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 owner and Chief Executive Officer of Superior Asphalt Company, started by his father in 1953 and purchased by DeAtley in 1974. In addition to celebrating his 30th anniversary as head of the company in 2004, 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; 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 Washington Wine Country, a 501(c)3 dedicated to building pride and recognition of the world-class wine growing region in Washington. His daughter Janet Leduc is the Founding Director of the organization. In addition to their ongoing community and charitable involvement, Al & Pat spend much of their time with friends and family and raising their grandson Jeremy.

  • Christophe Hedges

    Board Member Christophe Hedges

    Christophe Hedges is the National Sales Director for Hedges Family Estate. Prior to his work in the family winery he was an assistant buyer at Costco in San Diego and the Wine director at la Tavola, also 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 to Yakima, Ken Messer has been the Vice President and General Manager for KIMA/KEPR/KLEW TV (CBS) KKFQ (Univision) for 12 years. Messer is very active in the local Yakima community. In addition to his board position with Washington Wine Country he serves on the board of the Casey Family Programs, The United Way, The Yakima Regional Hospital and is Chairman of the Central Washington State Fair Rodeo Association. He is also the Past President of Consumer Credit Counseling, President of the Sundown M. Ranch, Past President of the Yakima SW Rotary and Past President of the Yakima Valley Visitor Convention Bureau. He also works with the YMCA, Yakima County Development Association (New Vision), the CBS Affiliates Association and the Committee For a Safer Yakima.

    Ken is married to Kathy Coffey, President and CEO of the Yakima Valley Visitor Convention Bureau. Between the two of them, they have 6 children and 18 grandchildren. 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.

  • David Praga

    Board Member David Praga

    David Praga is the station manager for KEPR-TV in the Tri-Cities. He has worked for KEPR for 15 years serving as station manager for four. 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 been married for 16 years and have three daughters: Nicole (10), Alyssa (7) and Danielle (4).

  • Duane Wollmuth

    Board Member Duane Wollmuth

    Duane Wollmuth is managing partner of Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla and owner of Biscuit Ridge Vineyards. He has served on the Washington Wine Country board since 2004. He has also served on the board for the Grand Gala Chairman’s Board, the organization’s primary fundraiser, since 2003. Prior to his work in the Washington wine industry, Wollmuth worked in the cellular telephone industry for 14 years including a ten year stint with McCaw Cellular Communications. He has a B.S. from Oregon State University, a M.S. from the University of Minnesota and received an MBA from the University of Washington.

    Wollmuth is very involved in his community and serves on numerous boards promoting the state’s growing wine industry. In addition to his work with Washington Wine Country, he also holds board member positions with the following organizations Washington Wine Institute, Washington State Tourism Advisory Committee, Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Ft. Walla Walla Museum and Historical Society and the Walla Walla Rotary. Duane also works with a number of conservation and wildlife organizations.

    Born in North Dakota and raised in Portland Oregon, Duane and his wife Mary have lived in Walla Walla for eleven years. They have two daughters, Christie, age 18 and a Freshman at Pacific University and Mollie, age 16 and a Junior at DeSales High School in Walla Walla. Mary also works part-time at Three Rivers Winery and is co-owner of Biscuit Ridge Vineyards. In his spare time, Duane enjoys gardening, hunting and fishing.