropist, brings deep experience as a CEO and board member of public, private, and not-for-profit organizations to the NVG. Before moving permanently to the Napa Valley and starting Pulido~Walker with his wife Donna Walker, Mark led several of the most prominent healthcare and technology companies in the world. He has a long history in the Napa Valley, building relationships and putting down roots in the community. Pulido~Walker's Mt. Veeder Estate is a testament to the family’s long-term commitment to Napa Valley and the addition of the Policy Estate in Yountville extends their view toward the future. Mark’s ardent determination to craft extraordinary wines authentic to the unique terroir is demonstrated by the wines made by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown from three exceptional Napa Valley estate vineyards.  

Oscar Renteria | Renteria Vineyard Management
Committee participation: Farmworker Foundation Board of Directors
Oscar joined Renteria in 1989 after graduating from St. Mary’s College. In 1993 Oscar assumed proprietorship of Renteria and began to work closely with the distinguished group of clients his father Salvador had cultivated for so many years. In 1995 Oscar was named President, and in the ensuing years he progressively grew Renteria into one of the largest vineyard management companies in the North Bay area. 

Michael Silacci | Opus One
Committee participation: Capital Campaign, Governance Committee
While earning diplomas in viticulture and enology, Michael Silacci interned in Muscadet, Cognac and Bordeaux. His first full time job in the wine industry was as viticulturist/enologist at Beaulieu Vineyard, where he joined the Napa Valley Vineyard Technical Group and co-founded the Napa Valley Viticultural Fair. Michael has overseen viticulture and winemaking at Opus One for the past twenty-three years. Prior to his current appointment, Michael spent six years as winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and two years as winemaker at King Estate in Oregon. He has also made wine in France and Chile. He holds a master’s degree in viticulture from U.C. Davis in addition to undergraduate degrees in enology and viticulture from U.C. Davis and the Université de Bordeaux. Michael served on the Napa Valley Grapegrowers Board of Directors from 2013- 2021 and held the President role from 2020-2021.

Dave Whitmer 
Role: Development Committee
Napa native, Dave Whitmer retired from the County of Napa in 2013 after 33 years of service - the last 20 years as the Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures. Dave attended Napa schools including Napa High School and Napa Valley College where he received his Associate of Arts degree before transferring to CSU Long Beach and eventually CSU Chico, graduating with a degree in Biological Sciences. In retirement, Dave is spending quality time with Loie, his wife of 42 years and doing some traveling, both domestic and international. He is passionate about working to make a difference in our community and in addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, is serving as a Napa County Planning Commissioner and also on the Board of Directors of the Napa Valley Community Foundation.

---

Committee Representation

Capital Campaign Committee

• Mark Pulido, Co-Chair
• Michael Silacci, Co-Chair

Development Committee

• Karen Cakebread, Chair
• Suzanne Groth, Vice Chair
• Mark Pulido, Vice Chair

Executive Committee

• Pete Richmond, Chair
• Karen Cakebread, Vice Chair
• Meaghan Becker
• Justin Leigon
• Dan Petroski
• Kendall-Hoxsey-Onysko

​Finance & Audit Committee

• Meaghan Becker, Chair
• Tom Davies, Vice Chair​

​Grower Services Committee

• Justin Leigon, Chair

Governance Committee

• Kendall Hoxsey-Onsyko, Chair
• Karen Cakebread, Vice Chair
• Mark Pulido
• Pete Richmond
• Michael Silacci

Oakville Building Committee

• Garrett Buckland, Chair
• Mary Maher, Vice Chair

Viticulture & Environmental Stewardship Committee

• ​Dan Petroski, Chair
• Tom Davies, Vice Chair
• Walt Brooks, Vice Chair

---