Below are the candidate statements for the six candidates currently running for election to the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association Board of Directors.
The electronic ballot will be emailed to all voting members shortly after the General Membership meeting on January 27th.
If you are interested in becoming a board member, please contact Carol Haag (carolhaag7@gmail.com) as soon as possible.
Bill English 
My name is Bill English. While I do not grow grapes, I have been an advocate for Lamorinda winegrowing and pretty much specialize in Lamorinda with my winemaking. I have sought to promote better wine growing and better wine making in the AVA. Many of you attended one of the winemaking classes I offered to the membership in past years. I served on the AVA committee headed by Dave Rey and a term on the board.
LWGA’s stated mission is to provide on-going education and support for its members in the areas of vineyard maintenance and management, and winemaking; foster communication and the exchange of information among its members; encourage sustainable practices, resulting in the production of high quality grapes and wine in an environmentally-friendly and socially responsible fashion; promote the Lamorinda community and its status as a winegrowing region, enhancing the marketability of Lamorinda-grown grapes and Lamorinda-made wine; and cultivate a strong relationship with the local community.
I think we have done a pretty good job of some of his, however we have found that defining and implementing the part about providing on-going education and support for its members in the areas of vineyard maintenance and management, and winemaking has been more difficult than meets the eye. I learned this first hand in my previous term on the board. After more thought and discussions with current board members and prospective board member David Hicks, I would like to take another shot at it. We need to recognize the heterogeneous nature of the group and the need to provide more in-depth support to those with interest in learning winegrowing best practices and winemaking practices without forcing technical details on those who don’t have the need or interest. To support this we suggest forming Special Interest Groups for winegrowing and winemaking to take these technical discussions offline from the main meetings while supporting members who want a deeper dive in those areas. We hope that this will not only support current members but attract new members and stimulate past members to rejoin who have interest in these areas.
Hopefully in the process we will enhance the experience of our members and the quality of Lamorinda grapes and wine.
I would like the opportunity to help develop a path forward in these areas by re-joining the board. I request your support.
David Hicks 
Wine education, grape growing and winemaking history;
Resident of Lafayette since 1978. Lived in Happy Valley till 2000, still live in downtown Lafayette.
Have a vineyard and winery on my property in Lake County where I also have home and where I’ve been making wines since 2007.
From 2003 to 2006 took every viticulture, winemaking and wine sensory course offered at Davis.
Planted my vineyard myself on my property in Lake County in 2004. Harvested and made first vintage in 2007.
Starting in 2010 began acquiring grapes from other Lake County growers. Have made 8 red varieties, 3 white varieties, Port, late harvest Sauturn, and Brandy. Have also made wonderful Chard from Moraga grapes from Jon Leutneker’s vineyard. I do all the vineyard tending and winemaking myself. Seek help from the Davis extension as needed to stay on top of issues and developments in the industry. Entered many wine comps, wining several Best of Show, numerous gold, and other awards.
How I might contribute to the Lamorinda AVA membership as a board member?
The AVA is passing into a new faze as a result of the founding members achieving the goal of getting the AVA established. A big task for which I’m sure all members are most appreciative. For the AVA to continue to prosper and grow, ideas need to be contributed and listened to from all who wish to put them forth. As a quasi outsider to the AVA I still have a lot to learn about where things are now and how the members and leadership sees things moving forward.
On a one to one basis I am willing to consult [for wine and food only] on winemaking to members that are growing their own grapes and making their own wine. Additionally I feel it’s important for all board members to consult among themselves and concurrently and consistently seek input from the general members regarding what the direction of the AVA should be. Leslie took a survey a while back on many of these issues and I will need to become familiar with those results.
Moving any organization from start up to steady state is no easy task. I have had experience doing this type of thing in my career in the Software Engineering Consulting business. There seems to be a lot to do regarding the future of the AVA and I’m willing to contribute to that process.
