Our People

CEO

Bartholomew Broadbent

BARTHOLOMEW BROADBENT 

In 1996 Broadbent Selections, Inc. was established by Bartholomew Broadbent in San Francisco to import some of the finest wines from all over the world. He later established Broadbent Wines Limited, a European company based in Dublin, to handle sales of proprietary brands in Europe and around the world. The brands produced by Broadbent include his eponymous Vinho Verde, Dao, Douro, Ilha da Madeira, Madeira and Port from Portugal and Gruner Veltliner in Austria. Additionally, he owns The Curator in South Africa and Auctioneer in Napa Valley. He was previously the 50% partner of a winery in China called Dragon’s Hollow. Broadbent winery was nominated one of the Top 100 Wineries of 2020 by Wine&Spirits. 

Broadbent Selections has the exclusive US distribution rights for wineries making wines and spirits in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, England, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, USA and Wales. Such iconic brands as Tyrrell’s, Chateau Musar, Spy Valley and Domaine Georges Vernay have earned his company the reputation of being one of America’s finest importers. Broadbent Selections was twice nominated Importer of the Year by Wine Enthusiast [2005 and 2019] and once named a 100 fastest growing company by Dun & Bradstreet in Entrepreneur magazine. 

Raised in the English wine trade under a formal apprenticeship to his legendary father, Michael Broadbent MW [Director of Christie’s and prolific wine author], Bartholomew has worked in Australia, France, Canada and the UK. He moved to America to start a company for the Symington family in Portugal, which he ran for ten years, and is credited for leading the growth of Port consumption in North America. In 1989 he was responsible for the post-Prohibition re-introduction of Madeira to America. 

Bartholomew was named one of the “fifty most influential people in the wine world” by Decanter Magazine (1997) and IntoWine.com ranked him 48th in the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the U.S Wine Industry” in 2013. Today, he has expanded from his pivotal role in the breathtaking growth of Port and Madeira to “exert a profound influence on the US wine market” says Decanter.  

He is a familiar face on the wine speaker circuit, regularly lecturing at all the major wine festivals. He was the Reserve Tasting Director at the Food&Wine Classic in Aspen for 25 years. As a guest lecturer he has travelled the world with Viking, Cunard [QM2 and QEII], Crystal, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas. He was the Wine Guy for KFOG radio in San Francisco and he is the host of Wine Wednesdays on Viking TV. 

He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children. He goes by the nickname of Bollew. 

  
 MICHAEL BROADBENT MW [1927-2020] 

The late Michael Broadbent was not directly involved with Broadbent Selections but he was an enthusiastic supporter. Other than encouragement and pride, his main contribution to Broadbent Selections was when his son, Bartholomew, sent Michael and his mother, Daphne, to the island of Madeira to help develop the blends for Broadbent Madeira.  

In 1960, Michael became the 24^th Master of Wine. He trained as an architect, but at age 25 changed his career to enter the wine trade. He started with Layton’s, then Saccone and Speed before becoming the National Sales Director for Harvey’s of Bristol. In 1966 he established the Wine Department at Christie’s. As an auctioneer he pioneered wine sales in Amsterdam, Geneva, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and the United States, including founding the Napa Valley Wine Auction with Robert Mondavi. 

Receiving France’s second highest honor, Chevalier dans L’Order National du Merite from the French Government, his other awards are too numerous to list but they include Decanter’s ‘Man of the Year’ and Wine Spectator’s Distinguished Service Award. He held many important and prestigious positions during his career, including being the first Hon President of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust [WSET], President of The International Wine and Food Society, Chairman of The Institute of Masters of Wine, Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, Chairman of The Wine & Spirit Trades Benevolent Society, Wine Consultant for British Airways and for Cunard. 

He was a columnist for six publications, including writing 433 consecutive monthly columns for Decanter magazine. He wrote 14 books and contributed chapters to many others. His first book, Wine Tasting, has been continuously in print since 1968, translated into 8 languages. The Great Vintage Wine Book was the first ever book published with tasting notes. He won 16 major literary awards including a James Beard award for Michael Broadbent’s Vintage Wine.  

