Wine Business Institute Offers Online Courses and Half-Day Tutorials for Busy Professionals
Rohnert Park, California – The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University (SSU) today announced the fall schedule of wine business seminars and certificate programs, including the online Wine Business Management Certificate, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Certificate, and Wine Industry Finance and Accounting Certificate. The first of three online courses required for the certificate in Wine Business Management begins September 2, 2015. Half-day seminars leading to certificates in both direct-to-consumer sales and accounting and finance, take place every Friday on campus for eight weeks beginning September 11, 2015. Both the online courses and seminars may be taken individually or together to earn a certificate.
“These learning opportunities were created by professionals for professionals,” Ray Johnson, Director of the Wine Business Institute said. “Whether it’s the management certificate in a convenient online format, or the weekly seminars with targeted, bite-sized sessions, our programs are taught by wine industry experts and crafted for anyone interested in accelerating their career, and gaining advanced knowledge of wine business operations.”
The Wine Business Management Certificate is made up of three course levels with training in wine commerce and trade, marketing and sales, finance and accounting, eCommerce, business issues associated with viticulture and winemaking, and regulatory issues, among other topics. Students who complete all three levels and a cumulative exam will earn the certificate. In addition, the two-year industry requirement for those seeking admission to the accredited Wine MBA program will be waived. Early registration closes August 19 and includes a discount for the course beginning September 2, 2015.
Seminars leading to the DTC Certificate are designed to provide core concepts to increase DTC sales. Topics include DTC marketing, wine clubs, events, social media, mobile commerce, and tasting room sales. The certificate requires completion of five core courses and three electives for a total of eight half-day courses. The Wine Industry Finance and Accounting Certificate provides an overview of core financial and accounting concepts with wine industry applications. The certificate requires completion of four core courses and four electives for a total of eight half-day courses.
Cost of both certificate tracks is $180 per seminar, or $150 for early bird registration, more than two weeks before the date of the seminar. Other certificate programs include Wine Entrepreneurship Certificate, QuickBooks® Certificate, and Wine Branding Certificate.
For more information regarding professional seminars, certificate programs, and advanced degree programs of the Wine Business Institute and School of Business and Economics, please contact (707) 664-3235 or winebiz@sonoma.edu.
About Wine Business Institute
WBI is an education and research institute of the School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State University. SSU is the first institution of higher learning in the U.S. to offer an undergraduate degree and advanced degrees focused on the business of wine, and the first school of business in the world to offer an executive-level wine degree. With its unique location, outstanding faculty, and deep relationships in the world of wine, SSU and WBI attract current and future professionals from California and around the world. They come to experience first-hand the expertise and wealth of connections among students, alumni and industry leaders.
