About WCSEP

Executive Director

Venue: Castello di Amorosa Winery

Madeleine began her career working for a luxury catering company, which taught her the intricacies of planning events and afforded her the opportunity to travel and participate in international food and wine shows. After years of honing her craft in the catering side of the event industry, Madeleine ventured into the wine business. Her enthusiasm for luxury events and wine brought her to Treasury Wine Estates, where she spent five years designing custom event experiences for clients across 7 wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma. As VP of Events and Hospitality at Castello di Amorosa. She focuses on supporting the hospitality team, all-encompassing experiential design, and pushing the limits of creativity to deliver unforgettable events .She is fiercely passionate about supporting the Event Industry Community. She is committed to leading the WCSEP board to produce effective and informative educational programs and opportunities for members of the industry to connect and network.

Executive Director of Education

Pivot Hospitality Consulting

Born and raised in the Canal Zone, Gaspar moved from Creighton University to California, transitioning through sales jobs from vacuum cleaners, door-to-door, to years in advertising in the San Francisco Bay Area. He then delved into the hospitality industry, gaining experience through various ventures including hospitality trade journals, Artesa Vineyards, Culinary Institute of America, Copia, Terlato Wine Group, Foley Family Wines, Plumpjack Wine Group, and hospitality industry consulting. With a rich background spanning sales, advertising, and hospitality, Gaspar brings a diverse skill set to his endeavors.

Executive Director of Communications

Venue: Peju Winery

Abby Graham is a seasoned wine industry professional with a strong background in sales strategy, guest experience, and event marketing. She began her career in winemaking, working harvests in Napa Valley and Australia before transitioning back into hospitality through the tasting room. At Miner Family Winery, she developed and led the private events program, sparking her passion for creating exceptional guest experiences.

Now, as Business Development Manager at PEJU Winery, Abby focuses on driving direct-to-consumer sales, fostering key industry partnerships, and developing innovative engagement strategies to enhance visitation and brand loyalty. With expertise in reservations management, private events, and corporate gifting, she has successfully launched and scaled programs that drive significant revenue growth.

Early in her career, WCSEP was a pivotal resource, helping her build connections and grow within the industry. Now, she is committed to giving back, supporting the next generation of event professionals, and helping WCSEP continue to thrive.

Executive Director of Events

Venue: Cliff Lede Vineyards

Sherell was born and raised in Napa and has been in hospitality her entire career, spanning almost 40 years. Starting in hotels part-time during college at Silverado Resort staying there for 10 years as a Reservationist from 1985-1994, Front Desk & Concierge at Embassy Suites 1994-95, Food & Beverage Manager at Meadowood from 1995-2000. Made a switch to restaurants, working as the Office Manager & Event Assistant at Brix from 2001-2008, from 2009-2014 went back to hotels as the Director of Administrative Services & Events at Dawn Ranch Lodge, and River Terrace Inn as Senior Catering & Conference Services Manager, back to restaurants as Catering Sales Manager for Gott's Roadside. In 2014 came on board as Group Sales Manager at Cliff Lede Vineyards promoted to Director of Hospitality overseeing both the Tasting Room and Private Groups in September 2021. Sherell lives in Napa with her beautiful 15 year old doggie pal, Chloe and has 2 grown sons, Remy and Jake.

Executive Director of Community Relations

Venue: Napa Valley Wine Train

Anne Johnson is the Group Sales & Catering Manager for the Napa Valley Wine Train, responsible for managing groups ranging from 21 to 300 guests. She is dedicated to delivering exceptional products and service within the hospitality industry, with a focus on enhancing the guest experience from arrival to departure.

Executive Director of Membership and Recruitment

Venue: El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen

Lila Sommier, a native of Wine Country, proudly serves as the Director of Sales for the El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen in Sonoma. Lila's deep-rooted affection for the Sonoma Valley shines through as she warmly welcomes and guides guests, both on-site and off, sharing insider tips and local treasures. When not immersed in hospitality, Lila cherishes moments with her vibrant family of six and their two beloved dogs. Her altruistic spirit extends to volunteering at school fundraisers, nurturing her home garden, and seeking adventures in camping, hiking, and kayaking along the Sonoma County ocean shores.

Executive Director of Social Media

Venue: Landmark Vineyards

Olivia grew up in Southern California, where her love for wine country began at the age of 16 with a simple family vacation. Enchanted by the beauty and charm of the region, she knew she wanted to be a part of it. After graduating from Sonoma State University with a degree in Wine Business Strategies, her journey began as a tasting guide, where she gained a deep appreciation for the world of wine. Over time, Olivia realized her true passion lay in events. She thrived in the intricate details and found great joy in seeing ideas come to life. 

