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WENTE FAMILY ESTATES GRAPEVINE x SUMMER 2016 l 5 QUESTIONS WITH… A longtime patron of Wente Vineyards as a member of the Wine Club and the En- tertainment Club, Michael Braga brings a personal connection to his new post as Wine Club Manager at Wente Vineyards. Prior to Wente Vineyards, Braga gained experience in guest services and marketing overseeing the strategy for the Beauty Insider program at Sephora and working on marketing teams at Banana Republic and Old Navy. Al- though most of his work experience has been in the Bay Area, Braga went to college at Long Beach State, and during that time had the opportunity to work at the Disneyland Resort. A native of Manteca, Calif., he travels to the area frequently to visit family. What are you most excited about when it comes to working at Wente Vineyards? Having the opportunity to work directly with our guests and Club members. In my previous jobs, I worked on projects and strategies that impacted customers, but I rarely got to spend time with them. It is exciting for me to have that balance of "office time" and "guest time." How has your background pre- pared you for this position? My ex- perience with loyalty programs for major retailers has given me the skills to think strategically about how we continue to delight our members. My time working in retail and at the Dis- neyland Resort has also provided me with invaluable guest service skills. What does your job consist of on a daily basis? I spend most of my time working on Wine Club reporting, mar- keting and planning, and the other part of my time is spent calling or emailing our club members who need assistance with their accounts. Why do you think the Wine Club at Wente Vineyards is special? I was a member of the Wine Club for nearly four years before I started working at Wente Vineyards, and I was also part of the Entertainment Club because my partner and I love to share that experi- ence with family and friends who visit us – and we like the free glass of wine benefit! As a Club member, we love the Small Lot wines that aren't found at our local grocery store, and we also love that we receive great service, whether it's just the two of us or if we bring friends or family to The Tasting Room. What do you like to do when you're not at work? I spend time with family and our dog, Chipper. This past year, I spent my weekends training for the AIDS Lifecycle, which is a seven- day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles (545 miles) that raises aware- ness about the stigma of HIV/AIDS and also raises money for programs of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. I just completed the ride in June and it was an amazing experience. " It is exciting for me to have that balance of 'office time' and 'guest time.' " – MICHAEL BRAGA, Wine Club Manager at Wente Vineyards MICHAEL BRAGA n Wine Club Manager dedicated to service, Club members