He was twice married. In 1954 to Daphne until her death [1931-2015] and then to Dr. Valerie Smallwood in 2019. In addition to his son, Bartholomew, he has an older daughter, Emma, The Lady Arbuthnot DBE, a High Court Judge in the UK. Michael died from natural causes in 2020 at the age of 92

Senior VP, Director of Sales, Portfolio Manager

Chris Lavin

Chris was born in Santiago, Chile and had the extreme pleasure of living in Singapore, Brazil, and around the US before settling in Los Angeles. His career has always been wine; he was a top sommelier for a number of prestigious restaurants groups including Michael Mina. Having led such an international life, wine was always part of the dinner table. This led Chris to his passions of food and wine. 

Wine education has always been a part of Chris’s career as well. His certificates include Advanced Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Bordeaux Wine Educator from Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux, Certified Wine Educator from the Society of Wine Educators, and Master Napa Valley from the Napa Valley Vintners Association.

Throughout his travels Chris has become fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, and Swahili. When he’s not drinking wine, he is drinking gin, playing golf or tennis, biking or scuba diving off a sailboat. He loves to spend time with his husky puppy, Eddy, his partner in life (she is also deep seeded in the wine business), and his family members around the world. 

SVP Brand Management and Sales

Elizabeth George

Elizabeth began studying wine as a Hotelie at Cornell but it was a wine-infused trip to Australia that ignited her interest and career path. Earning her WSET Diploma and working her way through distributor sales roles in New York City and Melbourne, Australia, Elizabeth found her way back home to New England and joined Broadbent Selections in 2010. She’s been lucky to explore some of the best wineries throughout Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand and is constantly amazed by the dedicated families behind each property. She currently lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three energetic children and finds beauty, relaxation and adventure in wine.

Executive Vice President, Director of Business Strategy

Gregg Perkins

Gregg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from The University of Florida, is WSET level 3, has passed the Master of Wine tasting and dissertation with a conditional theory pass. Gregg has a fondness for the producers at Broadbent Selections with many becoming close personal friends.  

Gregg specializes in strategic partnerships, wine sales, portfolio building, wine marketing, brand management, wine education, and executive management. He has worked in all three tiers of the wine industry. Working as an importer at Broadbent Selections and previously at Cape Classics, Vineyard Brands and Premium Port Wines, as a wholesaler at RNDC and as a retailer at Wine Warehouse.  

When not working at Broadbent Selections, Gregg enjoys travel, yoga, tennis and taking his dog to the dog park.  

Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing

Molly Choi

After graduating Bowling Green State University with a BA in Communications and Public Relations, Molly worked in advertising – first at an agency specializing in blue chip accounts and then to the client side for the LVMH group (Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton). From there she entered the wine world as the marketing manager for Cape Classics, a South African and French wine importer, where she worked for over 20 years focused on sales, marketing and PR. Before joining Broadbent in 2022, she spent two years in the cannabis industry leading a national sales team for the packaging company, Greenlane.

A native of Buffalo, NY, Molly currently resides in New York City. When she’s not on the road preaching the gospel of Chenin (@cheninista) or trying to get the perfect wine/food photo, Molly can be found watching Buffalo Bills games (with her hands covering her eyes), cheering at her daughter’s basketball games, or tending to her roof garden.

Vice President, National Accounts

Yvonne Gallo

Yvonne grew up in a primarily Italian household in New Jersey where Sunday dinners at the table were both mandatory and cherished. Sneaking sips of chianti poured from the same jug which shares her last name, although no relation, sets the stage for her first wine memories.

As a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Yvonne embarked upon a career in the aviation industry and was employed by Comair Airlines and Flight Safety International. Outside sales experience was required to advance her career and so it began. She took her first wine job as a sales representative for Tri-Vin Imports, was bitten by the bug, and 20 years later with both distributor and supplier roles, has never looked back.

Running, hiking, and gym time are personal musts. When taking a breather you can find her down the shore, where everything is alright.

