Leadership Academy Founded by Sonoma County’s Winegrowers Continues to Build on Commitment to Sustainability

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (June 13, 2025) – The Sonoma County Fundación dela Voz de los Viñedos Leadership Academy graduated its fourth class in front of friends and family on Thursday. To date, 75 participants have graduated from the Leadership Academy which was created by the Sonoma County winegrower community. Sustainability is built on a comprehensive set of practices that are environmentally sound (make the land better than when you first set foot on it); economically viable (make your company better so it can remain in business); and socially equitable (make your community a better place to live and work).

“Congratulations to the 2025 graduates of the Leadership Academy. From the beginning, the mission of the Leadership Academy has been to create a robust workforce development program that elevates the experience, leadership, and voice of our vineyard employees,” said Karissa Kruse, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We are exceeding our mission with a program that is both life changing and truly making a difference.”

The nationally recognized Leadership Academy does not teach new farming skills, but, instead, focuses on advancing the skills needed for vineyard employees to be promoted into leadership positions within their organization or their community. This year’s twenty graduates have been gathering for the past six months for half-day classes on a range of topics including financial literacy, communications, leadership, wine production, sustainability and more. The success of the Leadership Academy is impressive, more than 50% of the members for the first two Leadership Academy classes took on new responsibilities in the first year following their graduation with more than one-third of the graduates earning a promotion during that same period of time. Just as important, the employers of the graduates have noted their employees possess more confidence, demonstrate stronger leadership skills and have become better at teaching, communicating and supervising.

“We are very proud to support our skilled agricultural workforce and their families who sustain farming in Sonoma County,” said Duff Bevill, chairman of the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos’ board of directors. He added, “In just four short years, this has developed into one of the most meaningful leadership programs in U.S. agriculture. We are fortunate to have great support from our local growers who ensure their employees have the ability to participate and our subject matter experts who provide their expertise to teach the coursework.”

2025 Leadership Academy Graduates

(Their Employer and Their Years with the Company)

  1. Alfonso Quintero Gómez, Sangiacomo Family Vineyards, 19 Years
  2. Andrés Bautista, Munselle Vineyards, 11 Years
  3. Armando González, Robert Young Vineyards, 43 years
  4. Claudia Cruz, Redwood Empire Vineyard Management, 27 Years
  5. Crispín Solorio, Bevill Vineyard Management, 27 Years
  6. Edith Castro, Lynmar Estate Winery, Quail Hill Vineyards, 7 Years
  7. Eugenio López, Mauritson Farms, 19 Years
  8. Everardo Paniagua Rodríguez, Emeritus Vineyards, 10 Years
  9. Gabriel Ruiz, Atlas Vineyard Management, 30 years
  10. Gilberto Sapien, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, 26 Years
  11. Isaías Iñíguez, Dutton Ranch, 11 years
  12. Jerónimo Lozano Vázquez, Jackson Family Wines, 13 Years
  13. Jorge Guzmán, Atlas Vineyard Management, 8 Years
  14. José H. Manzo Valencia, Four Seasons Vineyard Management, 15 Years
  15. José Luis Herrera, Four Seasons Vineyard Management, 16 Years
  16. Leonel Mendoza, Munselle Vineyards, 25 Years
  17. Lorenza Lara, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, 6 Years
  18. Marcial Tinoco, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, 21 years
  19. Raúl Vera, Jackson Family Wines, 12 Years
  20. Victor Rosales, Atlas Vineyard Management, 13 Years

Image by: Mickale Jones Photography

About the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos:

Originally called the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation (SCGGF), Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos was first established in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) organization to help fund educational workshops in Spanish for agricultural employees. Relaunched in January of 2016, the Fundación is focused on improving the lives of Sonoma County’s agricultural employees and their families, while ensuring Sonoma County remains a place where agricultural workers will continue to live, work, and thrive. Our mission is simple – support local vineyard employees and their families. Since its relaunch in 2016, the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz deLos Viñedos has continuously proven it has a unique model of outreach and support, recognizing and relying on the trusted relationship that farmers have with their employees. The Fundación has five strategic priorities: leadership; empowerment and recognition; workforce development; resiliency; and resources. The two flagship programs are the Vineyard Employee Recognition Program and the Leadership Academy. 

Contact: John Segale | 916.600.1081