Since our charter class graduated more than 25 years ago, alumni
from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management have been making
their presence known around the world.
Our graduates are CEOs, vice presidents, chief financial
officers, chief operating officers and entrepreneurs. Around the
globe, they have taken prominent roles as international business
leaders in a wide range of industries and organizations.
Graduate School of Management alumni are actively involved in
their communities, and they make time for mentoring, advising and
assisting current students and networking with fellow graduates.
Boot Camp Sessions
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE FOR NON-FINANCIAL MANAGERS
Presented by Associate Professor Michelle Yetman
Introduction to accounting fundamentals and terminology, including balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements and accrual accounting vs. cash flow.
GRAPE GROWING & WINE MAKING 101
Presented by Professor Douglas Adams & Professor Andrew Waterhouse
Learn the fundamentals of growing grapes and making wine. The topics that will be covered are types of grapes for wine, how to grow wine grapes, wine microorganisms and fermentation processes, and how to make table wine.
Business, Economics & the Law
THE WINE INDUSTRY A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Presented by Professor Emeritus Robert Smiley
Provides an overview of the latest trends in the US and International wine markets with an emphasis on recent developments regarding prices, yield, and varietal popularity.
LEGAL ISSUES IN THE WINE INDUSTRY
Presented by Michael Maher, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Jackson Family Wines
Participants gain a deeper understanding of legal issues facing the domestic wine and vineyard industries today. A historical and philosophical context will be presented regarding US regulations on wine and spirits, and how the 21st Amendment and the US Supreme Court’s recent decision in Granholm v. Heald impacted that regulatory environment.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF WINERIES & VINEYARDS
Presented by Professor Robert Yetman
Learn about the financial principles involved in evaluating future investment projects. Concepts covered will include: risk and return relationships, cost of capital (hurdle rates and internal rates of return), net present value, the costs and benefits of debt financing, and acquisitions.
Wine Marketing & Branding
CREATING YOUR MARKETING PLAN, Version 2.0
Presented by Jeremy Benson, President, Benson Marketing
This session reviews macro trends in marketing communications, and their implications for marketing. We will cover the key pillars of wine marketing — including branding, social media, public relations, and digital media.
HOW TO SELL AN INNOVATIVE IDEA
Presented by Professor Kimberly Elsbach
This workshop helps participants to understand the art and science of selling innovative ideas to others—especially those in positions of power. Material in the workshop comes from social psychological research on upward influence tactics, as well as Professor Elsbach’s field research on pitching ideas from Hollywood movie production and Silicon Valley venture capital projects.
WHAT’S YOUR STORY? CREATING A WINE BRAND THAT STANDS OUT
Presented by Brian Dunbar, Managing Partner and Director, David & Galiath
This segment will help participants understand how to develop a powerful brand story and how to communicate it consistently at all touch points with choice customers.
Viticulture & Enology
WINEMAKING FROM THE GROUND UP
Presented by Professor Andrew Walker
This session provides an analysis of vineyard site evaluation and selection, including considerations such as soil, climate, water availability, slope and aspect. Emphasis will be on how these factors influence cost and other viticultural decisions.
MAKING THE BEST QUALITY WINES POSSIBLE IN A CHALLENGING ECONOMY
Presented by Anita Oberholster, Cooperative Extension Specialist in Enology
From harvest to cellaring and bottling, there are things a Winemaker can do to help keep the bottom line darker than a Petite Sirah. Anita will share some practical solutions for managing quality and costs.
VINEYARD OPERATIONS OF THE FUTURE
Presented by James Wolpert, Viticulture and Extension Specialist
A modern vineyard operation requires several critical components to be successful: an accurate assessment of risk(s); knowledge and control of costs; frequent and frank communication with wine grape buyers; and an astute understanding of its place in the market.
WINERY OF THE FUTURE
Professor David Block
In the cellar, availability and cost of resources such as water and labor, worker safety, environmental regulation, and minimization and recycling of wastes are just a few of the issues with which the wine grape industry must contend. In addition, automation and data management are tools that have the potential to revolutionize and improve wine processing at all scales, but successful implementation is not necessarily straightforward. This seminar focuses on strategic approaches to these concerns and problems.