The Napa Valley College Foundation is pleased to announce our Executive Committee officers for 2026–27, following our recent annual Board retreat.
We gathered at the Wine Spectator Wine Education Center and Donna Altes Hospitality Training Center on the Napa Valley College campus to reflect on the Foundation’s work and discuss priorities for the year ahead.
Napa Valley College Superintendent/President Dr. Gayle Pitman and I shared updates, and Sarah Moore of Brand & Board facilitated a lively discussion focused on strengthening collaboration between the College and Foundation and identifying opportunities to better support our students.
We began the day with an interactive icebreaker at the Hospitality Training Center, led by Dr. Christina Howell, Coordinator of Music and Director of Vocal Studies, and Olivia Cowell, Instructor.
The retreat also gave us an opportunity to welcome new Board members and elect our Executive Committee officers for 2026–27.
Introducing Our 2026–27 Executive Committee
Todd Zapolski | President
Todd Zapolski brings more than 40 years of experience in real estate investment and development. He is Principal of Zapolski Holding, LLC, and previously co-founded Zapolski + Rudd, which developed a diverse, bi-coastal real estate portfolio valued at more than $500 million. A longtime supporter of community and philanthropic organizations, Todd currently serves on the boards of the V Foundation Wine Celebration and Don’t Ever Give Up, which supports the V Foundation for Cancer Research. He is also a past Chair of the OLE Health Foundation Board. Todd is a 1980 graduate of Duke University.
Carol Cartwright, Ph.D. | Vice President
Dr. Carol Cartwright is President Emeritus of Kent State University and Bowling Green State University. She served as Kent State’s president from 1991 to 2006, becoming the first woman to lead a public college or university in Ohio, and later served as president of Bowling Green State University from 2008 to 2011. Her career also includes senior academic leadership positions at UC Davis and Penn State. Carol earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. She has also served as a Senior Consultant and Senior Fellow with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
Tim Matz | Secretary
Tim Matz brings more than 35 years of experience in the wine and food industries, including executive leadership, general management, and international sales and marketing. He has held CEO- and president-level leadership roles with Treasury Wine Estates, Jackson Family Wines, Foley Family Wines, Accolade Wines and Zonin USA. Most recently, he led the Wine Program as Chair and Director of the Linfield Center for Wine Education at Linfield University. Tim holds an MBA in General Management and a BBA in Marketing and has co-authored two books published in the United States and Japan. He has been an active member of the Napa community for 20 years.
Richard Hall | Treasurer
Richard Hall is the founder of WeinStrategies, LLC, providing strategic finance and executive management consulting to the wine industry. His career includes financial and operational leadership roles with Leslie Rudd Investment Company and 14 years as Chief Financial Officer of Cliff Lede Vineyards. He has since advised more than a dozen wineries in California and internationally. Richard earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from UC Santa Cruz and an MBA in finance from Saint Mary’s College of California. He has also served two elected terms as a Yountville Town Councilmember and Vice Mayor and remains active on several local nonprofit boards.
