JD Wagoner
Jacksonville
Summary
Wine and service industry candidate with 15+ years experience in restaurant management and wine list curation, wine wholesale, wine distribution, and retail wine sales.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
General Manager & Beverage Director
Josephine Avondale
Jacksonville, FL
04.2024 - Current
- Manage a staff of 20+ FOH employees at $3.5M revenue restaurant
- Manage budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules
- Direct a wine program of 250+ selections
- Manage, schedule, and execute private dining events
Sales Representative
Martine's WIne
New York, NY
01.2023 - 04.2024
- Called on and serviced top accounts in Manhattan and Brooklyn
- Became a true ambassador of Martine's Wines and the wineries in the portfolio
- Paid attention and learned buyer habits and accessed needs
- Constantly surveyed wine lists for voids to fill
- Paid attention to competitor sets and targeted where appropriate
- Hosted winemakers during market visits and planned and executed events and dinners
National Sales Manager
Hudson Wine Brokers
08.2018 - 01.2023
- Managed national sales for a portfolio of small-production, family-owned Australian wineries
- Worked with portfolio managers and owners of 22 distributors to increase sales in each respective state
- Scheduled and executed winemaker visits and personally work alongside distributor reps in the market to target premium accounts
- Executed individual state market visits with distributors to taste with buyers, host dinners, present at GSMs, etc.
- Managed the company website, IG, tech information, and all marketing
Premium Account Development Specialist
Breakthru Beverage
10.2016 - 08.2018
- Part of the fine wine division, Augustan Wine Imports
- Represented a top portfolio of wines in North Florida and targeted premium accounts
- Hosted winemakers and winery owners to execute market work, host wine dinners, perform tastings, teach seminars, etc
- Dissected wine lists and retail shelves to find gaps and offer solutions to wine buyers to improve their inventory and offerings
- Assisted the main pad sales team in all areas of wine sales and education
Wine Director/Service Manager
Restaurant Orsay
05.2015 - 10.2016
- Curated and managed a list of 900+ wines in Jacksonville, FL
- Focused heavily on Champagne, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, and Napa Valley
- Restaurant awards during my tenure included Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence & AAA 4 Diamond
- Interviewed, hired, trained, managed, and educated Front of House employees and managed service on a nightly basis
- Also assisted in cocktail list curation
Beverage Director/AGM
Trappeze Pub, Highwire Lounge/South Kitchen
Athens, USA
03.2014 - 05.2015
- Purchased wine, beer, & spirits for 3 restaurants in Athens, GA
- Curated menus, trained staff, maintained inventories, tasted with sales reps, etc.
- Carefully interviewed, hired, trained, managed, and educated Front of House employees
- Strategically developed marketing plans to increase foot traffic and drive revenue
- Operated social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram
Education
Consumer Economics
University of Georgia
Athens, GAAssociate of Science - Criminal Justice
Gainesville State University
Athens05-2005
Skills
- Leadership and team building
- Problem resolution
- Operations management
- Team player
- Efficient multi-tasker
- Staff training
- Extensive producer and regional wine knowledge
- Full understanding of three-tier system
- Experience in retail, wholesale, imports, and on-premise wine sales
Certification
Certified Specialist of Wine
Certified Sommelier
WSET 3
Timeline
General Manager & Beverage Director
Josephine Avondale
04.2024 - Current
Sales Representative
Martine's WIne
01.2023 - 04.2024
National Sales Manager
Hudson Wine Brokers
08.2018 - 01.2023
Premium Account Development Specialist
Breakthru Beverage
10.2016 - 08.2018
Wine Director/Service Manager
Restaurant Orsay
05.2015 - 10.2016
Beverage Director/AGM
Trappeze Pub, Highwire Lounge/South Kitchen
03.2014 - 05.2015
Consumer Economics
University of Georgia
Associate of Science - Criminal Justice
Gainesville State University