Des Moines, Iowa—Cassie Bott of Fireside Winery in Marengo, Iowa has been elected president and Mike Vincent of Wooden Wheel Vineyards in Keota, Iowa as vice president of the Iowa Wine Growers Association board of directors. The board voted on nominations during its March 30 board meeting held in Des Moines.

According to a statement released by the association, new board committee assignments were also made, which include Suzie Berregaard, In Vino Veritas, and Steve Larson, Train Wreck Winery, serving as the legislative committee; Cassie Bott and Mike Vincent as the annual conference committee; Andy Hrasky, Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery, and Brian Jones, Three Sons Vineyard, as the membership committee; and Shelly Skahill, Wabash Wine Company, and Cassie Bott as the marketing committee.

In addition to new board assignments and committees, Nicole Eilers has been hired as the new marketing director for the Aasociation. Eilers brings several years of experience in nonprofit PR and communications, event planning and marketing. Eilers also has previous knowledge and involvement in the Iowa grape/wine and beer industry, having established an acre of Iowa grapes with her family in 2011, and serving as co-owner of Brick Street Brewing Company in Woodbine, Iowa.