Board Members

James W. Bernau

Jim Bernau has been President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Company since its inception in May 1988. Willamette Valley Vineyards was originally established as a sole proprietorship by Oregon winegrower Jim Bernau in 1983, and he co-founded the Company in 1988 with Salem grape grower, Donald Voorhies. From 1981 to September 1989, Jim was Director of the Oregon Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (“NFIB”), an association of 15,000 independent businesses in Oregon. Jim has served as the President of the Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Treasurer of the association’s Political Action Committee (PAC) and Chair of the Promotions Committee of the Oregon Wine Advisory Board, the State of Oregon’s agency dedicated to the development of the industry. In March 2005, he received the industry’s Founder’s Award for his service. his qualifications to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors include his years of leadership of the Company (since 1979), his wealth of experience and his contacts in the industry.

Craig Smith, CPA, MBA, JD

Craig Smith has served as a director since October 2007 and as Secretary since 2009. he previously served as the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer of Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon and is currently serving as College Support Officer. He was an Adjunct Professor at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University, as well as Managing Partner of a large local CPA firm. He has served on many State of Oregon commissions and he has served as the Board Chairperson for many of the local non-profit and educational institutions including the Salem Keizer School Board, Chemeketa Community College Board of Education, State Fair Dismissal Appeals Board, Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, Oregon School Boards Association and the United Way. he is an active member of the Oregon State Bar and a Certified Public Accountant. his qualifications to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors include his financial and accounting experience.

James L. Ellis

James Ellis has served as a director since July 1991. He retired from full time duties with the Company in July of 2009 and currently works part-time on selected projects. James previously served as the Company’s Director of Human Resources from 1993 to 2009. He also served as the Company’s Secretary from 1997 to 2009, and Vice President /Corporate from 1998 to 2009. From 1990 to 1992, he was a partner in Kenneth L. Fisher, Ph.D. & Associates, a management-consulting firm. From 1980 to 1990, James was Vice President and General Manager of R.A. Kevane & Associates, a Pacific Northwest personnel-consulting firm. From 1962 to 1979, he was a member of and administrator for the Christian Brothers of California, owner of Mont La Salle Vineyards and producer of Christian Brothers wines and brandy. His qualifications to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors include his prior experience as a member of the Company’s senior management, as well as more than 40 years of business experience.

Stan G. Turel

Stan Turel has served as a director since November 1994. Stan is President of Turel Enterprises, a real estate management company managing his own properties in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Prior to his current activities, Stan was the Principal and CEO of Columbia Turel, (formally Columbia Bookkeeping, Inc.) a position which he held from 1974 to 2001. Prior to the sale of the company to Fiducial, one of Europe’s largest accounting firms, Columbia had 26,000 annual tax clients including 4,000 small business clients. Additionally Stan successfully operated as majority owner two cable TV companies during the 80’s and 90’s which were eventually sold to several public corporations. Stan is a pilot, was a former delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business and held positions on several state and local Government committees. Stan’s qualifications to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors include his more than 20 years of accounting and business management experience. He is also an author and is the Director for the United Way of Central Oregon.

Sean M. Cary

Sean Cary has served as a director since July 2007. He is the Corporate Controller of National Warranty Corporation, a Eugene, Oregon based provider of finance and insurance products sold through automobile dealers located in the Pacific Northwest. Previously, Sean served as the CFO of Cascade Structural Laminators, a laminated beam manufacturer headquartered in Eugene, Oregon and prior to that as Controller of Willamette Valley Vineyards. Sean served in the U.S. Air Force as a Financial Officer. Sean holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Sean's qualifications to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors include his financial and accounting expertise.

Cara Pepper Day

Cara Pepper Day rose to an integral role at Willamette Valley Vineyards early in her career as a leader of the National Sales Team, and is pleased to come full circle to return as a member of the Board of Directors in 2022.  She has spent the last 10 plus years in technology specific to beverage alcohol with GreatVines, Andavi Solutions, and Crafted ERP by Doozy Solutions. Her qualifications include a breadth of sales, technology and beverage industry understanding and experience. This experience pairs well with her ability to build strong relationships and support teams to improve their methodologies leveraging technology to drive increased success. Cara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Linfield University in Mathematics. She was awarded the Willamette Valley Vineyards Bacchus Employee of the Year award in 2006. 

Sarah Rose

Sarah has 14+ years of experience innovating and implementing marketing and event campaigns – most recently for the Compass Group at Microsoft. Responsible for the customer experience including storytelling, events, and communications, her team was responsible for the experience of 40,000+ Microsoft employees on the expansive Puget Sound campus. Sarah started her career at WVV as the marketing intern and worked in the tasting room during her time at Willamette University. After 7+ years with Compass Group at Microsoft, Sarah left to manage corporate campaigns for a technology start up, Knackshops.com, based in Seattle. Sarah is also on the board of ILEA (International Live Events Association), Seattle Chapter, as VP of Communications. Sarah’s qualifications to serve on the Company's Board of Directions include her marketing, storytelling, event, and hospitality expertise.