Thank you,
Daniel Howsepian 
Raisin d’être Vineyard; (Est. 2012) 350 vines total; 275 Vines of Cabernet Sauvignon and 75 Vines of Merlot
3345 Hermosa Way
Lafayette, CA 94549
DOB; 02/28/52; Paris, France
Brooklyn Technical H/S: Electrical Engineering
Pratt Institute; Electrical Engineering
City College of NYC @ Queens; BA in Economics;
RE Finance Accoc @ So Lake Tahoe CC
Resident of Orinda since 1985 – 2011;
Resident of Lafayette since 2011;
Married with three children;
My wife, Annemieke, works at the Dutch Consulate in SF and owns a Jazzercise franchise in Pleasant Hill;
All kids went to: Del Rey; OIS; Miramonte H/S;
dh Structures Inc; General Building Contractor/Developer in Lamorinda & East Bay; Currently Retired with new career as wine grower/maker
Served as Secretary; then Treasurer, then President of the Orinda Park Pool; 1988-1994.;
Working as NSP (National Ski Patrol) Ski Patroller @ Squaw Valley since 1998 ;
Certified First Responder and an Outdoor Emergency Technician;
Secretary of the Squaw NSP for two years;
Squaw Valley Ski Patrol Testing & Training Coordinator for two years;
Squaw Valley Ski Patrol Patrol Leader & Chair of Board of Directors for six years;
Received National Appointment by NSP in 2011;
Currently on Board of Directors of the Squaw Valley NSP;
Currently on LWGA Board for the last two years
We moved from Orinda to Lafayette in 2011, downsizing once our kids were on their own. Found a great house renovation project in Lafayette with vineyard potential which I had in mind for many years.
Joined the LWGA in 2012 and have been very happy & proud to be a founding member of the Lamorinda AVA.
It has been a pleasure to be on the board for the last two years! Together, we have been able to;
– Fend off an attempt by the Moraga planners to dramatically impact our ability to grow grapes in Moraga;
– Reduced our overall spending budgets by reducing our insurance expenses;
– Created an outline for the development and access of grape growing, winemaking, resource and educational opportunities for the membership to use and enjoy;
– Enthusiastically supporting the LWGA AVA brand through promotions; exposure; activities to educate, taste and to guide our members to elevate their wine growing and wine making outcomes to earn a high level of success and recognition in the region;
– Providing a warm social interaction between all members of the organization, by providing a regular schedule of informative and social activities throughout the year.
– And many other achievements as well.
I am enthusiastic about our vineyard, enjoy the wine making and socializing with the LWGA and all that it brings to our lives. I am interested in continuing my participation with LWGA Board and would like to see it grow in the future to level it deserves.
Hope to have your continued support!
Thank you.
Larry Thal 
I am currently serving as LWGA Secretary. I have considerable board experience and look forward to continuing to serve the Lamorinda Winegrowers’ Association and its members, if elected to do so.
My wife, Esther, and I planted approximately 2,300 vines in 2010 and had our sixth harvest this past year. Our varietals consist of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Thal Vineyards, LLC is bonded with an O-2 license.
I am retired, having done so for the third time (United States Air Force, private practice of optometry and Clinical Professor and Assistant Dean University of California). Some of my other board experience includes serving as President of the California State Board of Optometry on five occasions and serving two years as President of the California Optometric Association. I recently completed two terms on the board of an independent private school in the East Bay, and for over 20 years I have served as president of two homeowners’ associations.
Leslie Ward 
Education: B.S. Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design, California Polytechnic, SLO, CA. LEED Accredited Professional since 2004. Over 25 years of educating communities, construction building trades, and design teams on the benefits and savings of green/sustainable design and building practices.
Relationship to LWGA: One of the founding members of the LWGA (2005). Past posts with LWGA include President of the Board (2014); Board Member (2013 – 2018); Board Member of the Orinda Chamber of Commerce (2016 – 2019) and Liaison for the LWGA. Occasional Presenter to the local Rotary, Historical Society and Garden Clubs about the LWGA vineyards and history of winemaking and grape growing here; frequent donator of wine and wine tastings to local schools, hospitals and other charities and non-profits.
Personal: Our Construction firm, Sausal Corporation builds schools, fire stations and public buildings throughout NO. CA; our Son Josh just took over last year as President. Successful and thriving Los Arabis Vineyard Pinot Noir (1500 vines in Lafayette) planted in 1999 and commercially sold throughout Lamorinda.
Tim Wedlake 
I have served as the Treasurer for LWGA since 2006, and would like to continue for another term.
During that time I have collected dues, maintained the books of account, handled the checking account, dealt with tax filings, and provided financial reports.
I am committed to the long-term success of LWGA, in particular in providing educational and interesting experiences for members, and in leveraging our AVA status for the good of the organization and the community.
Thank you for your consideration and vote.