 Since 2016, Olivia has been at the helm of events at Landmark Vineyards, overseeing everything from intimate gatherings to large celebrations. Her passion for creating memorable experiences shines through in every event she manages. As an extrovert, Olivia also took to networking, finding a strong sense of community in groups like WCSEP, where she has built valuable connections, new friendships, and have learned from some of the most inspiring professionals in the industry. You’ll always find Olivia with a phone in her hand, snapping photos and videos at mixers and meetings, capturing the moments that make these events truly special.

Executive Director of Community Giving

Venue: Songbird Parlour

Lauren Kershner's love affair with food kicked off at 18 when she dove into French culinary techniques at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland. Her journey through Napa Valley's food scene, including stints at Morimoto Napa and Calistoga Ranch, was like a master class in flavors and technique. But it was at Sonoma Valley's Beltane Ranch where Lauren really found her voice as a chef and fell hard for the magic of local ingredients.

In 2016, Lauren's dream came to life with Goodness Gracious Private Chef and Catering. It's all about bringing people together over amazing food that tells the story of Sonoma's incredible farmers and diverse food cultures. Her passion for creating unforgettable experiences hasn't gone unnoticed - she snagged the North Bay Forty Under 40 award in 2022, was named one of the "23 to Watch in 2023" by the Press Democrat, and Goodness Gracious was crowned Business of the Year by the Sonoma Chamber of Commerce in 2024!

But Lauren's just getting started! In 2021, she opened Songbird Parlour, a cool event space and restaurant in Glen Ellen's historic Jack London Village, launched Valley of the Moon Kombucha for all you fermentation fans out there, and offers hidden gem tours of Sonoma Valley via vintage VW busses with her West Wine Tours. Lauren's always cooking up new ideas to showcase the best of Sonoma Valley. Whether she's dreaming up new dishes, collaborating with local artisans, or working on community projects, her goal is simple: to make Sonoma Wine Country a place that captivates visitors and keeps them coming back for more.

Director at Large

Venue: Castello di Amorosa

Angie Guevara has been in the wine industry for over 10 years, driven by a passion for exceptional customer service. Her journey began in concierge services, where she honed her ability to create seamless and memorable experiences. Through dedication and expertise, she worked her way up to Director of Events and Hospitality at Castello di Amorosa Winery, where she now specializes in bringing her clients' visions to life. Angie's commitment to excellence ensures that every event is executed with precision, elegance, and a personal touch.

Director at Large

Venue: Montage Healdsburg

Jamie started her hospitality career over 20 years ago as a Pastry Prep Cook in San Francisco, at one of the city's famous nightclubs, Ruby Skye. From there, she held positions at some of the best Hotels & Resorts in the World, including The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Auberge du Soleil, and The Luxury Collection of Marriott International. Over the years, she has developed a network of contacts throughout the hospitality and IT industries, that she can count on. Many of them have become great friends, through collaborative experiences on International Board Chapters, and regional networking groups in the hospitality community.

Director at Large

Venue: The Lodge at Sonoma

Christopher was born and raised in Napa, CA--a true Napa native. After attending San Francisco State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Video Production, Christopher returned to Napa to embark on his career in hospitality. His career began at "Visit Napa Valley's" Downtown Welcome Center, where he started to learn the intricacies of the Napa Valley.

Further expanding his knowledge and expertise in the finer points of the Valley, Christopher led the concierge team at the Westin Verasa Napa, followed by both Front Office Management and Catering Sales roles at Bardessono Hotel and Spa. Adding to his unique experience, his position with LVMH (Domaine Chandon) enabled him to continue pursuing his passion for wine, food, public relations, and, most importantly, elevated experiences.

Christopher then joined the Estate Yountville in November 2019 as the Senior Conference Services Manager, later becoming the hotel’s first Director of VIP Client Relations and Partnerships and in June 2022 rejoined the Sales and Marketing Team, overseeing the execution of various high-profiled corporate groups.

In May 2024, Christopher ventured over to The Lodge at Sonoma handling the hotels Pharma/Healthcare, Food & Beverage, Sports, Media/Entertainment, Real Estate and Construction segmentations.

Christopher currently resides in Napa with his partner John of 14 years and their seven-pound Yorkie Luke.

Director at Large

Venue: Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa