VINEYARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Human Resources & Hiring Manager
Adrian joined VPS in early 2023. Adrian brought extensive experience managing the people aspect of vineyard operations from his time spent as Human Resources Manager at Scheid Family Wines and Safety/Compliance Manager at Green Valley Farm Supply. As HR and Hiring Manager, Adrian's primary responsibilites are safety and compliance, recruitment, employee relations, and workers' compensation. Adrian's education was focused on Computer Business and Accounting. He is an active member in his home community of King City & Greenfield where he has coached high school basketball and softball for several years. Adrian runs a nonprofit organization that supports young athletes in basketball and softball programs. In his spare time, he enjoys spoiling his two bulldogs and spending time with his grown children when they are home from college.
Cathy joined the VPS team in 2017. Starting as our Office Admin/Accountant, we were pleased when after several harvests she accepted the position of Controller. She brings along 37 years of bookkeeping and office experience: 20 years in the golf industry, and the last 17 years being in the local wine industry. When she is not managing our accounting needs, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and hiking the beautiful Central Coast.
Ivan moved to VPS in early 2018 after several years as a vineyard manager in Napa and Sonoma. A native of Napa, Ivan was the first of his extended family to attend and receive a college degree, matriculating from Cal Poly SLO with a BS in Viticulture in 2012. Ivan has extensive experience managing organically certified ranches. Having grown up in the wine industry due to his father's 40-year career in vineyard management, Ivan's first full-time position came the summer after high school as a winery intern at Saintsbury in Napa. Since then Ivan has worked as a winery research assistant at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and held numerous vineyard management positions at Premier Pacific Vineyards (Santa Rita Hills) and Clark Vineyard Management (St. Helena). In addition to vineyard management oversight of several prominent winery estate properties, Ivan balances his passion for winegrowing with the novelty and trials of being a new parent.
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Broker
- Real Estate Broker / Vineyard
Jenny Heinzen is California's top Vineyard Broker for acclaimed wine industry clients, investment funds, and high-net-worth individuals. Beyond insider expertise and long-standing relationships, clients benefit from Jenny's in-depth understanding of the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area and extensive real estate experience across Napa Valley and beyond.
With over 10,000 acres sold across 50+ vineyard transactions, Jenny is a top 1% agent in the country by dollar volume and holds the record for selling the highest-priced estate in Paso Robles wine country. From 2000 to today, she continues to grow Vineyard Professional Real Estate into a market leader. Accomplishments include the #1 searched listing on Realtor.com and frequent quotes in Bloomberg, Wine Business Monthly, and more media outlets.
A California Central Coast native, Jenny grew up in a real estate investment family and earned a Master's in Agriculture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo before becoming a licensed broker in 2004. She has served as President of the Napa Valley Women's Council of REALTORS® and was named a "30 under 30" by the National Association of REALTORS®.
Job Titles:
- VP of Vineyard Operations
Jon joined VPS in early 2016 after a decade of managing the Central Coast operations for E&J Gallo. Winstead grew up in the foothills of Sonoma County's Alexander Valley wine region. After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences from Chico State, he began working for Ernest and Julio Gallo in their Sonoma County vineyards. Winstead worked throughout the Sonoma County AVA managing and developing Gallo's various properties for nearly 10 years. Winstead moved to Paso Robles in 2003 to manage Gallo's Central Coast vineyards, spanning the counties of Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. Locally, he has served as Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Central Coast Vineyard Team, as well as recently serving as a Director on the board of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. His duties with VPS include overseeing a number of VPS estate winery properties and prominent vineyards throughout the Paso Robles wine region.
Job Titles:
- Viticulture Logistics Manager
Linda started her career at VPS directly after graduating from Fresno State in 2016 with a degree in Viticulture. As an Assistant Vineyard Manager, Linda worked with VPS clients from Greenfield to Santa Barbara and Shandon to Adelaida during her first four years. Her fastidiousness and analytical mind led to her routinely being called to scout and sample for virus vines and mine through records for viticultural clues and answers. In March of 2020, Jaimes accepted the role of Viticulture Logistics Manager. She now directs the equipment and personnel scheduling for all equipment operations at VPS. Also under her purview is the execution and planning of custom equipment applications across the Central Coast through Vineyard Equipment Services. Having grown up in the vineyard industry locally in San Miguel, Linda has an advanced understanding of the logistical challenges of vineyard applications and the most efficient way of accomplishing them.
Linnea started her career at VPS as an intern during her Cal Poly studies in 2005. After graduating from Cal Poly with B.S. degrees in both Viticulture and Soil Science, she joined VPS full-time as a Vineyard Manager. She was responsible for the development and management of many unique west-side Paso Robles vineyards. In 2016, Smith helped create the position of Viticulture Logistics Manager to better coordinate vineyard equipment and mechanical operations. At the beginning of 2020, Smith accepted the role of Chief Operating Officer, placing her at the helm of the farming and business operations at VPS. As a local leader and advocate for the Paso Robles wine industry and community at large, Linnea's responsibility over the VPS team and clients is focused on how best to represent and enhance fruit quality here on the Central Coast.
