Napa, CA, January 11, 2021 — Festival Napa Valley, the internationally renowned performing arts and education organization, announces the election of two new members to its board of directors: Bella Oaks vintner Suzanne Deal Booth and arts advocate Romana Bracco. Robin Baggett, proprietor of Alpha Omega, has been elected Board Chairman.
“We have been fortunate to build an exceptional board of directors over the years, now numbering 26 vintners and community leaders,” said Richard Walker, President and CEO of Festival Napa Valley. “We are grateful to Suzanne and Romana for agreeing to contribute their time, talent and success to our organization. And with Robin’s leadership as the new Chairman of the Board, the organization will be stronger and better than ever.”
Robin Baggett is the proprietor of Alpha Omega, a Festival Napa Valley partner winery, and has served on the Festival board since 2013, the last three years as Vice Chairman. He currently serves on the board of the Wine Institute, Land Trust of Napa County, First Tee–Monterey County, and Cal Poly Athletic Director’s Council. He also recently served as chair of the Napa Valley Vintners board of directors and currently serves as advisor to the board. His 40-year career as an attorney includes eight years as general counsel of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
“I am honored to work with one of the nation’s most admired festivals and look forward to advancing
The impact of its many arts education initiatives and helping to take its exceptional programming to even greater heights,” said newly appointed Board Chairman, Robin Baggett.
Bella Oaks proprietor Suzanne Deal Booth comes to the Festival board with a strong background in philanthropy and as an advocate for the preservation of cultural heritage. In 1998, she founded the Friends of Heritage Preservation, and in 2003, the American Academy in Rome created the Suzanne Deal Booth Rome Prize Fellowship for Historic Preservation and Conversation. Additionally, Booth serves on the boards of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Menil Collection, American Friends of the Centre Pompidou, Ballroom Marfa, The Contemporary Austin, and Atelier Calder.
Arts advocate and philanthropist Romana Bracco brings to the board her experience as president of Comites (Committee of Italians Residing Abroad) and past president of Italian Community Services. Bracco has dedicated much of her life to supporting charitable and civic organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, receiving numerous honors and recognition for her civic activism. She currently serves on the boards of San Francisco Opera, the Museo Italo Americano, and Second Opinion.
About Festival Napa Valley
Blending the beauty and bounty of Napa Valley with the very finest performing arts, Festival Napa Valley offers programs that enrich the economic and cultural vitality of the region and make the arts accessible to all. The Festival presents world-class performances staged in iconic venues and inspiring educational programs offered digitally and at Napa County schools year-round. It is presented by Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit organization governed by a board of prominent vintners and local leaders. More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants, chefs, and vintners participate each year. The 16th edition of the annual summer festival takes place July 15-24, 2022.
