Markus Niggli

• Responsible for marketing & sales, accounting, sales of finished products and grape sales within the US. Current yearly production of markus wine – 1000cs. Current yearly overall wine production for several clients within the US 8000 cs. Selling wine grapes to 25 different clients in 14 different states. Managing picking, logistics and accounting.
• In charge of farming Ancient Vine vineyards (The Church block planted in 1928), Ancient Vine Carignan planted in 1934 – managing and guiding through the growing season, managing picking crew scheduling, selling all the fruit and handling all the logistics for transportation across the US.
• Established strong relationships with suppliers and distributors to optimize inventory management.
• Mentored staff on customer service best practices, enhancing client satisfaction levels.
• Analyzed market trends to identify new product opportunities and drive business growth.
• Coordinated wine production processes, ensuring efficiency from vineyard to bottle.
• Managed day-to-day business operations.
• Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
• Oversaw daily operations, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and efficiently by team members.
• Consulted with customers to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
• Negotiated contracts with suppliers for better pricing and terms, reducing overall costs for the business.

• Company Overview: oldest boutique winery in Lodi CA
• Hired as winery worker to help in the cellar with barrel work, blending, bottling and harvesting.
• Promoted in 2008 to assistant winemaker including managing harvest of 100 acres of wine grapes including managing sales country wide and managing logistics like chilling grapes and trucking grapes as a fresh product to 15 states within the US.
• Promoted in 2012 to General Manager of Borra Vineyards & Winery, overseeing also Tasting Room and Vineyards.

Duties included:

• Monitored fermentation processes to maintain quality standards and optimize wine flavor profiles.
• Assisted in vineyard maintenance, including pruning, harvesting, and pest management practices.
• Continuously updated personal knowledge on industry trends and innovations to ensure the winery remained competitive in the marketplace.
• Developed strong relationships with suppliers to secure competitive pricing on high-quality materials needed for winemaking operations.
• Collaborated with team members to streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency.
• Trained new staff on safety protocols and standard operating procedures within the winery environment.
• Enhanced winery production by meticulously pruning and training grapevines.
• Improved overall vineyard health with diligent pest and disease monitoring and management. (certified vineyards to Lodi Rules)
• Picked grapes at correct time and sorted by quality for further processing into vineyard wines.
• Engaged customers during tastings, providing knowledgeable recommendations based on individual preferences and tastes.

• Harvest/Crush at a premium Mountain Cabernet winery. Cellar work includes, crush pad, Forklift work, tank pump overs & Barrel pump over, SO2 additions, etc.

• Viticulture Technician for Mumm, Buena Vista, William Hill and Atlas Peak wineries within the grower relations department of Allied Domecq. Monitor vine growth, health and diseases at the contracted vineyards. Also responsible for cluster counts during lag phase, brix sampling, and checking on picks to ensure quality control. Provide data and maintain files regarding crop estimates using the Virtual Vineyards program.

• Vineyard work included; trellis repair, mulching, plowing, spraying herbicide, planting new vines, shoot thinning and fruit positioning In the cellar, work included bottling.

• Vineyard worker in a 30ha property. Work included picking, pruning, pest management, trellis maintenance, slashing, equipment operation and crop management. Also performed contract pruning work for another small Swan Valley Vineyard.

• Senior Product Manager for air travel at the largest tour operator in Switzerland. Manager of 38 employees, contracts with 80 airlines and 6 rental car companies
• Mentored junior product managers, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Negotiated partnerships with suppliers to enhance product quality and increase competitive advantage in the market.
• Managed product demonstrations and testimonials for performance evaluation.

• Responsibility for Leisure Sales Switzerland, marketing activities, client contracts, turnover statistics and market analysis
• Managed client relationships, ensuring satisfaction and loyalty through personalized service.
• Developed strategic account plans to align with clients' business objectives and enhance revenue growth.
• Analyzed market trends to identify opportunities for expanding service offerings and improving customer engagement.
• Monitored key performance indicators, driving improvements in customer retention and account profitability.
• Maintained high client retention rate by providing exceptional customer service and anticipating client needs.
• Negotiated contract terms with clients, securing favorable agreements for both parties.

• Sales responsibility for New York, Los Angeles and Hawaii at the third largest tour operator in Switzerland
• Developed and implemented efficient travel itineraries for diverse clientele.
• Coordinated logistics for group travel, ensuring seamless experiences.
• Trained junior staff on best practices in customer service and itinerary planning.
• Followed all company policies and procedures to deliver quality work.

• Managing clerk at the largest tourist office in Switzerland
• Managed ticket sales and reservations, ensuring customer satisfaction through efficient service.
• Coordinated travel itineraries for tourists, providing detailed information on schedules and services.
• Trained new staff on operational procedures and best practices to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Reduced errors in data entry by carefully inputting information into computer systems with attention to detail.
• Improved customer satisfaction by promptly answering inquiries and providing accurate information.