IWGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS & Staff

Anne is the Winemaker at Soldier Creek Winery in Fort Dodge. Her favorite grape is La Crescent and her favorite style (to drink!) is Nouveau. She plans to bring experience from her previous positions in Washington State, California, Indiana, and New Zealand to grow the Iowa wine industry.

Melanie owns Oscar Carl Vineyard and has lived in the Sioux City area her entire life. She holds a BA in Business Administration and has worked in healthcare administration for over 30 years. She is also a freelance writer and writes for several local magazines and blogs. She currently records a weekly "Vine Report" video as part of an effort to educate. Their first vines were planted in 2016, and they currently have over 1,000 vines.

Judy is the owner of Lubben Vineyards & Wines in Marion, Iowa. She and her family began making wine in 2017 and gained a commercial license in 2018, after attending Kirkwood Community College Winemaking and Vineyard management classes with her son. Judy has been in accounting her entire career in varying industries. She holds a BBA in Accounting and an MBA both from Mt Mercy University in Cedar Rapids.

She has a passion for Iowa wine and educating others to the benefits of buying Iowa. She wanted to get on the board to better understand the Iowa industry and see how she can make a difference.

Chris Larsen is the owner of Compass Hill Vineyard near Winterset, Iowa where he has been growing Petite Pearl and Frontenac Blanc since 2015. At the vineyard, they take great pride in the fruit that we grow, and are always working to improve and produce the best crop they can. In 2019 he won the IWGA Iowa Vineyard of the Year Award. He has been on the board of directors for IWGA since 2018. In addition to this, he is the chair of the committee responsible for the Iowa Quality Wine Consortium (IQ) program and also sits on the advisory board for the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute. Wine is a passion for Chris, and he considers serving the Iowa wine industry as a huge honor.

Paula grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa before graduating from Iowa State University with advanced degrees in entomology and statistics. Her expertise in pest management lead her to Cornell University in New York. There she conducted research on field crop insect pests and taught courses in applied ecology and IPM. After moving her family back to the Midwest, she spent the next 19 years working first with Monsanto and then with Pioneer. Key roles included strategic planning and providing technical, regulatory, and global-training support for biotech insect protection traits. Since 2016, Paula has split her time between serving as an independent ag consultant for Context Network and managing over 8 acres of wine grapes in central Iowa. Paula and husband Tom enjoy gardening, rooting for Cyclone football and basketball, and playing with their two grandkids.

Erin joined the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute in late 2015 as the Education and Outreach Coordinator. She completed a PhD in 2022 in Food Science studying consumer attitudes towards Iowa wines and tannin extraction in red hybrids in relation to protein concentration. Currently Erin is leading the groups’ Research and Education areas. She enjoys interacting with grape and wine industry members and connecting the industry to new research and resources for them to expand their winemaking toolboxes.

Randall is the Commercial Fruit Crops Field Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach where he provides technical assistance to fruit growers throughout the state. His experience in viticulture started in 2001 when we was working on his masters degree in the vineyards of Michigan. He has stayed active in the viticulture industry since that time. Prior to working in Extension, Randall was Chair of the Horticulture Department at Des Moines Area Community College and taught production horitculture courses. He also served as the Coordinator for the Mid-Amercian Wine Competion.

A fifth generation Iowan and native of Fort Dodge. He has been a lobbyist in Des Moines since 1993. He represents clients before the Iowa Legislature, Governor's Office, Executive Branch agencies, and the City Councils across Iowa. Matt limits his practice to legislative and regulatory law.

Matt graduated cum laude from Drake University in 1988 and from Drake University Law School in 1993. He lobbied for the Iowa Association of Realtors (1993-1995), the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (1995 - 2000), and was a partner in the lobbying firm Fitzgerald & Eide before establishing Eide & Heisinger in 2003. Matt and Kate Walton formed Eide • Walton in 2019. Prior to lobbying in Des Moines, Matt served as a legislative assistant to former Congressman Jim Lightfoot in Washington, D.C. for two years and as finance director for Jim’s 1988 congressional campaign.

Matt has represented the Iowa Winegrowers Association since 2006.

Matt lives in Des Moines with his wife Sara and five children. In his spare time, Matt enjoys spending time with his kids and watching their many activities. Matt recently retired after a 27-year career as a high school, college, and arena football official. Matt currently serves on the St. Augustin Parish Council.

Christie began working part-time for IWGA in 2018, then became the Marketing & Membership Coordinator, and currently serves as the Executive Director. She has a degree in Business Management & Marketing. Outside of work she serves as a board member for the Polk County Farm Bureau. Christie and her husband Ryan farm row crops, and also custom harvest wheat in the summer months. They reside in rural Bondurant with their daughter, Caitlyn.