Wine Marketing Roundtable set for April 8 in Walla Walla

Marketing maven Marilyn Hawkins formalized the agenda for the Monday, April 8 seminar as part of her on-going Wine Marketing Roundtable series through the Walla Walla Community College Department of Continuing Education.

Among the headliners is Constance Savage, the new general manager of historic L’Ecole No. 41 in nearby Lowden. Marty and Megan Clubb recruited Savage from Kobrand Corp., where she spent 12 years as vice president and director of supplier relations for the New York-based luxury wine and spirits company. Savage represented the U.S. alcohol beverage industry as a member of the Vinexpo supervisory board for more than a decade.

Hawkins, a longtime public relations and marketing expert in the Pacific Northwest, spent much of her career in the Puget Sound at historic The Rockey Co., and Sharp Hartwig Advertising. She retired to Southern Oregon where she consulted for the Rogue Valley wine industry. In 2016, Hawkins moved to the Walla Walla Valley and soon approached Walla Walla Community College about assisting with its Continuing Education program by offering wine marketing workshops. She serves on the wine program’s advisory committee and teaches a Writing for Wineries class.

In 2014, Hawkins received the Jay Rockey Lifetime Achievement Award from the Public Relations Society of America’s Puget Sound chapter. This spring, Hawkins will be among the featured speakers at Symposium 44 for Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

April 8 agenda

Welcome & Introductions – Marilyn Hawkins, Hawkins & Co. PR, Walla Walla

Fundamentals of Wholesale Distribution for Small & Medium-Sized Wineries — Constance Savage, GM, L’Ecole N° 41, Lowden

Mystery Shopping De-Mystified — Tiffany Stetson, GM, Direct to Consumer Sales, Goose Ridge Estate Winery, Walla Walla

Making the Most of Market Visits — Beau Hickman, Director of Operations, Figgins Family Wine Estates, Walla Walla

The Art of Wine and Hospitality: A Perfect Pairing — Byron Marlowe, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator of Hospitality and Wine & Beverage Business Management, Washington State University Tri-Cities

3 Major Wine Developments at Walla Walla Community College — Tim Donahue, Director of Winemaking, WWCC Institute of Enology & Viticulture

This Marketing Roundtable runs 4-6 p.m. While there is no charge, attendees are encouraged to bring a bottle of wine to share at the end of the program. However, registration is required because of limited classroom seating at the Institute of Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla CC. Register through the website below by clicking on “Class Schedule”.

The March 8 seminar on “Marketing Wine to Millennials” is sold out, but a waitlist is forming.

The July 15 seminar playfully titled “Let’s Get Luxe” will focus on selling high-end wine and hospitality.

The Aug. 5 Roundtable is searching for experts at using Instagram to present.

For more information or recommendations, contact Hawkins via mhawkins@PRHawk.com and (509) 876-8202 or the Walla Walla CC Continuing Education Department through Danielle Coila at danielle.coila@wwcc.edu or (509) 527-4331.