Full-Day Format Offers Ease of Certificate Completion, Accommodates Working Professionals
Rohnert Park, California – The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University (SSU) today unveiled a new format for its executive program in wine industry finance and accounting, with two full-day workshops on February 3 and 17 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. “Understanding the Numbers: An Introduction to Wine Business Finance” with instructor Geni Whitehouse, CPA and winery consultant at Brotemarkle, Davis & Co., will take place on February 3.
On February 17, instructor Tom Sheppard, CFO and Partner at CFOs2Go, will lead the workshop, “Budgeting & Financial Analysis for the Wine Industry.” Cost of each workshop is $360 and includes lunch. Both workshops are the academic equivalent of two seminars for students currently pursuing the Certificate in Wine Industry Finance and Accounting.
“Each year, we gather input from students and stakeholders as part of an annual curriculum review to ensure that programs continue to meet both the demands of a changing industry and the professional goals of our students. Based on feedback from students and wine industry stakeholders, we believe the modified program will offer the same high-value experience of university-level education in a more convenient format,” John Stayton, Executive Director of Graduate and Executive Programs said.
“Understanding the Numbers: An Introduction to Wine Business Finance” is designed to introduce students to general accounting concepts related to issues unique to the wine industry. Students will analyze a winery case study through group and individual activities, with the goal of learning how to interpret and improve the winery’s financial results. Instructor Geni Whitehouse was a “Top 100 Influencer” in Accounting Today magazine, one of “25 Thought Leaders in Accounting,” and one of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting” in CPA Practice Advisor magazine. She co-founded Solve Services, a remote bookkeeping business for the wine industry, and the author of the book, How to Make a Boring Subject Interesting: 52 ways even a nerd can be heard.
“Budgeting & Financial Analysis for the Wine Industry” will explore successful budget and forecasting methods, including ways to analyze budgets, identify key performance indicators, and build reporting structures to inform financial and budgetary decision-making. Tom Sheppard is practice leader for the strategic services group at CFOs2Go and co-leader for the mergers and acquisitions group. He advises senior executives in start-ups and multi-national corporations on strategic business decisions, including new businesses, financing, mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, supply chain strategy, and responding to change.
For more information regarding the upcoming wine industry finance and accounting workshops, or for information regarding other wine business programs at WBI and the School of Business and Economics, please contact (707) 664-3235, winebiz@sonoma.edu, or visit www.sonoma.edu/winebiz.
