The New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Adam Rak and Jen McCormick as its newest members. Adam Rak, Owner and Nursery Operations Manager at Double A Vineyards has been appointed to fill the open Table Grape Grower seat, and Jen McCormick, Consultant, has been appointed to the ‘at large’ seat and will also serve as the organization’s Treasurer.
Adam Rak brings a wealth of experience and a passion for promoting the long history and exceptional quality of the wine and grape industry in New York. Through his leadership at Double A Vineyards, Adam has developed strong connections within the wine and grape industries across multiple states. Adam has served on the New York State Wine Grape Growers Association Board for five years, including two years as President during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thank you for the opportunity to help promote this great grape-growing region that we live in. I look forward to not only sharing my ideas but also learning from everyone else’s,” shared Adam Rak. “We have a variety of great table grapes growing right in our backyard to promote. There is nothing like a fresh table grape right off the vine.”
Jen McCormick joins the board with extensive experience in public administration and finance. Retiring from state service in 2022, Jen held several senior-level positions, including First Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Agriculture and Markets, where she worked to strengthen state support for agricultural industries. Jen has also served at the Department of Taxation and Finance, the NYS Thruway Authority, and most recently as Chief Administrative Officer for the Executive Chamber of Governor Kathy Hochul.
“I am excited to join the New York Wine & Grape Foundation as it continues to build on its success in promoting our world-class grapes and wines,” mentioned Jen McCormick. “We have great capacity to generate returns to producers and farmers across New York State, and I hope to be able to help ensure that NYWGF capitalizes on new opportunities as we look to the future.”
“We are delighted to welcome Adam Rak and Jen McCormick to the NYWGF Board of Directors,” said Sam Filler, Executive Director. “Adam’s extensive grape industry connections and leadership experience will be pivotal in advancing our support for growers. Jen’s background in public administration and finance, along with her strategic insights, will be integral in guiding our organizational development and visionary goals for the future of the industry. Their unique expertise and perspectives will greatly enhance our ability to fulfill our mission.”
“The members of the board are pleased that Jen and Adam have joined our working group,” commented Wendy Wilson, NYWGF Board Chair. “Their particular experience and expertise are sure to be a great asset to our plans going forward.”
About the NYWGF Board of Directors
Each May, the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) Board of Directors meets to elect members of the industry and interested stakeholders to board seats with expiring terms. The term of office for directors is three years, and there are currently 22 Board of Directors members. Thirteen (13) board seats are statutorily mandated by the law that created NYWGF in 1985, and there are nine (9) ‘at large’ board seats. NYWGF aims to establish a Board comprised of Directors representing a diversity of regions, business sizes and models, demographics, and functional professional expertise. The NYWGF Board of Directors is a “self-perpetuating” board by virtue of our bylaws. The organization feels that it is important to solicit the industry for interested applicants. All applications are reviewed, and the final board member nominee(s) are decided upon by a vote of the full Board.
