GEOFF WHITMAN

Established a specialized consulting firm delivering strategic sales, marketing, and brand management solutions to wineries, distributors, and luxury hospitality partners. We advise our clients on revenue growth strategies, pricing optimization, and distribution correction and expansion across domestic and international markets.

• Design and execute creative marketing initiatives - including brand redesign and launch via digital campaigns, trade events and experiences that elevate brand storytelling and customer engagement.
• Provide guidance in portfolio development, account management, and sales training to optimize performance across all channels.
• Combine date-driven insights with a passion for wine culture, delivering solutions that are strategically sound and authentically tailored to each client's brand(s).

Direct, implement and manage all areas of Sales for an industry growth outlier from nearly the beginning to the mature company it is today. Worked directly with CEO / Owner to develop distribution network, sales team structure, compensation structure, trade marketing and all aspects of pricing, programming and promotions. Create annual sales plan and bonus plans across organization. Influence and inform production and supply chain management.

Key Accomplishments:

▪ Responsible for growth of portfolio from 40k cases to 1M cases annually.

▪ Built and developed entire distribution network and negotiated a National alignment with Southern Glazer’s.

▪ Designed and implemented National sales team structure including Logistics, Trade Hospitality and BI teams. ▪ Responsible for budgeting and managing a $90M+ P&L
▪ Butter Chardonnay received Impact Blue Chip Brand (2021) & Impact Hot Brand Award FIVE years in a row under this leadership.

Oversaw sales and marketing to drive growth in the export market. Develop and implement brand marketing plan to improve global position. Conceive marketing and sales plans customized to each target geographic market. Monitor and review consumer trends and distribution channels to determine most successful brand initiatives. Manage promotional budget to implement marketing strategies. Travel extensively to all export markets to conduct trainings and attend wine dinners and press events.
Key Accomplishments:

▪ Opened and managed 25+ export markets worldwide.
▪ Grew export sales from $50k to $1.3M annually in under 2 years.
▪ Successfully brought Canvas brand to more than 30 international Hyatt Hotels.
▪ Act as spokesperson for Michael Mondavi Family throughout the world.

Oversaw operations, staff, and brand management of the winery. Managed sales, marketing and distribution throughout the U.S. Managed the winery budget and created spending forecasts for growth and capital improvements. Monitored delivery and assembly of wine bottling packaging. Coordinated site events and tastings for visitors.
Key Accomplishments:

▪ Developed several brands from concept to final product achieving 94+ score from Robert Parker.

▪ Established brand architecture, developing new tiers for Michael Mondavi Family Estates.
▪ Spearheaded plan to reposition brand and create the right mix of wines for the market.
▪ Worked with all members of Michael Mondavi Family on final blends for all wines to market.

▪ Traveled extensively to all markets to kick off new wines and act as spokesperson at winemaker dinner and events.

Manage day to day operations of the winery and vineyard including overseeing wine production, brand marketing, business analysis and sales. Manage all aspects of supply chain, winemaking and bottling operations. Set profitability, volume and sales goals and work in conjunction with managers to successfully grow the brand. Develop and execute business and marketing strategies to support sales goals and manage relationships with distribution channels. Extensively travel to attend winemaker dinners and events to market the brand.
Key Accomplishments:

▪ Successfully grew Spellbound brand from 5,000 cases to over 60k cases.
▪ More than doubled net profits and increased revenue from $1.6 to $3.3 million.

▪ Successfully launched brand new Napa Valley red blend at $40 SRP.
▪ Managed Financials and bank LOC with zero debt for last 5 years of ops.
▪ Placed Spellbound brand into numerous National Accounts on and off premise.

Managed on-premise national accounts, establishing and growing key account relationships that aided sales and revenue growth. Responsible for growth of national sales and increase in distribution channels. Established large network of contacts in the wine industry throughout the country to better promote and position portfolio of wines.
Key Accomplishments:

▪ Managed $20 million marketing budget across more than 30 on-premise National Accounts.
▪ Responsible for over $40 million in annual sales.
▪ Introduced creative concepts for promoting wine sales to accounts from national brands including PF Chang's, Harrah's Casinos and Cheesecake Factory.

Responsible for all market activities, sales planning and execution in all channels for the State of Arizona for the fastest growing spirit brand in the world, at the time. Interfaced with ownership, executive leadership, marketing and brand development teams to further the business according to the Nolet Family's plan. Total sales volume responsible for was approximately 500k cases of two flavors, four sizes of Ketel One Vodka.

• Successfully increased sales targets and exceeded sales quotas on a monthly basis
• Skilled in developing relationships with key customers and leveraging existing relationships to increase sales

Responsible for sales growth in assigned region, setting objectives and goals for team of sales representatives . Prepared professional sales presentations and promotions of new and existing portfolio brands to market to distributors and key accounts. Performed weekly analysis of marketing and sales objectives. Tracked and monitored monthly sales goals and performance of representatives. Developed retail trade relationships in assigned region to better position portfolio of wines.
Key Accomplishments:

▪ Managed key Los Angeles County market (on- & off-premise) and Southwest Regional market (Arizona & New Mexico).

▪ Selected by the Mondavi Family to prestigious role of California State Manager for Robert Mondavi Winery.

▪ Developed initiatives in all capacities to increase sales of Napa, District and Reserve wines across all channels.

Responsible for Beverly Hills / Hollywood sales territory that was primarily on premise, fine dining restaurants and hotels (95 accounts), bolstered with a handful of high volume, fine wine retail stores (7 accounts) with an annual sales volume of $3.3M. The highest prestige sales territory in Southern California which was under the most scrutiny by management and suppliers alike, I was able to grow the sales volume nearly $1.5M by the time I departed. Developed relationships with customers by offering knowledge and exceptional customer service

• Maintained an up to date knowledge of the latest wine trends, vintages, and industry news
• Researched, sourced and procured new wines and spirits to meet customer demands