I have started a new late-life career as a wine and food writer. My first article, "The Master & The Disciple: Four Decades of Excellence at the Hermann Wiemer Vineyard" has just been published by Ithaca Times in their summer guide issue.

Working in one of the fastest growing industries in America, I oversaw day-to-day operations of leading U.S. solar association with 800+ member companies and $11M+ budget with a full-time staff of 35 and total staff of 60. I acted as chief advisor to the CEO on all company matters, including national and state advocacy issues. Directly supervised Finance, Operations, IT, HR Membership, and Events and Education departments and related staff. Additional external duties included appointments to serve as board member and member of Finance Committee for SETS, LLC, a SEIA subsidiary. Worked with SETS CEO on strategic vision.Operations: Engaged real estate broker for new office location; negotiated new lease and executed seamless office move; managed company 401(k) and health insurance plans; oversaw office administration including facility management and IT department.Membership: Organized new department staff structure and recruited new director; prepared five-year strategic plan for department; set quarterly sales goals with commission; designed and implemented membership sales campaigns; introduced participation by entire staff in member marketing efforts.Events & Education: Directed team in planning of all major SEIA events including: quarterly SEIA board meetings, SEIA events at its annual tradeshow such as CEO Summit, educational seminars, divisional and membership meetings, as well as forty online webinars per year and two solar tax and finance seminars.Finance: Created annual organization budgets in accordance with board-approved priorities; provided budget oversight and control for all nine departments; presented monthly reports to board Finance and Executive committees; managed association reserves investment account; revised budgets in-step with revenue forecasts; facilitated annual audits by independent auditor.

Functioned as chief operating officer for renowned public television nightly news program and its parent production company; responsible for oversight of production and budget control with $37 million annual budget and a total staff of 95 with four direct reports; additional areas under purview included IT, facility management, legal/ethics, rights & licensing, ancillary revenue generation, union negotiations, administration and human resources.

Served as general manager for the ninth most-watched PBS station in the U.S. Managed the station’s facilities and operations, the program schedule, production of programs with a staff of forty. Conceived, developed and executive-produced nightly newscast and more than a dozen weekly television programs, including the Emmy-winning In The Mix for PBS. Advised the Taiwanese government on the establishment of their first national public television system.

Co-founded freelance television production company specializing in the performing arts; secured funding and executive-produced numerous programs for PBS and other networks including Speed: Jennifer Muller and the Works and On Tour: New York City Opera.

Responsible for the design, installation and maintenance of the station’s technical facilities. Orchestrated numerous live ground-breaking international satellite performing arts programs on PBS, including the annual From Vienna: a New Year’s Celebration and Good Morning Mr. Orwell. Oversaw staff of 45.