Susan Sokol Blosser, Oregon wine industry pioneer and co-founder of Sokol Blosser Winery, will present a lecture and sign copies of her new book, “Letting Go,” on Wednesday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. in 222 T.J. Day Hall at Linfield College.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is part of an ongoing wine lecture series at Linfield College.
At the height of her career, after building and leading one of the most innovative wineries in America, Sokol Blosser stepped away from the work she loved and transitioned control of the winery to her children. Her book, “Letting Go: How One Entrepreneur Energized Her Business, Empowered the Next Generation, and Embraced a Bold New Vision,” is the account of how she made that decision, the surprising challenges she faced, the unanticipated journey that ensued and the good life that followed.
For more than three decades, Sokol Blosser has distinguished herself as a leader in business and agriculture, managing every aspect of Sokol Blosser’s winery operation. As president, she helped Sokol Blosser grow to become one of the largest and most innovative Oregon wineries, with national and international distribution. She was a forerunner in instituting environmentally friendly business practices and practicing the triple bottom line concept of people, planet, profit. With its certified organic vineyard, the first LEED certified winery building in the U.S., and business practices based on the Natural Step model of sustainability, the winery made social responsibility and its environmental ethic priorities, while still pursuing its vision of producing remarkable wines.
Sokol Blosser holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and an honorary doctorate of public service from the University of Portland, citing her entrepreneurship within the context of environmental and social responsibility. She has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Women for WineSense and the Oregon Wine Board and is a Lifetime Trustee of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and Marylhurst University.
The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call 503-883-2218.