VP Operations

Michael Bender

Hailing from Seattle, WA, Michael made his way to Broadbent in 2007 while living in San Francisco. His responsibilities grew as the company did, starting with order processing and eventually leading to managing the entire end-to-end supply chain. 2012 brought Michael from San Francisco to Richmond, VA as BSI put down new roots in the Old Dominion whilst moving the company headquarters. He currently resides in Durham, NC, where he has put down roots of his own with a young family. One of his favorite memories of working for Broadbent was when Lavin drank too much in South Africa, passed out in a chair, and was then draped in an American flag by his coworkers.

Senior Vice President, Finance

Julie Black

Prior to joining Broadbent Selections in 2012, Julie spent over 25 years in various accounting and financial roles at Arthur Andersen, Diageo/Burger King Corp and in the non-profit sector at The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. Her focus is not only on keeping the numbers straight but on creating win-win outcomes with our business partners and guiding our management team to improve performance, growth and stability. 

Born and raised in Hershey, PA, Julie grew up drinking mostly Italian wines and has fond memories of her immigrant grandparents wine cellar, grapevines and large garden. A graduate of Penn State University (Bachelor of Science) and UNC Chapel-Hill (MBA), she also holds a CPA license.  In her free time, Julie enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering in the community, creating and crafting, and traveling to places new and old. 

Operations Manager

Bridget Behrens

Bridget Behrens is our Operations Assistant at Broadbent Selections where she supports our Operations department by entering orders and maintaining a flow of communication with our warehouses to ensure proper order fulfillment. She graduated from VCU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with a concentration on Entrepreneurship. Studying entrepreneurship has allowed her to understand the need for working with an open mind as well as develop the ability to apply this mindset to any field of work. She really enjoys the administrative and logistical side of business as it allows her support her team and ensure we are operating at the highest level efficiency. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with a glass of white wine, cuddling with her dog, Scooter, and catching up on the latest Netflix releases. She is honored to be an aunt to her three nieces and two nephews, and loves working on crafts and art projects with them whenever she gets the chance.  

Marketing Manager

Kennedy Heidel

After graduating summa cum laude from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Kennedy worked as a freelancer Copywriter for years while traveling around Europe, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. After settling down in Richmond, she joined an advertising agency as a Communications Specialist where she crafted copy and built brands in a variety of industries.  

Joining Broadbent Selections in 2023, Kennedy spends her days developing, implementing, and executing strategic marketing plans for the entire organization and portfolio.   

When she’s not sipping on a glass of Txakolina (usually paired with oysters), Kennedy enjoys reading the latest best-sellers, trying out new recipes with her chef partner, or hanging out with her cuddly cat, Murphy.   

Director of Education, Regional Sales Manager

Josh Orr

(South CA , NV, HI)

Master Sommelier Joshua Orr lives and works in San Diego, CA. He began his career as a floor sommelier in Las Vegas at B&B Ristorante and Fiamma. Once he had moved to San Diego, he had the privilege to be the Wine Director for the San Diego Marriott Marquis. Where he created an award-winning wine program that is still one of the most diverse in San Diego. He passed the vaunted Master Sommelier exam in 2019 and was also the winner of the United States Top Somm competition in 2014. Wine, for him, is first and foremost a passion and unending curiosity and then a job second. When he is not managing sales for the importer, Broadbent Selections, he is chasing his two little boys (Brady, 4 and Cameron, 17 months) so his lovely wife Megan can rest for a moment.

Regional Sales Manager

Bill Shaffer

(FL, GA, TN)

Bill was born and raised in south central Pennsylvania, just west of the historic Gettysburg Battlefields.  His undergraduate education in Hospitality/Accounting brought him to the Philadelphia area where he began his career as Director of Purchasing for a family-owned restaurant chain in Center City.  

