AWS Board of Directors

Heritage Hunt Chapter, VA
Member since 2017

Bill Stefan is an American Wine Society Certified Wine Judge, student, writer, speaker, and amateur winemaker. Bill believes in promoting the appreciation of wine through education. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine and professional member of the Society of Wine Educators; Certified Sherry Wine Specialist by the Regulatory Council of Jerez-Xeres-Sherry Denomination of Origin; Certified Provence Master-Level with the Wine Scholar Guild; and level two of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) program, passing with distinction. Bill has written numerous articles, including two papers accepted for presentation to the American Association of Wine Economists on “Super Bowl Ads: Lessons for Wine Neuro-Marketing Success” and the “Neuro-Science of Wine Flavor.” He has also spoken on wine in numerous fora, including the American Association of Wine Economists at Cornell University and Leadership Initiatives at Georgetown University on Neuro-Science in 2018-2020. As an amateur winemaker, Bill believes in learning by doing, having won numerous medals in national and international competitions, including one Best of Show, one Best Dessert Wine, 5 Double Gold, and 10 Gold Medals.

The president is promoted from the vice president position, and serves a two year term.   Bill’s term runs until the end of 2024.

Catawba Chapter, NC
Member since 2014

Ron founded the Catawba, North Carolina Chapter of the American Wine Society in 2009. He and his wife Margy serve as Co-chairs. He became a wine enthusiast after running a Marathon in Bordeaux, France. Ron is a WSET Level 2 and 3 Graduate with distinction, an American Wine Society WJCP graduate and has worked on the wine judging competition in multiple capacities since 1993. Ron founded and was president of “Save Sherrills Ford, Inc.,” a non-profit organization working on local land-use issues and was a board member of the North Carolina Woodworkers Association, where, since 2011, he has also served as their webmaster.

The secretary is elected to a three-year term.  The secretary job description is listed here: Secretary Job Description.  Ron’s term runs until the end of 2024.

Northern Loudoun County Chapter, VA
Member since 2003

Rex completed the American Wine Society Certified Wine Judge training program in 2011. While judging in local, regional, national, and international wine competitions, he became interested in all aspects of wine competitions. For the past four years, Rex has been coordinating the back room activities for the American Wine Society competition held at the national conference. During these years, he has applied his background in software development to computerize many of the tedious and labor-intensive steps that are required to organize the wines, present them to the judging panels, and process the scoring results.

The director of competitions is elected to a three-year term. Rex’s term runs until the end of 2025.

Finger Lakes Chapter, NY
Member since 2010

Annemarie Morse has a master’s degree in oenology from Cornell University and has worked as an assistant winemaker, retail wine consultant, wine & food writer and educator. She has taught wine courses at a college level and guest lectured at Cornell University. She is an international OIV and certified wine judge and has taught classes for and managed the American Wine Society wine judge certification program. She has studied Italian wine studies through VinItaly International Academy, OperaWine, VinItaly, BING (Best Indigenous Native Grapes), 3IC (Italian International Indigenous Wine and Food Studies Center) Educator’s course, and Indigena (Native Wine Grapes of Italy project) and is a certified specialist in the Wine and Food of Central Italy through 3IC (with Ian D’Agata), first level Sommelier, and currently studying for WSET Level 3 exam. Through her company, Wine By Annemarie, LLC, she provides consulting services to restaurants, hosts international wine tours, and provides wine and food seminars and/or classes for the community, private and corporate clients.

The director of education is elected to a three-year term.   The Director of Education job description is here:  Dierctor of Education. Annemarie’s term runs until the end of 2024.