Board of Directors Application

Members of the Oregon Wine Board are vital participants in advisory and advocacy efforts for a wide variety of issues affecting all members of the Oregon wine industry. Governor Kulongoski makes direct appointments to the Board and continuously recruits qualified applicants. Those appointed to the Oregon Wine Board also volunteer to serve on the Boards of the Oregon Winegrowers’ Association (OWA) and the Trust for Oregon Wine Education and Research (TOWER).

Major issues range from economic development to distribution, education, research and land use.

The State of Oregon's board system contributes to the success of Oregon state government and is key to bringing local citizens' talent and interest to the state level. Governor Kulongoski encourages all Oregonians to become actively involved in the administration of their state government. In order to serve on the Oregon Wine Board, one must be an owner or officer of a winery or vineyard organized or registered to do business in Oregon.

How To Apply

On this site you will find information regarding state boards and commissions. The Boards & Commissions Book describes all boards to which the governor makes appointments, the Expiration List and Vacancy List indicate when openings will occur, and the Interest Form (doc) serves as an application for one or more boards. The Membership Handbook is a general guide to board service.

If you wish to apply, simply complete the Interest Form (pdf) and return it to the Governor's office. You may apply at any time, regardless of whether there is a current opening, as resignations can occur throughout the year.

We appreciate your interest in serving the Oregon wine industry and the State of Oregon.

Our Current Board of Directors

Stephen Girard – Chair, OWB;  President, OWA • Benton-Lane Winery • 541.847.5792
Stephen Girard is a founder of Benton-Lane Winery, which is located in Monroe (in the South Willamette) and is dedicated to Pinot Noir. Girard came to Oregon via Napa in the late '80s, believing it to be the finest area to produce Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and other varietals. While in California, Girard, who was also proprietor of Napa's Girard Winery from 1981-1999, was actively involved in successfully promoting the Napa Valley and served on the boards of the Napa Valley Vintners Association, The Wine Institute, and The Wine Marketing Coalition.

Kara Olmo  • Vice Chair, OWB; Vice President, OWA  • Wooldridge Creek Vineyard & Winery – 541-846-6364
OWB Marketing Committee Chair
Kara Olmo is co-owner of Wooldridge Creek Winery in Grants Pass.  Kara relocated to the Applegate Valley to start a small winery focusing on premium blends after attending the enology program at California State University, Fresno.  She gained wine industry experience working for the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission where she worked to promote regional recognition of the Lodi area. Kara currently serves as a board member for the Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation and the Three Rivers District Schools Foundation as well as being an active member of the Southern Oregon Winery Association, Rogue Valley Winegrowers Association and the Applegate Valley Vintners Association.

Kevin Chambers • Chair Emeritus, OWB; Secretary, OWA • Resonance Vineyard/ OVS • 503.435.2700
OWB Education Committee Chair
Kevin Chambers is a fourth-generation Oregonian, Kevin’s wine interest began as a hobby while attending the University of Oregon. That hobby became a passion and, ultimately, a life-long vocation. He managed the Of Grape & Grain stores in Eugene for several years in the early ‘80s. Subsequently, he moved into the restaurant trade, distribution, winemaking and marketing. For nearly eight years, Kevin wrote a self-syndicated wine column published in several Northwest newspapers. He also worked the wine judging circuit around the country. From 1989 to 1997, he performed as a winemaker, marketer and manager for two of Oregon’s largest wineries (Chateau Benoit, then Willamette Valley Vineyards). Presently, he is co-owner of Oregon Vineyard Supply (an equipment and supply operation with stores in Aurora and McMinnville) and Results Partners (a vineyard development and management firm that currently farms about 500 acres in the north Willamette Valley). He’s a past Chair of the Oregon Wine Advisory Board. In addition to his appointment to the Oregon Wine Board, Kevin serves as President of OVID (Oregon Vineyard Industry Database). He’s quite active with the Northwest Center for Small Fruits, and is on the National Advisory Council of NCAT and ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer bodies belonging with the USDA). He and his wife Carla own and operate the 19-acre Resonance Vineyard just west of Carlton.

