First Beverage Group is very pleased to announce the addition of two beverage industry veterans to its Board of Directors: Jill Jones, former EVP of Brown-Forman, and Amy Hoopes, President of Wente Family Estates.
“The addition of Jill and Amy significantly expands our Board’s experiential base in beverage production, supply chain, marketing and sales,” said James Bareuther, First Beverage’s Board Chairman. “All those engaged with First Beverage will benefit as we continue to accelerate our growth.”
Ms. Jones has over 20 years of experience in multiple disciplines and functions at the EVP, SVP, and VP level, with direct beverage industry experience over the last 18 years in region leadership, global production, supply chain and finance. In her most recent role at Brown-Forman as EVP she was responsible for all sales and marketing efforts for the regions she oversaw, which included North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America, India, the Middle East and Africa, in addition to responsibility for global travel retail. Her regions were responsible for delivering approximately 60% of the net sales and gross profit of the company. Ms. Jones previously served on the Boards of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, the Family & Children’s Place, and the Louisville Ballet. She received her MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University and her BS in accounting from the University of Kentucky, where she attended on a full volleyball scholarship. She and her husband have two children and live in southern Indiana.
Ms. Hoopes has over 20 years of beverage industry experience. She was promoted to the position of President of Wente Family Estates after serving in previous roles as EVP and CMO, in which she oversaw all global marketing and sales operations for the family-owned wine portfolio including Wente Vineyards, Entwine, Murrieta’s Well, Double Decker, and Hayes Ranch, as well as for lifestyle operations, The Course, The Restaurant and concerts at Wente Vineyards. Prior to joining Wente, she spent 10 years with E.& J. Gallo in various positions of increasing responsibility, the last of which was Director of Marketing. She is a member of the Communications Committee for The Wine Institute and a member of the Monterey Winegrowers Association and an Executive Board member and President of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association. She is also a member and the past President of the Board of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, San Francisco Chapter. She received her BS in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Hoopes lives in Pleasanton, CA with her husband and two young daughters.
“We are honored that two such accomplished individuals have chosen to join our Board,” said Bill Anderson, founder and CEO of First Beverage. “I admire both of them greatly for what they have accomplished already and I am very much looking forward to the insights and expertise they will bring to First Beverage in the years to come.”