Maria Karkazis

About Maria Karkazis

A Senior Wine Industry Professional with 15 years of experience, with a proven track record in driving results in sales (B2B & consumer facing), brand management, marketing, trade marketing, export management, national sales, distribution, business development and strategic channels, key account relationships, supplier relations, contract negotiation, customer retention, and overall business growth. Proven ability to build and maintain a distribution network, pitch and sell-in brands and programs, budget forecasting, set effective and competitive pricing-structure, manage P&L ratio, as well as train distributors and sales teams. Highly collaborative, great critical thinker, creative, dynamic, energetic, with impressive cross functional team working skill that work well in a fast pace environment. A self-starter with the ability to think and work on either a micro and/or macro level, while engaging and collaborating, in overall business performance. Her success in the industry has aligned her with leading producers and pioneering personalities from Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and Spain, as well as leading import companies, and luxury brands. This exposure to different cultures, languages, and regions has cultivated a unique skill-set, passion and understanding of the multi-faceted industry that is transferable to multiple business sectors.

Experience

1. Western Regional Manager - Pioneer Division

   Winebow

   Apr 2022 — Present · US

   Responsible for the sales and distribution of all New World/Southern Hemisphere Winebow Imports for: CA, OR, WA, NV, HI, ID, AK.

Education

• San Francisco State University

  Bachelor's degree, Speech & Communications Studies, Graduated with Honors Cum Laude. Nominated for Student of the Year Award.

• Wine & Spirit Education Trust

  WSET II (Passed with Distinction)