Len Dest Joins LIMA as Executive Director
The Long Island Merlot Alliance (LIMA) has been pretty quiet lately, hasn’t it?
After its formation in late 2005 and the subsequent release of their co-produced, 2004 Merliance Merlot ($35), they have kept a rather low profile. Last summer, they sponsored an intern here on Long Island, but I don’t think any of the results from his research have been published yet.
I think this latest bit of news might mark the beginning of more public activities for the group.
LIMA has appointed Len Dest as its Executive Director. He will be charged with taking the Alliance to the next level by expanding research, marketing and promotion, enhancing Long Island’s reputation as the best Merlot region in America and one of the best in the World.
Dest joins LIMA from Duckwood Advisors, LLC a professional management and marketing consulting company based in the Greater New York City region, which he founded after a career in the aerospace industry where he held vice president of international marketing positions at a division of the Boeing Company and at a Lockheed Martin joint venture.
He has broad experience in marketing and promoting products and services, and in developing brands, re-branding existing products, and development of co-branding activities…all things that will help LIMA as it moves forward. During his international travel Dest has visited vineyards and wineries throughout the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay and Australia, and was a shareholder in a vineyard in Vergisson, France.
There’s room for another Len in the wine community, right?
