Leadership
Hilary Newsom
PlumpJack Group,
Co-President
Hilary Newsom has served as President of PlumpJack Group since 2009, following her transition from the role of Marketing Director. As Co-President, she works closely with Jeremy Scherer and oversees all department heads, operations, employee relations, marketing, and development projects.Her commitment to philanthropy led her to establish the PlumpJack Foundation in 2017, focusing on preventing childhood poverty and advancing cancer prevention, education, and research. Since 1992, PlumpJack’s philanthropic efforts have raised over $6.5 million for Northern California non-profits.
Jeremy Scherer
PlumpJack Group,
Co-President
Jeremy Scherer joined the PlumpJack Group in 1994 and has been involved in nearly every aspect of the company. In 2015, he became Co-President alongside Hilary Newsom. Jeremy is responsible for overseeing the operations and finance of PlumpJack’s portfolio of businesses, as well as identifying new development opportunities. With extensive experience in project planning and construction management, he has played a crucial role in PlumpJack’s growth and success.
John Conover
PlumpJack Collection of Wineries,
GM & Partner
A veteran in the wine industry, John Conover joined PlumpJack in 1999 as General Manager of PlumpJack Winery. He has played a crucial role in identifying new assets and supporting the expansion of the Winery brands, which now include PlumpJack, Cade, Odette, Cade 13th, and Oso Vineyards. John has overseen the growth of the PlumpJack collection of wineries, increasing production from 4,000 cases to over 70,000 cases. Under his leadership, our wines receive critical acclaim, including multiple 100-point scores. Before joining PlumpJack, John held sales, marketing, and management roles at Grgich Hills Cellar, Monticello Cellars, and Lockwood Vineyard
Dee Ann Graffigna
PlumpJack Group,
Vice President of Human Resources
DeeAnn manages Human Resources and Employee Relations across the PlumpJack portfolio. Her role involves overseeing benefit administration, developing employee-focused programs, and collaborating with Hilary Newsom to enhance the PlumpJack employee culture. Together, DeeAnn and Hilary work to foster positive employee relations and create career development opportunities for over 300 team members. With more than 25 years of HR experience in the hospitality sector, DeeAnn brings extensive expertise to her position.
McKenzie Ward
PlumpJack Group,
Vice President of Marketing
McKenzie has more than 20 years of brand marketing experience, with 15+ years dedicated to hospitality and travel marketing. She oversees a talented team of in-house marketers that executes creative, branding, photography, events, digital marketing, social media, e-commerce, and merchandising. She works directly with Hilary Newsom on all marketing strategy and branding for PlumpJack’s diverse collection of hospitality and lifestyle businesses.
Milham Wakin
PlumpJack Group,
Vice President of Finance
Milham joined PlumpJack in 2005 bringing more than 27 years of hospitality and hotel-specific accounting experience. He’s responsible for all aspects of finance and accounting for each business, including overseeing cash and profitability forecasts; advising on business strategies; and ensuring banking and loan compliance. He oversees an accounting team in San Francisco and in Napa.
work with us
PlumpJack offers excellent benefits, employee perks, competitive salaries, personal development programs, and an exciting work environment. We’re constantly seeking extraordinary individuals with a passion for hospitality to join our team.
If you’re looking for an exciting opportunity to grow within our organization, please send your resume to careers@plumpjack.com.