David Millman joined DDO as Managing Director in the Fall of 2004. He sits on the board of the International Pinot Noir Celebration and is the current President of Oregon Pinot Camp, in addition to his work with various other organizations. Prior to DDO, David owned a PR & Marketing firm specializing in wineries (including DDO) and musicians (Chicago, Sheila E., Acoustic Alchemy, David Sylvian, Harold Budd). Many of you have met David as he travels the world spreading the good word of DDO.
Arron Bell is our Assistant Winemaker and Operations Manager; in charge of all winemaking operations and bottling, under the direction of Veronique, and facility and site management operations. Arron joined us in July of 2002, working as a caviste in the cellar. Over the last few years, he has been promoted through the ranks as Tasting Room Manager, Hospitality Director, Cellarmaster and in 2009 to his current position. We are very pleased to have him working under the direction of winemaker Veronique Drouhin-Boss.
Ashley Bell is our Director of Sales & Education, welcoming you to our winery and estate atop the Dundee Hills with a smile, a world of information and wine knowledge. In May of 2004, Ashley joined the DDO team as Tasting Room Director, helping to open our Tasting Room and aide in the creation of DDO Direct, our wine club. In 2005 she was promoted to Hospitality Director and in 2009 to her current position, helping to oversee all aspects of direct sales, hospitality and staff education. Whether you're planning a trip to the Dundee Hills of Oregon or the Côte-d'Or in Burgundy, Ashley looks forward to helping plan your visit.
Jack Hastings (left) joined us in June of 2005 and met many of you during his time as Tasting Room Manager. Like most of us at team DDO, Jack was promoted into a new role in December '05. With his promotion to Assistant Cellar Master, Jack's view of the Dundee Hills was traded for a view of the upcoming vintages in barrel. We're very happy to have him working with our wine. Chris Burrough (right) was hired in April of 2006 to assist us part time in the Tasting Room while completing his Hospitality degree at the Western Culinary Institute. Over time, Chris’ love for Pinot Noir blossomed, and his desire to work closer with the wine led him to apply for a 2006 Harvest position at DDO. As an intern, Chris proved to be well-suited at working in the cellar and headed to Central Otago to keep his intern shoes “wet” by working with former DDO intern, Jeremy Brown, at Highfield Estate. With this experience under his belt, Chris was promoted to Caviste in October of 2007, just in time for the crush.
MaryAnn Coon was hired as Office Manager in June of 2004. Though new to the wine industry when she joined us, MaryAnn has always worked in an international setting and very much looks forward to learning more about the wine world in Oregon and Burgundy. As the glue that holds all departments of DDO together, MaryAnn was promoted to Office and Logistics Manager in the Spring of 2008.
Lauren Smith (left), originally from Chicago, joined our team in the spring of 2008 working part time in the Tasting Room. Impressed with her positive outlook and evergrowing knowlege of wine, she was quickly added to our full time team in the new position of Compliance Specialist. Over time she was promoted quickly through the ranks as Hospitality Manager and to her current position of Tasting Room Manager in the Fall of 2009. Dyane Savino (not pictured) is the newest addition to our Full Time team, starting as Assistant Tasting Room Manager in the Fall of 2009. Dyane joined our Tasting Room team part time in the summer of 2007, after relocating from her home state of New York. Fluent in French and enthusiastic about the worlds of wine and European cuisine, we're excited to have Dyane share our story with you. Terrie Vander Lugt (right) joined the Tasting Room team part time in the spring of 2007. Having recently moved to the NW from Texas, Terrie was eager to share her passion for people and wine in a new setting. In the summer of 2009, we were lucky enough to convince her to join our team full time in the new position of Hospitality and Compliance Administrator. Responsible for the ever-changing world of compliance and direct shipments, we're thrilled to have Terrie and her sunny disposition here full time.