Vineyard Professional Services announces staff promotions & new management team
– John Crossland, owner of Vineyard Professional Services Inc. or VPS, has announced the operational management of his vineyard services company has transitioned to a new team. Promoted to chief operating officer, current VP of operations, Randy Heinzen will manage the day-to-day workings of VPS; Lisa Hurdle, current CFO, is being promoted to vice president of finance; and Dean Harrell remains as vice president of viticulture, in charge of field operations and scheduling. Crossland will retain the title of president, CEO and will continue to, “mentor the incoming leadership, aid in strategic planning and represent VPS and the local wine industry in numerous statewide committees and boards.”
“I am confident in the superior skills and management style of this team,” stated Crossland, “They will continue to excel in growing the company while retaining the excellence and quality of our work.”
Dean Harrell, Lisa Hurdle, and Randy Heinzen. Courtesy photo.
Crossland recruited Heinzen in 2012 to move to Paso Robles after a decade of farming in the Napa Valley (including at Beckstoffer Vineyards). In addition to his viticulture degrees from Cal Poly and the University of Adelaide, Australia, Heinzen has completed wine business certificates at UC Davis and Sonoma State.
Hurdle began work at VPS in 2008 and quickly rose from controller to now VP of finance. She is a licensed CPA and has a master’s in accounting from San Diego State University.
Harrell is the longest-tenured officer in the company. He applies his master’s in viticulture from UC Davis and over 30 years of winegrape farming to the unique challenges of grape growing in the 11 AVAs throughout the diverse Paso Robles wine region.
Crossland started the Paso Robles-based company in 1997 and has managed the daily operations of the company since that time. Prior to VPS, he spent several decades of farming winegrapes throughout California, including managing the prestigious Beckstoffer Vineyards operations in the north coast.
Established in 1997, VPS provides complete vineyard operations management to over 30 clients, managing over 3,000 acres throughout the Paso Robles wine region. For further information, visit www.vineyardpro.com.
