In our Wilson Daniels Team Spotlight, we take a look at the team members that make this biz what it is. Get to know Shannon Coursey, Vice President, Northeast Division, who has been with the company almost three years thus far. 

WHAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE WILSON DANIELS: I was managing the New York region for Vineyard Brands from 2010-2015, and prior to that I was in distributor wine sales. Prior to that, I was in luxury marketing in the fashion and music biz.

WHAT DO YOU DO? In the Northeast, we work very closely with our 23 distributor partners to ensure we market our producers in the field with the respect and attention their wines deserve, while simultaneously reaching our revenue and depletion goals for the company. This includes (but is not limited to) direct selling to key accounts, daily distributor management, and local marketing/events. I feel lucky to have an incredibly strong team in the Northeast, and for the ability to work with colleagues on both the national and wholesale teams who I respect and admire tremendously.

WHAT GOT YOU INTO WINE? DID YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PASSION FOR IT?  I have a childhood friend in the wine business who consistently tried to drag me over to this crazy industry. When I turned 30, I was ready to make a career change and I finally dove into wine. I haven’t looked back. I love what I do. I love the people, the history, the wine, the food, the travel.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH WILSON DANIELS? I get a great deal of satisfaction out of doing the right thing for our producers and strengthening those relationships as a result. Also, I think our first Domaine de la Romanee-Conti “Somm lunch” was a highlight as it was the first time we did something like that with the Domaine.

WHO IS YOUR MENTOR? My parents. I’ve always been in awe of my father’s innate talent in sales and marketing and my mother’s unwavering integrity in business.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOUR COLLEAGUES MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU? I once rode my bike 500 miles across the state of Iowa along with Lance Armstrong and 10,000 other cyclists. The farmer’s tan was fierce.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WINE? You can’t beat great Champagne.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK THAT *ISN’T* WINE? Seltzer water.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT, YOU KNOW, WHEN NOT IN THE OFFICE? Patagonia recently made it to the top of the list.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?  Exercise, eat, repeat.