Katy Long, MW Student

Experience

• 

  Nickel & Nickel Winery

  Apr 2003 - Dec 2004

  Wine Educator and Hospitality

  Assist in all aspects of hospitality; promote the winery by conveying information to trade and public, coordinate and host tours and tastings, some planning and execution of special events, and inside sales.

• 

  Meadowood Napa Valley

  Oct 2008 - Mar 2010

  Concierge

  Ensure guests have an excellent experience from the time they booked their visit until after their departure. Daily responsibilities include contacting guests prior to arrival to assist in creating customized itineraries for their trip, including transportation logistics, tailored winery visits, fine dining reservations, and other wine country activities. As needed, assist in other front office departments, as well as providing support to wine & cuisine team.

• 

  Bounty Hunter

  Jul 2010 - Jul 2015

  Manage content for monthly wine club stories; write, edit and proofread new content. Coordinate and curate content for quarterly newsletter. Work with design and web teams to translate content to the web in a timely manner. Fact check content against inventory, ensuring appropriate timing and adequate supply of wines for shipments. Ensure positive guest experience in the 65 seat wine bar and restaurant featuring 40 wines by the glass and 400 by the bottle. General hospitality including greeting guests, making informed suggestions, taking their orders. Maintain safe, clean and organized environment. Respond to customer inquiries while promoting a fun and lively atmosphere.

  • Content Manager

    Feb 2012 - Jul 2015

  • Wine Slinger

    Jul 2010 - Jan 2012
• 

  Cain Vineyard & Winery

  Jul 2015 - May 2016

  Private Client Services

  Act as a liaison of the winery; schedule and conduct visits of the vineyard and winery, host guided tasting of our portfolio of wines. Coordinate multi-channel consumer communication including the production of a quarterly printed newsletter. Assist in planning and coordination of onsite events. Help maintain accurate customer records.

• 

  Vintage Wine Estates

  Sept 2016 - May 2024

  As the Director of International Sales at Vintage Wine Estates, I lead small and dynamic team overseeing the global distribution of our lifestyle, premium and luxury wine portfolio comprising 36+ brands across 40 markets. My role involves collaborating with cross-functional departments including logistics, supply chain, compliance, sales, and marketing to ensure seamless operations.Key Achievements:• Expanded market presence, driving sustained year-over-year revenue.• Implemented strategic sales and promotional initiatives, enhancing brand visibility and consumer engagement.• Fostered key relationships with international partners, ensuring sustainable and profitable business ties.• Leading a dedicated team, fostering collaboration and enhancing productivity.Responsibilities:• Execute international sales strategies aligned with company goals.• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize operational efficiency.• Manage relationships across 40 global markets with distributors, importers, and key stakeholders.• Conduct market analysis for growth opportunities and emerging trends.• Oversee promotional activities, ensuring brand positioning and market differentiation.• Ensure compliance with international regulations and standards.• Lead negotiations for sales contracts and agreements.• Drive initiatives for sustainable business practices and profitability. Show less As a dynamic hybrid role, I served as the Vintner, Director of International Marketing, and Brand Advocate, overseeing a diverse portfolio of 30+ lifestyle, premium and luxury wine brands across 40 global markets outside of the USA. Responsibilities include on-camera wine education and promotion, bringing our portfolio to life through engaging content. Additional facets of the role included in-person advocacy of wines with key customers and stakeholders, ensuring a compelling and authentic representation across various markets. This unique role allowed me to integrate winemaking expertise, strategic marketing, and firsthand brand advocacy to elevate the Vintage Wine Estates brand portfolio presence and strengthen connections worldwide. Show less Mine is a very dynamic role in a rapidly expanding company in which I get to liaise across departments to further our goals, achieved in part through enhancing collaboration, communication and education.On the International Marketing and Sales front our aim is to strategically enhance our Brand presence through relationship building and understanding and removing barriers to our growth in international markets. Tactically this includes planning and executing trade activations, shows, consumer events, as well as hosting guests at our destination properties. Asia is my area of focus, and as the locally based “anchor” on the International Team I help identify and capitalize on potential opportunities liaising with internal stakeholders and emerging partners.As de facto Wholesale Marketing Manager for our luxury brand, Girard Winery – and in compendium with our marketing partner – I endeavor to ensure concise and on-brand communication across channels and platforms.Liaising with the Craft Spirits Team, I offer sales and marketing support; curating marketing materials and collateral as well as hosting events and trainings. Other projects near and dear to my heart include facilitating our “Angels Share” Program – a campaign to provide meals to those experiencing food insecurity in their communities. Acting as a coordinator for Summer Internships reminds me of the value of setting others up for success and passing on institutional knowledge. It takes a village, and I am one proud member! Show less I have the pleasure of getting involved in projects across the organization - from project managing our corporate rebranding, to re-envisioning websites, spearheading our national launch of Angels Share (our partnership with local foodbanks across the country) and working alongside multiple dedicated teams across disciplines in order to bring some of our corporate visions to fruition. My role is a dynamic one, in a fast-paced environment - from hosting trade and VIP visitors at our destination properties, to crafting brand assets, to streamlining our digital asset management system to educating our distributor and sales teams about our portfolio of wine country finished whiskeys. All in a day's work! Show less

  • Director of International Sales

    Aug 2023 - May 2024

  • Vintner, Director of International Marketing & VWE Brand Advocate

    Sept 2019 - Aug 2023

  • Senior Marketing Manager & Brand Advocate

    Jul 2018 - Sept 2019

  • Brand Advocate & Educator

    Sept 2016 - Jul 2018