Board & Bios

Our mission is to launch educational efforts that support wineries, and promote appropriate business development around the region’s unique amenities and way of life.

  • Al DeAtley

    Chairman Al DeAtley , Chairman

    Al DeAtley is the former owner and Chief Executive Officer of Superior Asphalt Company, started by his father in 1953 and purchased by DeAtley in 1974. DeAtley has been committed to the industry and served on a number of board positions for local and national professional associations. Some of his positions included President of the Washington Asphalt Paving Association, 1987; Executive Committee of the National Asphalt Paving Association, 1990-95; Chairman of the Board of the National Asphalt Paving Association, 1994-95; and Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Board, 1978-89. DeAtley was inducted into the University of Washington Construction Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2004, he and his wife, Pat, received the prestigious designation of being inducted into the University of Washington’s Laureates Program. The DeAtleys are the 179th inductees since the founding of the University in 1861. In a forward-thinking effort to create economic development in the eastern half of the state, DeAtley joined a consortium of business leaders to create the non-profit organization Washington Wine Country.

  • Lynne Chamberlain

    Board Member Lynne Chamberlain

    Lynne Chamberlain has been a realtor since 1989 specializing in residential, agricultural and commercial properties. With the increase of local wine business and tourism, she has also worked with clients seeking vacation homes and investment properties. In addition, she carries an education endorsement in agriculture appraising. She is a longtime board member, having served as President of the Walla Walla Association of Realtors, and was named Realtor of the Year for the Walla Walla area. Lynne was born and raised in the Walla Walla Valley although she left high school upon graduation, eventually moving to the other Washington (DC). Outside of real estate, she is a farmer (raising cattle, alfalfa, wheat, and grapes), a public advocate for agriculture, land and water management, and a winemaker for JLC Winery and Spofford Station Vineyards.

  • Christophe Hedges

    Board Member Christophe Hedges

    Christophe Hedges is Director of National Sales and Marketing for Hedges Family Estate and has recently launched his own label, The House of Independent Producers. Prior to his work in the family winery he was an assistant buyer at Costco and the wine director at La Tavola, both in San Diego. Christophe has served on the Chairman’s Board for Washington Wine Country’s Grand Gala since 2003 and has been a Washington Wine Country board member since 2004. He also sits on the board of the Washington Wine Institute and the Red Mountain Estates Association. Hedges recently began growing grapes for Magdalena Vineyard and Occasus Vineyard, both on Red Mountain. Christophe hails from the Benton City / Red Mountain area and currently resides in Seattle with his wife Maggie.

  • Ken Messer

    Board Member Ken Messer

    A native of Yakima, Ken Messer has been Vice President and General Manager for KIMA/KEPR/KLEW TV (CBS) KKFQ (Univision) for over a decade. Messer is very active in the local Yakima community. He serves on the board of the Casey Family Programs, The United Way of Central Washington, The Yakima Regional Hospital and Sundown M Ranch, and is Chairman of the Central Washington State Fair Rodeo Association. He also works with the YMCA, Yakima County Development Association (New Vision), the CBS Affiliates Association and the Committee for a Safer Yakima. He is Past President of Consumer Credit Counseling, Yakima SW Rotary, and the Yakima Valley Visitor Convention Bureau. Highly respected in his industry, Ken has been recognized by the Washington Association of Broadcasters as “Broadcaster of the Year” in 2005, by the Yakima Advertising Federation as “Broadcaster of the Year” in 2002 and was twice elected as the Washington State Tourism Advisory Committee Chairman. Ken is married to Kathy Coffey, Assistant Mayor of Yakima. Together, they have an extended family of six children, 16 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

  • Doug Picatti

    Board Member Doug Picatti

    Doug Picatti is Owner at Picatti Brothers, Inc. He is a hands-on Operations Manager with strong people, team-building and computer skills. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Washington State University with minors in Math and Business Administration. He has expertise with erp software implementation, process improvement, and business turnaround. His specialties also include strategic planning, property development, and early stage business development. Previously, he served as Chairman at the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau, a Class A Member at UFunds, and President and Vice-President at the Committee for Downtown Yakima. Doug currently serves on Rotary, the Committee for Downtown Yakima, Ready by Five, For a Better Tomorrow, and the Yakima Regional Hospital Legislative Committee.

  • David Praga

    Board Member David Praga

    David Praga is Station Manager for KEPR-TV in the Tri-Cities, having worked for KEPR for 15 years. Originally from California, Praga has lived in Richland since 1991. He has a degree in Management Science of the University of California, San Diego. In addition to his board position with Washington Wine Country, Praga is a member of his local Kiwanis chapter and sits on the board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties. He and his wife Annamarie have three daughters.