Economic Impact Study Report

In 2019, the wine industry contributed an estimated $7.2 billion to the economy in Oregon. This represents a 27% increase over the previous three years, driven by growth and investment across all parts of the industry. Hear from researchers Dr. Rob Eyler and Christian Miller as they describe how the diverse sectors of the industry contribute to its total impact and discuss the effects of 2020’s unprecedented challenges. Their presentation will conclude by looking towards the future with a macro-economic recovery forecast and a close-in outlook on what to expect within the wine industry specifically.

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Speaker Bios

Dr. Rob Eyler

Dr. Robert Eyler is president of Economic Forensics and Analytics, a firm that specializes in economic impact and economic development studies. He is also professor of economics at Sonoma State University. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis and a B.A. in economics at CSU, Chico. Robert has been an expert witness for various wine-industry clients in business tort litigation and is a well-known consultant for the wine industry in the U.S. and Canada. Robert has been a visiting scholar at both the University of Bologna and Stanford University. Robert is a Sonoma County native, and his family have been sheep and cattle ranchers in Marin and Sonoma counties since 1910.

Christian Miller

Christian Miller has worked in market research, brand management and category management for over two decades. He is the proprietor of Full Glass Research, which provides market research and industry analysis for food and beverage producers and marketers. An original member of the Wine Market Council Research Committee, he is now its research director. Christian’s work history includes work at wineries, retailers, restaurants, an importer and a négociant. He has marketed brands ranging from a few thousand cases to over a million, giving him a broad view of the industry. His experience in Oregon includes work on multiple editions of the Economic Impact Report, market research for the Oregon Wine Board and several regional associations, and projects with multiple wineries.

Jess Willey

Jess joined the Oregon Wine Board in 2014, shortly after moving to Oregon from New York City. After serving as marketing director, Jess now leads strategic planning, marketplace insights and industry communications for the OWB. Prior to joining the OWB, Jess worked at wine and spirits importer Palm Bay International where she managed marketing programs for a portfolio of Italian, Portuguese and Chilean wine brands. She previously spent seven years at Unilever as a brand manager for food and beverage brands in the U.S. and the U.K.

Jess studied engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She has also earned the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 with distinction. Jess lives in Portland with her husband and energetic young daughter.

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