Roy Cecchetti, Sonoma MBA Class of 1989, Contributes $200,000
Rohnert Park, California – The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University (SSU) today announced a major gift from Roy and Rachael Cecchetti of Cecchetti Wine Company, in support of the Wine Spectator Learning Center, a state-of-the-art education complex and future home of the Wine Business Institute. The $200,000 donation will be recognized in the Roy and Rachael Cecchetti Campus Lawns Stairway, which will connect the new building with existing lawns and international-themed gardens adjacent to the campus lakes. Roy Cecchetti earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at SSU in 1989. He was recently appointed to the Wine Business Institute Board of Directors.
“What has been created at SSU is extremely important to the future of the wine business and both Rachael and I are extremely proud to be a part of it. Education is the cornerstone in the continued development of any business and the Wine Spectator Learning Center will be at the forefront of this for the students wanting to become part of our industry. The future of the wine business depends on programs such as this and I can say, as an MBA graduate of SSU and a Director of the Wine Business Institute, the future of our industry looks very bright,” Roy Cecchetti of Cecchetti Wine Company, MBA ’89 said.
“This show of support is especially significant because it comes from one of our alumni. In their generosity, Roy and Rachael not only reinforce academic innovation and training of dynamic leaders, they also validate the quality of education and caliber of students coming through our programs. It is with pleasure and appreciation that we thank Roy and Rachael for their dedication and support,” Dr. William S. Silver, Dean of the School of Business and Economics said.
Construction crews expect to break ground on the $9.15 million project on June 1, 2016, with completion and grand opening set for Summer 2017. The project involves interior and exterior renovation of the current SSU Student Commons building. Features of the new building will include three state-of-the-art classrooms, multimedia venues for production and broadcast of public seminars and events, international-themed gardens and Student Success Pathway, and collaborative space for hands-on learning, including a student commons, faculty-industry hub, and café.
Project contributors announced to date include the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation; Alpha Omega Winery and Tolosa Vineyards & Winery; American AgCredit; Bouchaine Vineyards; Charmer-Sunbelt; Korbel Champagne Cellars; Wally Lowry, Professor Emeritus of Business at SSU; Peter Michael Winery; Pierce Education Properties; The Rubin Family of Wines; and Young’s Market Company.
The Wine Business Institute (WBI) is an education and research institute of the School of Business and Economics. SSU is the first institution of higher learning in the U.S. to offer undergraduate and advanced degrees focused on the business of wine. It is the first school of business in the world to offer an executive-level wine business degree. For more information about the Wine Spectator Learning Center project, please visit www.sonoma.edu/sbe or contact 707-664-3235 or winebiz@sonoma.edu.
