Rohnert Park, CA- Sonoma State University will add a Sonoma County based offering of their executive Wine MBA – the only one of its kind in the country – to its slate of graduate and wine business education starting in March 2015. Sonoma County Winegrowers will host an information session for the new program on November 13th at 6:00 p.m.
The Sonoma County cohort will meet every other week for two days, a change from the prior executive programs based in Napa that met once a week. The new schedule will make it easier for those commuting in from surrounding areas and around the County.
Like prior programs, the executive format of the MBA provides an AACSB-accredited degree, completed with a cohort of peers from across the industry in just 17 months and with a deep focus on the business of wine. The learning and networks developed through interaction with fellow students as well as experienced professional faculty has been highly valued by current students and alumni.
“There is no other university in the U.S. where top wine industry leaders come together with the common goal of continuous improvement: for themselves, for the companies they work for and for the industry as a whole,” said Shannon Donnell, Grower Relations & Vineyard Operations Manager at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards and Wine EMBA alumnus. “SSU is leading the country in wine business education.”
“Students entering the program today are seeking to make an impact in an industry that they love and they see the MBA as an essential tool to help them achieve that goal,” noted John Stayton, Executive Director of Graduate and Executive Programs. He added that there is increased demand not just from our regional wine-producing area but also from across the U.S. and abroad.
“Today’s wine business is increasingly complex and global, so it requires a solid knowledge of things like business plans, sustainable operations, brand marketing, and how to develop and execute viable strategy in this environment,” concluded Stayton.
To learn more or to RSVP for the info session on November 13, call Christine at 707-664-3501 or visit http://www.sonoma.edu/mba.
About Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute:
Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute is located in the heart of California wine country and was created through a public-private partnership between the University and the wine industry. As part of the School of Business and Economics, it offers a B.S. with a concentration in wine business strategies (since 1998), an MBA with an emphasis in wine business (since 2008), and an executive MBA in wine business (since 2012). In addition, seminars and an online Certificate in Wine Business Management prepare students and industry professionals on topics such as accounting and finance, wine sales and marketing. Its faculty members are published experts, active researchers, and requested presenters on pressing industry topics locally and around the world. The Wine Business Institute operates within Sonoma State’s School of Business and Economics, which is accredited by AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), making it one of 15% of all business schools in the world to meet these standards for excellence. For more information visit www.sonoma.edu/sbe
