Mr. Mekjian is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. He funded his college education as a lead line cook at a high-end Los Angeles restaurant. Over those five years his love of California wine blossomed as his cooking skills were refined. He graduated from USC in 1981 and earned his MBA in 1989. He led a successful career in manufacturing turnarounds and start-ups. Mekjian was an original partner at Russian River Vineyards and took a leadership position in 2013. He and winemaker Giovanni Balistreri took controlling interest in the business in 2022. Mekjian focuses his time on growing Russian River Vineyards, educating the next generation of Hospitality industry leaders, and supporting animal rescue organizations.
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