After receiving a James Beard Scholarship to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris France for Culinary Arts, Bill became enamored with the French culture and their passion for life and wine. He stayed an additional year to take part in the schools inaugural Wine Management Program.  Traveling the country to legendary wine producing regions only fueled his love for the industry further.  Upon returning to the U.S., he established his career working in sales through positions with Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits and most recently Treasury Wine Estates in the Florida market.  Additionally, adding an MBA from Jacksonville University while completing his Certified Sommelier exam through the CMS on a whirlwind 24-hour trip to Bogota Colombia.  Currently he is enrolled in the WSET Level 4 Diploma Program.   

While we are blessed to work in a career field that is also a personal pleasure, Bill spends his downtime with his wife Taylor and their two golden retrievers Tannin Tim Reynolds & Lincoln Dave Matthews.   

Regional Sales Manager, Mid-Atlantic

William Holby

(DC, AL, DE, MD, VA, WV)

William grew up in Homewood, Alabama and majored in Economics at Birmingham‐Southern College. He discovered his passion for wine in a bottle of Pascal Jolivet Sancerre at Highlands Bar & Grill, and shortly thereafter founded an educational wine club for his friends, “Que Syrah, Syrah.”

Upon graduation, he moved to Washington, DC, and became the youngest wine salesperson in the history of Calvert Woodley Wines & Spirits. After two years on the sales floor, he was promoted to Director of Wine Imports, where he managed the shop’s purchasing and logistics for Bordeaux and Rhone futures. In that role he was able to travel to Bordeaux for the en primeur campaign, and fondly remembers tasting the legendary 2009 and 2010 vintages out of barrel.

He joined The Country Vintner in 2013 as a Fine Wine & Craft Spirits Salesperson, and has enjoyed watching the rise of the restaurant scene in Washington, DC over the last six years. Through this position, he discovered a passion for the wines of Madeira, Chateau Musar, South Africa, and others.

When he’s not sharing a bottle of delicious wine, you’ll find him swimming laps in the pool, on a bike, or walking his dog, Otis (a very good boy.) He is thrilled to join the team at Broadbent Selections, where he looks forward to spreading the gospel of great wine for years to come.

Regional Sales Manager

Zaan Eksteen

(NY)

Zaan Eksteen joined Broadbent Selections in February of 2019 by way of 8 years fine wine sales in New York City. Born and raised in South Africa, Zaan moved with his family to New Jersey in 1999, eventually working in restaurants through high school. Zaan headed back to South Africa to study Finance and Economics at the University of Cape Town and after a year spent backpacking through Europe and Southeast Asia, made the decision to return to New York City to explore a food and beverage career. After two years of restaurant management in NYC, Zaan lead a sales team for Canopy Wines while simultaneously pursuing wine education and his Sommelier Certification with the Court of Master Sommeliers. Zaan lives outside of NYC, enjoying mushroom foraging and trout fishing on the weekend.  

Regional Sales Manager

Jo Barrett

(CO, AZ, NM, NE, MT, WY)

Jo Barrett is a Colorado Native and very proud of it. It was in Culinary school that Jo feel in love with wine. After graduation, she look a position as sous chef in a restaurant. There she was able to continue her wine education and expanded her responsibilities to include managing the wine program. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she wanted to devote all of her time to wine. In the fall of 2010 Jo started her wine career at Wine Cru, Colorado. She remained there until excepting a position at Broadbent Selection in 2015.  

When Jo is not waxing poetic about her love of Chenin Blanc, she spends as much time as she can with her two perfect children, very tall husband and very short Corgi. They love tacking outdoor adventures. Jo’s favorite indoor activity is baking macarons.   

Regional Manager

Kat Camera

(MO, IL, IN, IA, MI, WI, MN, ND, SD, KS)

Born in raised in the Chicagoland area, Katherine Camera grew up in the restaurant business and became a wine lover at the age of 21. It was the magic grape of Riesling, that turned Katherine into a wine lover, what intrigued her most was all the different appellations and wineries in Germany that made Riesling, she was hooked. Katherine has worked in many facets of the wine business. Her career spans over 30 years, Katherine has worked as a sales rep for local Chicago distributors, where she moved up the ladder to VP of Sales.

