Title: SYRCL Wild & Scenic Film Festival Location: Landmark Theater, West Los Angeles, CA Description: The Mono Lake Committee is one of our favorite non-profits. For over 20 years, we have been supporting their efforts to save Mono Lake, reduce water consumption, and change the way the courts look at private property rights vs. the [...]
Entrepreneurship – Past, Present, Future
Title: Entrepreneurship Past, Present, Future Location: Palo Alto, CA (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) Description: Michael will be sharing valuable knowledge and experience to MBA students as a panelist at this private event being held by the Ohio State University Center for Entrepreneurship. This event includes a panel discussion, audience Q & A session, and a [...]
Academy of Friends 32nd Annual Gala
Title: Academy of Friends 32nd Annual Gala Location:San Francisco Design Center Galleria Description: Academy of Friends annually produces the world’s premier Academy Awards Night Charity Gala as the centerpiece of its efforts to raise funds, award donations, and encourage volunteerism that benefit a diverse set of HIV/AIDS direct care and prevention education agencies in the [...]
The Advantages of Being a Small Start-Up – Part 4
With all the challenges your small start-up faces, you still hold some impressive cards. If you play them right, you can have the winning hand! You face all the challenges of cash flow management, distribution management and personnel management, not to mention the competition, push back and resistance you get when you are new in the marketplace. [...]
Exit Strategy, Brand Building, and Value
Title: Exit Strategy, Brand Building, and Value Location: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA Description: Brand equity trumps real estate in most acquisitions. Understanding how value is created in the affordable luxury wine industry is the first step in developing a growth platform or exit strategy. Since value is measured by the investor or buyer, [...]
The Advantages of Being a Small Start-Up – Part 3
By focusing on your customer, and not your big time competitors, your small start-up has the opportunity to address the market with creative and relevant products. In this series we have examined some of the powerful advantages of being small, undercapitalized and able to turn on a dime. These days, with lawyers running the big corporations [...]
Wildwood Foundation Fundraiser
Title: Wildwood Foundation Fundraiser Location: Wildwood Conservation Foundation & Retreat Center, Guerneville, CA Description: Friday, February 3 — Sunday, February 5 Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey joined fellow donors during this weekend at the Wildwood Retreat Center in Sonoma County to celebrate the birthday of Barefoot Wine Ambassador, Randy Arnold. To learn more about Wildwood, [...]
Winning Distribution Strategies
Title: Winning Distribution Strategies Location: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA Successful brand building hinges on diligent management of the 3-tiered distribution channel and appealing to customers at all levels. Houlihan and Jones bring extensive street smarts and proven techniques to attract trade partners and cement their loyalty. This course is designed for owners, national [...]






