Expertise:
Business; Organizational management
Hobbies/Sports:
Sports; Spending time with her children
Education Degrees:
MBA, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (1983)
Affiliations Awards:
CFA Institute; Dundee Hills Wine Growers Association; Oregon Wine Growers Association
Charity:
The Trust for Public Land; Independent School Board, Twin Cities; Contribution Campaign; Minnesota Advisory Board, The Trust for Public Land; Chair, National Board of Directors, The Trust for Public Land, San Francisco, CA; President, Madison Valley Park Foundation; Former Chairman, Board Member, The Conservation Campaign
Number Of Years In Profession:
40
Number Of Years In Current Position:
4
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to her education, hard work and reliability.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because it is a family business. Her father had a vision and started planting 20 acres of grapes, and then scaled up to 40 acres. She grew up watching the industry grow and saw her father become well-regarded as a vineyard owner.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Determining the appropriate time for replanting crops; Managing cash and banking duties
Education Certifications:
Chartered Financial Analyst
Awards/Honors:
Ferguson Award for Extraordinary Commitment, The Trust for Public Land (2009)
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Ms. Knudsen Cowles hopes to bring Knudsen Vineyards forward as a wine producer, not just a grape producer. This will involve retailing, licensing and brand marketing. She also wants to get ready for a campaign that will involve traveling, doing public speaking and lobbying at a national level. She want to reach out to Congress regarding the preservation of open space.