Katherine has worked directly for wineries since 2002, and in 2009 she got into the Importing side of the Wine business where she remains today, she has been with Broadbent Selections, Inc. for 11 years. Katherine is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommelier & is also a Knight of the Confravia do Vinho do Porto.

Katherine earned her BA in Marketing & Sales Management at UWM Parkside and studied/worked part-time as a Recording Engineer at Heading West Sound Studio in Schaumberg, IL.

Katherine is a huge music fan and enjoys live music & playing her vinyl albums. Katherine currently resides in Racine, WI, with her 3 dogs.

Regional Sales Manager

Mark Rashap

(TX, LA, OK, AR)

Mark Rashap is a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) and Regional Sales Manager for Broadbent Selections, covering Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Previously, he served as Director of Wine Education for the Wine and Food Foundation of TX in Austin and consulted privately for various distributors, brokers, and restaurant chains. With over 15 years of experience, Mark has worked in practically every sector of the industry, from studying wine business in Argentina to winemaking and brokering wine in Washington State. He entered the wine education field as a corporate educator for a large Texas retailer and gained national experience with the certifying body, The Society of Wine Educators. Continuously writing, giving classes and webinars, and having his finger on the pulse of the international wine scene, he believes that teaching the curious and thirsty public is the most gratifying aspect of the industry. He is also the producer, engineer, and host of the podcast, Another Bottle Down, which has been aired on KOOP 91.7 in Austin, bringing his philosophy and open-minded views to the Austin radio waves.

National Accounts West, Regional Sales Manager

Nicole Holmes

(North CA, AK, OR, ID,WA)

Nicole was born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, and has never been too far from the ocean. After graduation from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo in Business, Nicole wanted to explore more of the world and landed a position as part of a crew on a luxury yacht. Yes — like ‘Below Deck’, but higher end. Nicole worked closely with the Chef and Chief Stew on menu pairings throughout their journeys along the Mediterranean Coast, Caribbean, and the British Islands. Via this experience, Nicole was inspired to work in the wine industry.

After a brief tenure in marketing during the ‘Dot.Com’ boom of early 21st century San Francisco, she landed in the Marketing Department of Southcorp/Fosters/Treasury with the Luxury Australian wine team — Penfolds, Wynn’s, et al., and started her WSET certifications. This evolved into 6+ years working with legendary winemakers such as John Duval, Peter Gago and Sue Hodder.

In 2008, she joined the marketing team of Broadbent Selections in the San Francisco office. She transitioned to a Regional Sales role for the Northwest & Northern California when the office moved to Richmond, Virginia. She has been named ‘Employee of the Year’ twice. What really makes her happiest is being able to travel with her Broadbent Selections team to the various producers around the globe and receiving first person, on-site education. When not talking, thinking and selling wine, Nicole also loves to run through Golden Gate Park or the trails of Lands End, near her home in San Francisco.

Regional Manager Sales

Zach Catania

(New England)

Zach grew up in the hospitality industry on Cape Cod, MA. The son of a chef and a graphic artist – food, wine, and art were a major part of his childhood. Be it at work or family gatherings wine was always being shared and discussed. Sneaking tastes of Burgundy from behind the service bar were defining moments in his young career.

Attending the Massachusetts College of Art and Design started his life in Boston. Earning a BFA in Film and Video, Zach worked as a Key Grip on over 5 independent feature films. In the off season he spent his evenings fostering a love for educating people on new wine and spirits behind several Boston Bars.

In 2009 an opportunity arose to open Wicked Restaurant and Wine Bar in Dedham. First as the Bar Manager then as General Manager, Zach oversaw the entire operation of this 200+ seat Restaurant for seven years. 30 wines by the glass all under preservation system from around the world – it was a incredibly unique program for the area at the time. During these years Zach also opened two other concepts within the group including a Steak House which had over a hundred selections in both Whiskey and Wine.

When he’s not preaching the gospel of Chenin or Riesling, Zach enjoys a good bike ride down the esplanade, catching a show in Fenway, and making the perfect pizza.