Becky Muhlenburg, President
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, Vice President
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.

Cory Lillberg, Secretary
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.

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.

Jonathan Fussell
Owner Duplin Winery

My journey with Duplin Winery began with a hand-operated corker when I was just 4 years old. I loved

capping every single bottle because the reward was one of my grandmother’s sweet banana sandwiches. Over

the next 17 years, my mother and father would immerse me in all facets of the wine business, even as I went

off to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with ideas of a big-city business career. Little did I know,

God was preparing me all along for my future at the winery.

By the time I had graduated Carolina in 1998, my parents had built a strong family foundation for Duplin. I

joined as the sixth employee. Even with such a small crew, Dad knew to separate his spirited, young sons. My

older brother, Dave, would oversee wine production. I would focus on retail and marketing. This was our

father’s best decision during his time at the winery because each of us grew by learning from our own

mistakes.

Today, Duplin has multiple locations across the South, and the Lord has blessed us with many amazing team

members including my nieces and nephews. I always felt lucky to work alongside my parents, grandparents,

aunts, and uncles. Now, I am honored to continue the family legacy by mentoring the next generation.

As time passes, I realize what an amazing life the wine industry has given me. It would be a great privilege to

give back by contributing my experience to the N.C. Winegrower’s Association board while simultaneously

learning from each of you and sharing that knowledge with my team.

Daryl Locklear
Owner 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

William (Biff) Yost
Owner Cauble Creek Vineyard

William Yost, the President of Cauble Creek Vineyard, LLC, founded the company in 2006 with his family. A

graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), William has had a

diverse career spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

In his previous roles, William served as a manufacturers’ representative for industrial process controls, holding

various positions such as Sales Engineer, Officer, Partner, and Owner. He has actively participated in the wine

industry, serving on the North Carolina Wine Council and the North Carolina Muscadine Board.

Currently, William is involved in local community organizations, including the Rowan County Farm Bureau

Board, the Rowan County Planning Board, and the North Carolina Winegrower’s Association. He is also a

member of the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association.

Steve Shepard

Member of the NC Wine and Grape Council

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.

Hailey Klepcyk, Past President
Member of the NC Wine and Grape Council

Hailey Klepcyk has been working in the wine industry for nearly 15 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. Hailey

left Piccione Vineyards in 2023 to work with Nomad Wine Works in High Point, NC. Being an urban winery,

cidery, and meadery, Nomad Wine Works was a new adventure into not only wine, but in working with mead

and cider for the first time. In April of 2024 Hailey transitioned from customer to sales representative when

she joined Wine and Beer Supply. She now has the privilege of working with owners, winemakers, managers

and more, in the states of NC, SC, and GA. She has a true passion and commitment for the North Carolina

wine industry.