SommCon is thrilled to unveil the 2023 Emerging Leaders and Professional Merit scholarship recipients. This year, 35 exceptional individuals have been chosen for their passion for the wine and spirits industry and potential to shape its future. The SommCon scholarship program is sponsored in part by The SOMM Journal and The Tasting Panel Magazine.

The scholarship recipients are provided with an exclusive opportunity to participate in a comprehensive mentorship program tailored to provide guidance and support before, during, and after the conference. SommCon’s mentorship program is designed to equip scholars with the tools and resources they need to excel in the alcohol beverage industry, and includes:

  • Full conference access to SommCon, September 10 – 12 in San Diego, CA
  • An assigned mentor dedicated to the scholar’s professional development
  • Organized mentorship gatherings leading up to and during SommCon
  • A mentorship breakfast during SommCon to foster networking and discovering professional opportunities
  • Ongoing career advice from mentors and SommCon including: resume reviews, guidance for professional growth, heads hots, and industry updates
  • Complimentary access to SommGo, SommCon’s on-demand streaming service for wine, beer, and spirits education, for one year
  • Virtual educational sessions with industry experts through the renowned Ask the Experts series
  • Opportunities for scholars to contribute articles and interviews with industry experts to a dedicated column in The SOMM Journal and The Tasting Panel Magazine
  • Membership in the SommCon Scholar Alumni Community
  • Admission to a select social media group for networking, community-building, and experience sharing

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s recipients of the Emerging Leaders and Professional Merit scholarships,” said Michelle Metter, founder and Director of SommCon. “These individuals represent the future of the alcohol beverage industry, and we are committed to supporting their growth and creating a forum for reciprocal learning and mentorship. As an industry we have as much to learn from these talented professionals as they will gain from participating in our program and we are honored to have them join us.”

This 2023 Emerging Leaders Scholarship recipients include:

This 2023 Professional Merit Scholarship recipients include:

Scholars are selected by SommCon committee members in a blind selection process removing name and identifying information. This year’s committee includes:

  • Kathleen Ann Thomas | Crown Wine & Spirits
  • Rick Arline | Hotel Per La
  • Molly Brooks | Disneyland resort, Club 33
  • Anibal Calcagno | Strip House
  • Will Costello, MS | Miller Family Wine Company
  • Maurice DiMarino | Cohn Restaurant Group
  • Larissa Dubose | Paradies Lagardère
  • Tahiirah Habibi | The Hue Society
  • Brent Kroll | Maxwell Park Wine Bar
  • Meredith May | Tasting Panel Magazine, The SOMM Journal
  • Steve Pagano | San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina
  • Vanessa Rason | Mosaic Wine Alliance
  • Erik Segelbaum | SOMLYAY LLC
  • Justin Trabue | Ward Four Wines
  • Hai Tran | Provi