ABOUT US

Morgen joined the Willamette Valley Wineries Association in 2017 as Executive Director, bringing extensive experience in wine, agriculture, and regional marketing. She previously led the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association and the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association, guiding both organizations through periods of growth, brand development, and industry collaboration. Before her work in regional wine and tourism leadership, Morgen managed her family’s vineyard and winery, overseeing wine production, vineyard operations, and hospitality. This hands-on experience continues to inform her leadership style and her deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing winegrowing communities. Morgen is passionate about building strategic partnerships that elevate the reputation, recognition, and demand for Willamette Valley wines. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, gardening, hiking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her family.

Emily began her journey with the Willamette Valley Wineries Association in 2011 as a summer intern, supporting the planning of the very first Pinot in the City event in Portland. More than a decade later—and after countless events, campaigns, and member collaborations—she remains deeply committed to the Willamette Valley wine community and the people who make it extraordinary. As Associate Director, Emily oversees key organizational operations, including event strategy and the execution of major WVWA initiatives. She plays a leading role in the Willamette Valley Wine Auction, guiding planning, logistics, and winery participation to ensure the success of this signature fundraising event. Her work strengthens collaboration across the industry and supports the programs that elevate the Willamette Valley AVA. Outside the office, Emily is a full-time mom to two sweet, energetic children, an experience that, she insists, shares more transferable skills with event planning and crisis management than one might expect.

Brittany joined the Willamette Valley Wineries Association in November 2025 as Membership and Partnerships Manager. She brings over a decade of experience in marketing, partnerships, and community engagement across both the wine and technology sectors. Her career began in Oregon tasting rooms and cellars, gaining a firsthand appreciation for the growers and makers who define the Willamette Valley, and she even spent a harvest season in New Zealand expanding her global perspective on winegrowing. She later built a successful corporate marketing and partnerships career, creating programs and events that elevated brand visibility and strengthened community connection. Brittany serves as President of the Board for Women in Wine Oregon and holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Wines. When she’s not connecting members and partners across the region, Brittany enjoys exploring local vineyards, hiking Oregon’s scenic trails, and discovering new wines along the way.

Gaston brings ten years of experience across wine trade development, distribution sales, fine wine retail, and wine education. His background spans both the commercial and academic sides of the industry, giving him a well-rounded perspective on market development and trade engagement. Currently a Stage 3 Master of Wine student, Gaston passed the MW tasting exam in 2023 and the theory exam in 2024. He is also a dedicated WSET instructor and active participant in the global wine education community, with a strong commitment to elevating knowledge and fostering professional growth within the industry. Originally inspired by travel and cultural exchange, Gaston has a particular affinity for French and Italian wine traditions. Outside of work, he prioritizes health and balance through time in nature and meditation.

Emily Kaplan Petterson is the founder of Portland-based EKP Media and a seasoned public relations professional with more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications and media management. Her background includes serving as Director of Public Relations at Columbia Sportswear Company, where she helped secure major national and international coverage across top-tier outlets. For the past 14 years, Emily has led public relations for the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, elevating the region’s visibility and championing its wines and stories. With deep family roots in the Willamette Valley wine industry, she brings both expertise and personal passion to her work. Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from Lewis & Clark College. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two children.

Samantha is the founder of SAM Branding & Marketing, an agency dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized businesses through thoughtful, effective brand-building. She has worked across a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, manufacturing, senior care, beekeeping, and housing, providing services such as social media management, content creation, event planning, email marketing, branding packages, and strategic consulting. A graduate of the University of Oregon with a degree in Business Marketing, Samantha discovered her passion for the wine industry while studying Wine Marketing in Siena, Italy. That experience continues to shape her creative and strategic approach to marketing today.

Lauren is an accomplished event planner and founder of Events by Trillium LLC. She brings more than fifteen years in the events and hospitality industries to the WVWA team. Her background includes extensive work producing large-scale, high-touch events for the Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC), one of Portland’s premier private organizations, as well as community-driven cultural and culinary events across the region. Lauren's work emphasizes hospitality, strong vendor and venue partnerships, and authentic engagement with chefs, winemakers, and community collaborators.

Heather is an innovative designer with extensive experience detailing and interpreting brand vision into visual designs, as well as developing aesthetic print collaterals and digital designs, such as banners, illustrations, marketing ads, flyers, and logos.

Originally from the Bay Area of California, Julie moved to Portland in the winter of 2014 and immediately fell in love with Oregon wine country. Prior to joining WVWF, she served as the Director of Membership + Partnerships for the Willamette Valley Wineries Association. She holds a WSET 3 certification, is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), and has held leadership positions with Women in Wine: Oregon. When not enjoying Oregon wine, Julie can be found traveling to wine regions around the world with her husband, doing yoga, or entertaining friends and family.