Vision and Education

Ms. Arnold’s ability to discover and understand the unique vision inherent within her clients’ private wine estates, coupled with expertise in executing articulate and meaningful image creation strategies, has led to the development of the Jean Arnold Group, a much sought after consulting firm whose client list boasts some of the finest privately-owned wineries in California.

 Education is core to Ms. Arnold’s approach to shaping business solutions. Using the term “hallmark” to describe her particular method of integrating company vision and mission, she guides organizations in exploring their personal values and clarifying their products’ place within a global market—key steps in Jean Arnold Group’s methodology to achieving long-term, sustainable business goals

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B  I  O  G  R  A  P  H  Y 

Founder, Jean Arnold Group
President, Hanzell Vineyards

Consulting with Hanzell Vineyards since 1999, Jean L. Arnold was named President in January 2002 as Bob Sessions moved into retirement. Prior to joining Hanzell Vineyards as President, Jean was CEO of Jackson Family Farms and its nine independent wineries.  Arnold has over twenty-seven years’ of experience in business leadership, executive management, marketing, and sales with notable wineries such as Chateau St. Jean, Chateau Montelena, J Vineyards & Winery,  Jordan Vineyards & Winery, Chalk Hill Estate and Williams Selyem.  In 1999 she founded her consulting firm, the Jean Arnold Group, to offer luxury positioning and image strategy to private wine industry clients including Laurel Glen Vineyards, Rudd Vineyards & Winery and the management firm of Motto, Kryla, & Fisher.

Jean is the inaugural recipient of the Women in Business Award for Wine given, by the North Bay Business Journal, to women who demonstrate a leadership role in their company as well as business-related innovations, achievements and vision. Click Magazine named Arnold as one of the Top 20 People to watch in 2000 and she received the Bulldog Reporter’s National Crisis Communications Silver Award for Excellence in Media Relations in 2005. Published in “Wine, A Global Business – The Importance of Wine Brand”, Arnold is also one of the creators of “Sip by Sip – An Insider’s Guide to Fine Wine”.

Arnold is a guest lecturer in Professional Studies with the School of Business and Finance at Sonoma State University, as well as a member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She is a guest lecturer at the University of California, Davis and the OIV (in connection with the University of Paris); California State University, Fresno; Culinary Institute of America (Greystone and Hyde Park); National Conference of the American Institute of Wine and Food, The Boston Club Distinguished Leader’s Series, and the Harvard Business School Women’s Association. Excelling at public speaking, Jean enjoys talking with professional organizations about mentoring young people in private business careers, the power of feminine leadership and lately she is also skillfully and personally addressing the vital topic of breast cancer awareness in the private business sector.

Awards:

Click Magazine – Top 20 People to Watch in 2000
2001 North Bay Business Journal Women of the Year
2001 California Legislature Assembly Resolution Award
2005 Bulldog Reporter’s National Crisis Communications Silver Award for Excellence in Media Relations
2004 Wine Spectator  “Women Forge Ahead in California”                        
2007 Pulse Award, Carolyn J. Stone Women’s Health and Wellness Center, Sonoma Valley Hospital
2007 Universal Share Award of Courage, San Francisco

Professional Affiliations:

Sonoma State University School of Business                                                                
San Francisco International Food Society
Slow Food                                            
Scion Advisors, CEO Forum
American Express, Luxury Summit Delegate

Interviewed and Published Projects:

“Wine, A Global Business” – The Importance of Wine Brand, Liz Tach  
“Sip by Sip” – An Insider’s Guide to Fine Wine, Michael Bonadies
“To Cork or Not to Cork”, George Taber 

Most Recent Speaking Engagements:

2005 Harvard Business School, Women’s Association
2005 The Boston Club, Distinguished Leader’s Series
2006 University of California, Davis and University of Paris, OIV Program
2006 University of San Francisco / Chamber of Commerce          
2007 Sonoma State University Professional Development Courses

Advisory Board Positions:

New Vine Logistics - Chair                                                                
Jean Arnold Group Foundation – Executive Director   
Benchmark Consulting
Jimmy Mancbach Scholarship Foundation