DEBRA HATCHER
SAM TANNAHILL
CHERYL FRANCIS
WINEMAKING
VINEYARDS
SALES
FINANCE
HUMAN RESOURCES
This title is a little deceiving; there are a lot of pieces that fit together to make the sales and marketing group run. To try and conglomerate this group into a neat and tidy package would be a crime. There is far too much talent, enthusiasm and experience to pin down! Responsibilities include wine education, distributor sales, direct sales in our Tasting Room and Cellar Clubs, marketing, PR, customer relations, and on!
DEB HATCHER: Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. A true Gemini with interests and background all over the map, Bill, her husband of 238 dog years, finally reeled her in to partner with him, Sam Tannahill and Cheryl Francis to found A to Z Wineworks. Deb fell in love with Oregon and Oregon Pinot Noir at first taste in 1985 and Bill and Deb abruptly left their lives back east and worked harvest three weeks later. She subsequently worked for Veritas and Eyrie Vineyards and did her part during the thirteen plus years Bill launched and ran Domaine Drouhin Oregon. She is the proud mom of Will and Hadley.
RICK TOYOTA: Senior Manager of Direct Sales & Wine Education. Rick is a graduate of UCLA with a BA in Speech Communications. A native Californian, Rick became interested in wine while going to school in San Diego and working as the wine and spirits buyer for the Long’s Drug Stores in the region. While formalizing his wine knowledge with organizations like the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Society of Wine Educators, he worked as an operations and sales manager for Disney, Sony Entertainment and Bloomingdales, eventually joining the Robert Mondavi Winery to help set up a tasting room, restaurant and wine education pavilion called the Golden Vine Winery in Disney’s California Adventure theme park. Rick moved on to a position as the Director of Hospitality and Wine Education for the Clos LaChance Winery in San Martin, CA where he help set up the tasting room and wine education programs at the wineries new facility in San Martin and their satellite tasting room in Monterey. In addition, he opened up a third tasting room that was a joint venture called Backyard Wineries in Los Gatos. Rick established a wine education program to help both the general public and other industry professionals prepare and pass their first level examinations with the Court of Master Sommeliers.Rick also served on the Board of Directors for the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food. Rick’s belief in the quality and importance of the Pacific Northwest wine industry led him to Oregon and a position with A to Z Wineworks. Here, he is joined by his wife, Judy, who is also involved in the wine industry.
CAMAS GOBLE: Camas joined A to Z in 2003 when the founding partners decided that having a resident rocket science would be a nice perk. After a year spent learning the ropes at Bill & Deb’s kitchen table she was asked to become a minority partner. In a lapse of good judgment she agreed. Camas has a degree in physics from Reed College and has completed the advanced level placement with the Wine & Spirit Trust of Great Britain. She is passionate about food and wine and has an expensive German Riesling habit.
RACHEL LANGMAID: Marketing Coordinator. Hails from the only county in Minnesota without a natural lake. She moved to Oregon in 1998 to study biology at the University of Oregon, but fell under the siren spell of Portland and never looked back. In 2003, she quit her restaurant management job and started working in the Rex Hill tasting room, eager to learn about Oregon wines at one of the area’s most highly regarded establishments. That same year, true love led her to an old homestead in Oregon’s Coast Range, where she and her husband Bill maintain a large vegetable garden, fruit trees, a few grape vines, and couple of acres of forest land. In their spare time they have gutted their house, which Bill works tirelessly at reassembling. Sadie (a purebred North American Napping Dog) keeps them safe from things that go bump in the night.
KATIE WILSON: Assistant Manager of Direct Sales. Started exploring the Oregon wine industry as an intern for Rex Hill Vineyards in December 1999, while finishing a degree in International Business at Linfield College. This curiosity developed and after graduating she stayed on at the winery to manage the Rex Hill Tasting Room. Over the years she has been involved with every aspect of the winery's direct sales program. Most recently she has worked for A to Z Wineworks helping them build their direct sales and wine club. A native Oregonian, she lives locally with husband, Rollie and new addition, baby Quinn (and a puppy dog named Lola!)
EMILY OTT: Direct Sales Coordinator. Joined the wine enthusiasts at Rex Hill Vineyards in 2005 as a wine novice. She has spent the last three years tuning in her tastes and attending classes at Portland State University. In 2007 she helped to launch the A to Z Wine Club and is the go-to gal for direct shipping for all brands. A native Oregonian, she calls wine country home, living with her husband Chris and their dog Hunter.
KATIE McLENNAN: Tasting Room Supervisor. Was born and raised in Tigard, Oregon and is currently working on her bachelors degree at Portland State University. While in high school and college, she managed a family owned children’s store and represented several children’s clothing lines. These experiences gave her a greater understanding of the business world. Katie started working for Rex Hill in the spring of 2005 as a part time sales associate. Her love for wine started as a hobby and has become a major passion in her life. She has since moved on from the retail clothing market and is pursuing her passion in the Oregon wine industry with Rex Hill/A to Z Wineworks full time. Katie is excited about what lies ahead for A to Z, and is grateful to be a part of a wonderful crew of people! In her free time, the recent newlywed enjoys traveling with her family and friends, soccer, softball, golfing, football, wine tasting of course and more!
Diverse, experienced and talented, this enthusiastic group is responsible for international and national distributor sales (NW CORE COLLECTION), direct sales from our Tasting Room and Cellar Club, wine education, public relations, and developing marketing materials and websites.