Casey McClellan • Treasurer • Seven Hills Winery • 509.529.7198
OWB Financial Committee Chair
Casey McClellan is Managing Director of McClellan Estate Vineyard, located near Milton-Freewater in Oregon's Walla Walla Valley AVA. McClellan has been involved in the Oregon wine industry since 1982, during which he operated an Eastern Oregon winery for over 11 years. He also serves as Director and Treasurer of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, an industry association with members from both Oregon and Washington. He is President and Winemaker of Seven Hills Winery, based in Walla Walla.

Earl Jones • Abacela Vineyards and Winery • 541.679.6642
OWB Research Committee Chair
Earl Jones is owner, winemaker and vineyard manager of Abacela Vineyards and Winery in Roseburg. A dermatologist and long-time devotee of Tempranillo, he founded his winery after extensive research pinpointed the Umpqua Valley as an ideal spot for growing the variety. Abacela also produces Syrah, Merlot, Dolcetto and other varieties suited to the terroir (the French word for the ecological factors that make a particular type of wine special to the region of its origin.) Jones has served on both the Oregon Wine Advisory Board and the Oregon Winegrowers' Association and is president of OWA's Umpqua Valley Chapter.

David Adelsheim  • Adelsheim Vineyard • 503.538.3652
OWA Regulatory Advocacy Committee Chair
David Adelsheim is President and an owner of Adelsheim Vineyard in Newberg, which for almost 30 years has been producing Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc and Chardonnay. Adelsheim worked with Oregon State University to set up a clonal importation program that has given growers access to European vines better suited to Oregon's growing conditions. He also drafted Oregon's strict labeling regulations that help maintain quality, is a past Chair of the Oregon Wine Board, and was a founder and Director and President of both the International Pinot Noir Celebration and Oregon Pinot Camp (two of the industry's most successful promotional events). He was instrumental to the formation of the new Oregon Wine Board by leading the effort to garner industry-wide consensus.

Harry Peterson-Nedry • Chehalem • 503.538.4700
OWA Legislative Advocacy Committee Chair
Harry Peterson-Nedry is founder and co-owner of Chehalem, a premium winery in Newberg, producing Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Dry Riesling from its three estate vineyards - Ridgecrest, Stoller and Coral Creek. Peterson-Nedry has served on the boards of Oregon Pinot Camp, the International Pinot Noir Celebration and the Oregon Wine Marketing Coalition.

Pat Dudley • Bethel Heights Vineyard •  503 581 2262
Sustainability Committee Chair
Pat Dudley is a co-founder, co-owner and current president as well as marketing director of Bethel Heights Vineyard in the Eola Hills near Salem.  Pat has held innumerable wine industry posts since the early 80’s, including four years as the author of Quoi de Neuf, the gossip column of the Oregon Winegrowers Association (1988 through 1991), and five years as Executive Director of the International Pinot Noir Celebration (1992-1996).  Pat helped found and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Oregon Pinot Camp.   She also currently serves on the Oregon State Board of Agriculture with a particular interest in forwarding the cause of farmland preservation and sustainable agriculture.

Lee Mankin • Carpenter Hill Vineyard  • 541-840-1096
Lee Mankin is owner and operator of Carpenter Hill Vineyard and Coleman Creek Vineyard, both  located in the Rogue Valley AVA He specializes in growing Rhone varietal grapes; Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Roussanne. He produces a limited quantity of premium wine under the label Carpenter Hill.  He has served on the Rogue Valley Winegrowers Association Board for over six years, the past two years as its president. He has been chairman of the WOW Festival since its inception. The WOW festival is the largest promotional event in the Rogue Valley for  Oregon wines made from Southern Oregon fruit. Lee Mankin is a member of ALIVE and Salmon Safe and is an advocate for sustainable farming practices. He and his wife Vicki make their home on the vineyard property in Medford.