The first membership director in the non-profit’s 22-year history, Mark Chandler is a 35-year veteran of the California wine industry
St. Helena, CA, September 19, 2016 — Wine Market Council, a non-profit association of grape growers, wine producers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, and other affiliated wine businesses, today announced that wine industry veteran, Mark Chandler, has been appointed as the association’s first membership director in the non-profit’s 22-year history. Chandler is a 35-year veteran of the California wine industry where he has served in a variety of positions in winemaking, marketing and general management, and has assisted other wine industry groups in growing their memberships and offerings.
“We are extremely pleased to have Mark join the Wine Market Council team,” said John Gillespie, President of Wine Market Council. “His experience in managing and growing key wine industry associations will be invaluable to Wine Market Council and our members.”
Chandler is best known as Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission where he served from its inception in 1991 through 2011. At the Lodi Winegrape Commission he helped transform the Lodi appellation and expand the number of winery members. Other wine industry highlights include serving as CEO of WineAmerica from 2013 to 2014, holding a Certified Specialist of Wine certificate from the Society of Wine Educators, of which he is past president, and being Chief Judge at the California State Fair Wine Competition since 2015. He is also a Supreme Knight of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine. Mark was elected to the Lodi City Council in 2014 and is currently serving a one-year term as Mayor. That term ends in December 2016. Mark and his wife, Jan, also farm 180 acres of vineyards in the Lodi Appellation.
“Our members and their needs are paramount to all of us at Wine Market Council,” said new Wine Market Council Membership Director, Mark Chandler. “I look forward to working closely with members to provide them with important wine industry research and data points that assist them in making crucial business decisions.”
Driving the direction of Wine Market Council’s research program is the Wine Market Council staff and research committee, which is made up of member representatives from Nielsen, Constellation Brands, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Wine Communications Group, Breakthru Beverage Group, and the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. Chandler will work closely with the Wine Market Council board and research committee to make sure their mission to grow, strengthen, and stabilize the wine market in the U.S, continues to evolve with members’ needs.
Wine Market Council membership is open to wine producers, importers, distributors, grape growers, and other wine industry affiliated businesses and organizations. The council provides its members with insightful consumer research on U.S. wine consumer behaviors and attitudes. Minimum dues for all member categories are $400 (if calculated dues are less than $400) and members wishing access to all research data, in addition to reports, must pay minimum dues of $1,000 (if calculated dues are less than $1,000). To become a member or inquire about membership visit the Wine Market Council website WineMarketCouncil.com or email admin@winemarketcouncil.com with your inquiries.
About Wine Market Council
Wine Market Council is a non-profit association of grape growers, wine producers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, and other affiliated wine businesses and organizations. The council’s mission is to grow, strengthen, and stabilize the wine market in the U.S. on behalf of all segments of the industry. Wine Market Council provides its members with consumer research that is proprietary to Wine Market Council members, who incorporate it into their strategic planning, marketing and sales execution. Wine Market Council was established in 1994 as a non-profit (501c6) trade association working through all tiers of the U.S. wine industry to grow the wine market. More information can be found at WineMarketCouncil.com.
