June 10th – Santa Maria, CA – Miller Family Wine Company, a division of the industry-leading Thornhill Companies, is pleased to announce the formation of their new National Accounts Department, led by recently promoted Director of National Accounts, Michelle Garoufalis – part of the company’s strategic in-market growth plan for both on- and off-premise chain accounts.
With the goal of expanding brand presence in key national accounts, Miller Family Wine Company has revamped its go-to-market strategy to establish a new National Accounts Department, consisting of dedicated channel-level account managers under the direction of Garoufalis – a key shift from the single person model the company used prior.
Garoufalis joined Miller Family Wine Company in March 2020 as the Director of Off-Premise National Accounts and, despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, has since excelled in all facets of account management, from relationship building to strategic execution to creative outreach. In her newly enhanced role of Director of National Accounts, Garoufalis is responsible for managing and building Miller Family Wine Company’s National Accounts Department, encompassing both on- and off-premise accounts. Focused on national branded labels such as Butternut and Smashberry at key grocery, club, restaurant, hotel, e-commerce, and liquor retail outlets, Garoufalis will also oversee luxury brands J. Wilkes, optik and Bien Nacido Estate at specialty and fine wine outlets and restaurants.
Joining her team is recent new hire Jeremy Kilburn, who will serve as Manager, National Off-Premise Accounts. Bringing over a decade of experience in wine sales and distribution management, Kilburn joins Miller Family Wine Company after working as the National Account Sales Manager for Summerland Wine Brands, where he successfully turned the company from a double-digit decline to growth over a 52-week period. Prior to Summerland Wine Brands, Kilburn worked for such reputable names as Fetzer Vineyards, Southern Wine & Spirits, and Divino Wholesalers, consistently earning recognition and praise for his dedication and performance in each position held.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to launch our new National Accounts Department – an organizational evolution that strategically makes perfect sense for the desired trajectory of our in-market brand presence,” says National Sales Manager Crystal McIntyre. “After the decision to create this department was made, we knew Michelle was the ideal person to lead it. Since joining our team last year, she has hit the ground running, proving to be a strong leader who is proficient at managing multiple accounts simultaneously and maintaining those relationships with ease, all while identifying opportunities for growth. And, with the recent addition of Jeremy, we are confident in the team’s ability to strengthen existing relationships, forge new ones, and continue to develop creative solutions and opportunities to expand our business more effectively.”
Miller Family Wine Company
Miller Family Wine Company is a division of the Thornhill Companies – the industry-leading umbrella company of one of California’s premier winegrowing families, the Miller Family, who have been farming California’s Central Coast for five generations. Miller Family Wine Company includes the prestigious Bien Nacido Estates and acclaimed national branded wine labels such as Butternut, optik, J. Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Smashberry, Barrel Burner, and Volunteer wines, in addition to control label brands for prominent retailers across the U.S. and the French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles. For more information on Miller Family Wine Company, please visit www.millerfamilywinecompany.com.