Job Titles:
- Member of the VPS
- VP of Finance, CFO
Lisa Hurdle has been a valued member of the VPS team since 2008. She has a BS in Economics from UC San Diego, and an MS in Accounting from San Diego State University. Lisa worked as an Accounting Manager in the construction industry for eight years before taking the CPA exam. She acquired her CPA license while working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers on a variety of clients, ranging from fish farms to semiconductor companies. In 2002, Lisa and her husband, Paul, moved to the Paso Robles area to be closer to family and to raise their two daughters on the beautiful Central Coast.
McKenna began her career at VPS in 2018 and has helped supervise a wide array of our properties. She leads a strong team overeeing Monterey and San Benito County ranches including very large estate winery properties. McKenna has a Bachelor's of Science in Viticulture with a Minor in Crop Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She has a diverse background in winemaking, winemaking equipment fabrication, and biodynamic and dryland farming. McKenna has played a critical role in the sustainability certification programs on behalf of our vineyard clients. When not farming high end winegrapes McKenna can usually be found outdoors exploring, hunting and fishing.
As Fleet Manager, Mitchell is responsible for the extensive fleet of farm equipment, harvesters and vehicles. He holds a degree in Diesel Technology and is ASE 609 Air Conditioning Certified, a critical skill in Paso Robles. Prior to joining the VPS management team, Mitchell was an equipment technician for large dealerships specializing in Caterpillars, Pellencs, John Deeres and Gregoires. He brings his 13 years of experience to lead innovative equipment acquisitions, shop budgeting and client equipment support. Outside of VPS, Mitchell works at his personal ranch where he grows organic vegetables and enjoys watching his young daughter learn the world.
Job Titles:
- VP of Sustainable Integrations, Vineyard Manager
Oliver started with VPS in early 2014 as a Vineyard Manager for one of the area's largest winery estate properties. After graduating from Fresno State with a BS in Viticulture, Oliver spent time in Napa working for Diageo in their viticulture department. He followed up that experience by working as a Viticulture Technician for Atlas Vineyard Management in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. In addition to his vineyard management duties, Oliver is the Vice President of Sustainable Integrations. Oliver leads our sustainbility initiatives and guides clients through the various sustainability certification programs. Oliver currently sits on the Board of Directors for The Vineyard Team. A native of Arroyo Grande, Oliver enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children on his family's ranch and coaching baseball.
Randy joined VPS in 2013 and acquired the company in May of 2017. Prior to VPS Randy served as Vineyard Manager at Beckstoffer Vineyards and Director of Vineyard Operations at Saintsbury Winery. Beyond being an ASFMRA Accredited Farm Manager, his educational background includes studying Viticulture at the University of Adelaide, earning a degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Winery Business Management Certificates from Sonoma State University and University of California, Davis.
Randy is the Board President of the CDFA Pierce's Disease and Glassywing Sharpshooter Commission and contributes as an At-Large Board Member for the National Grape Research Alliance. Locally, he has dedicated a decade to the Upper Salinas Las Tablas Resource Conservation District, working with various farmers to steward natural resources and is currently the Board Treasurer for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Randy was recently appointed to the AgWest Local Area Committee for the Coastal Region, where he assists with strategic planning and community programs.
Randy's leadership is collaborative-focusing on fostering professional growth and innovative farming practices. He believes in attracting and supporting team members committed to shared core values and professional development, and he supports their passions to be better farmers, responsible environmental stewards, and caring community members.
Outside of work, Randy and his family lead full lives engaged in local activities from athletics to agricultural pursuits. Randy and his wife, vineyard Realtor Jenny Heinzen, contribute as sheep haulers and sports coaches, while their children assist in running the family businesses. He believes the Central Coast offers the perfect blend of quality wine, family life and community.
Ryan Reade manages vineyards in the Adelaida and Estrella AVAs. Ryan holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Agricultural Science, Minoring in Agricultural Business. Growing up in the Salinas Valley, he was influenced by several family members who worked in agriculture. His first jobs were moving sprinkler pipe, fixing drip hose and driving tractors on ranches. Throughout college he cut his vineyard teeth with Kendall Jackson, Joel Gott and Constellation. Prior to joining VPS, Ryan was most recently the Vineyard Manager of the DAOU Patrimony Vineyard where he led the planting of this high density estate property. He has a passion for vineyard development and autonomous farm equipment. Ryan spends his free time with family and friends outdoors golfing, hiking, and travelling.
Tucker Robertson manages vineyards in the Edna Valley and Templeton regions including mulitple organic operations. Tucker started his career with VPS as an Assistant Vineyard Manager following graduation from Iowa State. At Iowa State he majored in Agricultural Engineering - Land and Water Resources with two different focuses in Sustainability and Geographic Information Systems. Tucker has a passion for regenerative agricultural practices and farming in balance with local ecology. Tucker lives in Paso Robles with his wife and young son.