Hailey Klepcyk, President

Member of the NC Wine and Grape Council

Hailey Klepcyk has been working in the wine industry for nearly 10 years. After studying Business Management at NC State and earning a degree in Art and Photography from Elon University, she found an interest in wine while working for Aria Tuscan Grill in Charlotte, NC. Hailey’s passion for wine and winemaking deepened while working for Wisdom Beverage and Fine Wine Distributors helping restaurants build award-winning wine portfolios. Hailey left the distributor world in 2013 to manage a local winery when she found a love of wines made in her home state. In 2015, Hailey helped Piccione Vineyards find its footing in the Yadkin Valley by managing the tasting room. She has a true passion for the North Carolina wine industry.

Becky Muhlenburg, Vice President
Co-Owner Haze Gray Vineyards

Becky along with her husband, Deane, are the owners of Haze Gray Vineyard located in the Yadkin Valley. The vineyard was established in 2015 and they began making wine in 2017 and on premise in 2018. The tasting room was opened in 2019. Besides helping in winery and vineyard, Becky’s main role is running the tasting room along with all marketing and events planning. Prior to starting Haze Gray, Becky was a senior IT Manager. She was a management consultant for many years. Additionally, she was running multiple Program Management Offices for a global mutual fund company. Becky retired from the corporate world in 2019. Her extensive business background with strategic planning, financial planning, accounting, event planning, client focus, and
relationship management have assisted them in setting up the company. Becky has developed strong relationships in the NC winery community and has worked in several different tasting rooms and festivals to gain a stronger knowledge prior to opening their own tasting room. She enjoys visiting other wineries to get to know other owners. The community really helped Deane and Becky get started and they want to help others as they start. She has visited 68 NC wineries so far. Understanding the challenges of the individual wineries helps to gain an understanding of common issues and impact to the larger community. Becky attends all of the NC Wine Growers meetings. She hopes to gain a Director position on the board this year to impact the focus of the group by bringing those concerns to the meetings. Becky and Deane have two children, Ashley and Byron. Ashley is the company’s graphics design person. Their son, Byron, is in the Air Force.

Chuck Johnson, Secretary
Co-Owner Shadow Springs Vineyard & Windsor Run Cellars

I am originally from Minnesota and attended the University of Wisconsin before moving to North Carolina in 1983. Prior to getting into the North Carolina wine business, I was a Vice President for a Fortune 500 worldwide logistics company. He believes strongly in the North Carolina grape and wine industry and wants to help it grow however he can. Current owner of Shadow Springs Vineyards and Windsor Run Cellars. I have served on the board of the NCWA for many years and also former board member of the NC Wine and Grape Council.

Ethan Brown, Treasurer
Winemaker, Shelton Vineyards

Ethan has been a part of the North Carolina wine industry his entire life starting in his family’s vineyard and winery at the age of 10. He later became their official winemaker when he was 19 years old and has moved on to making wine in North Carolina ever since. He obtained an associate’s degree in viticulture and enology from Surry Community College and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry/fermentation science from Appalachian State University. Ethan is now the winemaker at Shelton Vineyards and serves on the NC Wine and Grape Council as Co-Chair.

Amy Helton
Co-Owner Hanover Park Vineyard

Amy has been involved with grapes and wine since 1996 after a honeymoon to the South of France. Amy and her husband Michael own Hanover Park Vineyard in Yadkinville, NC where they have been producing wine since 1999. A former art teacher, Amy now dedicates all of her time to the wine business. Producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Mourevdre, Chardonnay and Viognier for starters, Amy and Michael project to make up to 3,000 cases of wine per year from Hanover Park. Amy is a current member of the NC Winegrower’s Association and the NC Grape Council.

Daryl Locklear
Locklear Winery

Charlie T Locklear Vineyard & Winery is wholly owned and operated by family. We are proud members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolilna. Maxton, NC

Cory Lillberg
Vineyard Manager Parker-Binns Vineyard

Only after deciding to leave the small town of Rocky Hill, Connecticut as a 20-year-old kid, did my journey begin. After witnessing 9/11 from the confines of  my freshman “French 1” classroom, I knew in some capacity that I wanted to serve my country. Fast forward a few years and with life seemingly spinning in circles in my hometown, it was time. I enlisted in the Air Force and left for boot camp on January 27th, 2009. After 6 years; two short tours, one long tour and a quick rise-up the ranks, I was asked by my family to join them on their adventure in the wine business. In 2014 I was lucky enough to secure a position at Seymour Johnson Air Force base in Goldsboro N.C, only 5 hours away from the family farm. This allowed me to spend weekends “dipping my toes” in the vineyard life for the final 6 years of my military career. Eureka! I had found my passion and future after the military. I realized that while my proficiency in Aircraft Armament may not serve me as a grape grower, the

intangible traits the military gifted me along the way deserved to be recognized. Discipline, a yearning to learn, selflessness and commitment to excellence were not in my tool belt when I left Rocky Hill but are threaded into all I do today.

Today, I serve as the Vineyard / General Manager of our amazing team at Parker-Binns Vineyard. Honing and sharpening our individual and collective crafts with each passing season, attempting to put our stamp on the emerging North Carolina wine industry.

Steve Shepard

Steve Shepard has been growing grapes and making wines commercially for nearly half a century.  In 1989 after working 10 years in 2 regions of Pennsylvania, Steve moved south to NC to assist the startup of Westbend Vineyards along with Jack and Lillian Kroustalis. Westbend became the 6th winery in NC which evolved to become the focal point of the Yadkin Valley.  In 2000, Steve joined up with Joe and Joyce Neely to create RayLen Vineyards and Winery, the 15th winery in NC.  Thirty-five acres of European varieties were planted and a 20,000-case modern production winery was constructed.  Over the next 20 years many viticulture, winemaking and marketing advancements in the NC wine industry were realized from the efforts and investments of pioneers and the support of the North Carolina Winegrower’s Association and the NC Wine and Grape Council. These contributions have encouraged the growth and uprising of nearly 300 Vineyards and Wineries in NC today.

Steve retired from RayLen Vineyards and Winery in May of 2023 and continues to console with vineyards and wineries throughout the East and West Coasts.

Mark Friszolowski, Past President
Winemaker at Childress Vineyards

A native of Long Island, Mark came to Childress from Pindar Vineyards, the largest premium winery on Long Island, where he apprenticed under famed California enologist Dimitri Tchelistcheff. At Pindar, he rose from cellarmaster to be-come the winemaker and general manager for 650 acres of grapes and production of 100,000 cases annually. Winning over 300 awards in his career, Mark has served on judging panels and seminars around the world. Currently, Mark is President of the Muscadine Association, and has sat on the Board for the NC Grape Council.