Mary Woodka, U.S. Commercial Director for Bodega Luigi Bosca (Denver CO, USA)

Years in the industry:
I have been in the industry ~22 years, with a minor detour into tech for 3 years and craft beer for 5. I started my career right out of undergrad with E&J Gallo Winery’s “Management Development Program,” where I learned the true meaning of “paying your dues” in this industry. As the low woman on the totem pole at a wholesaler in Richmond, VA, I spent every morning at the receiving dock of a Walmart at 5:00 a.m. to help our delivery driver unload the truck, merchandise the shelves, and build displays in Walmart’s coveted “power alley.” While rough at times, this foundation was vital to understanding the commercial aspects of the wine industry in the U.S.

From there, I moved all over the country in various Sales, Marketing, Finance and Operations roles. The numerous disciplines and geographic locales provided a perfect roadmap to becoming a GM in the U.S. for Argentine producer, Bodega Luigi Bosca, and understanding not just the romantic love stories behind wine, but the also the less glamorous business components.

My Top Three Challenges to Wellness:
I went through an intense, late-stage battle with breast cancer four years ago, while working full-time, so this hits home. Despite my best efforts, there are still challenges to wellness in this industry:

1. Late night wine dinners followed by early morning meetings, which impede sleep and precious workouts.

2. Lack of healthy food choices at meetings / trade shows / hotels; does anyone else struggle with finding something green and from mother earth when on the road?!?!

3. The passion we feel in this industry can be sneaky; while we may have a love affair with our winery, it can easily lead to becoming overly consumed by the work we do

How I Keep it Together to Stay Well:
I learned a hard lesson after my breast cancer: my body can no longer endure the “abuse” I put it through on the road and not ever stopping to rest or take a vacation. After 2 years of brutal treatment, I am not as resilient or strong as I once was, so my approach:

1. My running shoes come with me everywhere! Fresh air and moving my body are my antidotes to a packed schedule, stuffy hotel rooms, or long flight delays. My morning runs also help me reset and prioritize my day. It sounds so simple…then your alarm goes off at 5:00 a.m.!

2. I discover the green juice bars in every city! If I can sneak in a few healthy juices and meals (the aforementioned green I am constantly in search of!) I can enjoy the delicious asados (Argentinian barbecue), cheeses and desserts that inevitably find their way to my plate.

3. Connection. We have all struggled with the lack of “together-ness” the last two years. I find my purest joy and feel my absolute strongest when surrounded by friends and colleagues I respect and love. The connection over a meal and a bottle of wine is my happiest of places and recharges the wellness batteries (even if I know I have a pair of running shoes staring me in the face the next morning!)

A Quote I Love:
“Do what you love and the money will come”.
This quote comes from my dad, who modeled for me a relentless work ethic and fueled my inspiration to always follow my passion. I may never get financially rich doing what I love, but I am in rich in the relationships I have made, the experiences of incredible wineries visited, and the delicious wine I consume on a regular basis!

You can connect with Mary at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marywoodka/ or Instagram: @sip_sister