Dr. Anisya Thomas Fritz of Lynmar Estate and Fritz Institute Guides Focus for Business Plan Success
Rohnert Park, California – The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University (SSU) today announced the return of its Certificate in Wine Business Entrepreneurship, an eight-week lecture and workshop course on Thursdays from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. between March 3 and April 29, 2016. The program is designed to provide small wine business owners and those seeking to start a wine business, the time and guided focus to develop a successful business plan, whether for a new product, new business, or career in the wine industry. Participants are exposed to the regulatory climate for making and selling wine, financial frameworks to develop a vineyard and winery, how to create a virtual brand, and different models for wine business profitability. Cost of the education certificate program is $960 for those who register before February 18, 2016.
“People often think of wine business in terms of making wine or selling grapes. The complexity of tending to a vineyard or producing wine can be overwhelming to entrepreneurs looking to start a winery, or owners of small family wine businesses. As a result, the journey into wine becomes stressful or chaotic. This program provides individuals the space and time to reflect on their vision and the path they need to travel to get there. We’re thrilled that Dr. Fritz is returning to lead this program and guide participants. Her international reputation as a business thought leader combined with her wine industry expertise make her a vital asset to the experience,” Ray Johnson, Director of the Wine Business Institute said.
Program participants are provided opportunity to engage with industry leaders and veterans for insight on experiences and lessons learned. Using various tools and frameworks, they refine their mission and vision, and evaluate the competitive landscape and current industry environment, with the goal of producing and presenting a written business plan at the end of eight weeks.
Anisya Thomas Fritz, Ph.D., owns Lynmar Estate, a family-owned producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, where she serves as the Director of Marketing and Consumer Sales. She is also Chief Executive Officer and Chair of LynnCo Supply Chain Solutions, a logistics provider, and co-founder of the Fritz Institute, a non-profit organization that works to improve global humanitarian aid and disaster relief from a systems perspective. She has published articles in the Harvard Business Review, Strategic Management Journal, and the Journal of International Business Studies, among others, on topics including competitive strategy, international entrepreneurship, and humanitarian relief.
The WBI is an education and research institute of the School of Business and Economics. WBI seminars and certificate programs are administered in partnership between the School of Business and Economics and the School of Extended and International Education. For more information or to register for the Certificate in Wine Business Entrepreneurship, or other wine business seminars, please visit www.sonoma.edu/sbe/winebiz, contact (707) 664-3235, or email winebiz@sonoma.edu.
