May 20, 2026 (New York, NY) — As the beverage alcohol industry faces rapid shifts across consumer behavior, distribution consolidation, regulation, and new routes to market, Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) (www.womenofthevine.com), is expanding its 2026 Live Leadership Series to deliver direct access to the executives shaping what comes next.
The global membership organization announced an expanded lineup of live, candid conversations featuring top beverage alcohol executives, founders, operators, and strategists across all three tiers. Designed as interactive sessions rather than traditional panels, the series offers unfiltered dialogue and real-time insight into the forces driving industry transformation.
WOTVS convenes leading decision-makers to tackle the biggest issues facing the business today from growth and innovation to talent and leadership development while creating a unique collaborative forum for cross-tier perspective.
That access is powered by WOTVS’s broad Corporate Membership network, which spans suppliers, distributors, retailers, legal and marketing agencies, technology providers, and hospitality companies, making the Live Chat platform a go-to resource for both established and emerging leaders looking to anticipate and effectively adapt to change and engage directly with transformational executives from every corner of the industry.
Upcoming 2026 sessions include:
Unshaken Leadership: Bold Voices Driving the Industry Forward
Hosted by James Cornell, VP of Business Development, Wine & Spirits at Protis Global,
- August 25 – Cindy Leonard, Vice President/General Manager of Fine Wines and Laura DePasquale, Senior Vice President of Sales & Commercial Operations, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
- May 28 – Gregory Fitch, SVP Chief Sales Officer, Hotaling & Company
- June 18– Michelle DeFeo President, Laurent-Perrier US
- July 21 – Celia Maestri, President, Casa Maestri Distilling
Pouring into the Future: The Women Who Shaped Our Industry
Hosted by Donna Buoscio, VP Product Lifecycle Management & Strategy, Opici Family Distributing
C-Suite Insights
With more than 130 Live Chat sessions hosted in 2025, the 2026 series reflects WOTVS’ continued investment in scalable, year-round access to leadership, education, mentorship and industry insight. Additional sessions will be announced on a rolling basis. For more information visit https://www.womenofthevine.com/events
For Corporate Members Only, View Past 2026 Leadership Series Recordings Featuring:
John Sutton, President, The Wine Group, Dina Opici, President, Opici Family Distributing, Aly Wente, Chief Revenue Officer, Wente Family Estates, Rhonda Motil, Vice President Marketing, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Gretchen McDade, Head of Brand Division, Constellation Brands, Stephanie Silvestre, SVP Managing Director Supplier Development & Marketing, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Hannah Lowen, CEO, New Riff Distilling, Dia Simms, Founder, Pronghorn, Kathy Sucich, VP Marketing, Dimensional Insights, Michelle MacKenzie, CSS State Manager, NJ, Brown-Forman, Paula Erickson, Executive Vice President Chief Human Resources Officer, Constellation Brands, Scarlett Allen, Vice President, Human Resources, Mast Jägermeister, Lee Carather, President & CEO of Double Forte, Kim Lawton, Founder & CEO of Enthuse Marketing.
Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Members include Charter Member: Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Diamond Members: Breakthru Beverage Group; Pernod Ricard USA; and Republic National Distributing Company; Platinum Members: Corazón Tequila; J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines; and Suntory Global Spirits. For a full list of Corporate Members including those at the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Associate level, visit the Corporate Members tab at womenofthevine.com.
About Women of the Vine & Spirits
Women of the Vine & Spirits® (WOTVS) is the leading mission-driven global membership organization comprised of women and men committed to empowering and advancing women in the alcohol and alternative beverage industry. We are committed to championing women in the workplace, fostering an industry where their talents and perspectives are not just valued but drive success and fuel growth. WOTVS community embodies this commitment by offering resources, programs, and a collaborative network designed to inspire and empower members in every sector of the alcohol and alternative beverage industry. Through mentorship, education, and advocacy, we aim to elevate our members’ careers, cultivate inclusive leadership, and pave the way for innovation and growth in this dynamic field. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com.
