[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 95 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING SHANNON GUNIER OF LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. 
Shannon Gunier, who is retiring after 20 years of service to the Lake 
County Winegrape Commission.
  Shannon Grunier and her husband, Rick Gunier, moved from Southern 
California to Lake County in 1991, where she began as the Executive 
Director of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. Without any prior 
experience in grapegrowing or winemaking, her strong marketing 
background and her resolve to learn about wine helped her become one of 
the most successful promoters of the Lake County Winegrape region. Mrs. 
Gunier has cultivated the image of Lake County as a producer of premium 
quality wines.
  In the time since Mrs. Gunier began as Executive Director, the Lake 
County Winegrape Commission has spent over three million dollars in 
marketing Lake County wines. In her role with the Commission, Mrs. 
Gunier helped Lake County's wineries expand from three in her first 
year to 40 and growing today. Today the wine industry employs over 900 
people in Lake County and pays over $26 million dollars in annual 
wages.
  Though Mrs. Gunier moved on from the Commission in February 2013, she 
is still active in promoting the Lake County winegrape growing region. 
She and her husband co-own North Coast Winegrape Brokers, a winegrape 
broker sales and marketing firm which services Lake County's 
independent growers. Additionally, in 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Gunier worked 
on the first Lake County Revitalization Grant.
  Mrs. Gunier has received several awards for her leadership and 
service in the region, including an award of merit from the U.S. Forest 
Service, a certificate of appreciation from the Lake County Board of 
Supervisors, a Stars of Lake County award, a Kelseyville Business 
Association certificate of appreciation, and a Certificate of Special 
Congressional Recognition. In addition to her work with winegrapes, 
Mrs. Gunier has also served as a teacher at Yuba Community College, a 
consultant for the Small Business Center, and an author of a 
forthcoming book: You're Fired, I Quit--The Art of Being Married and 
Working Together.
  Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Gunier has a long and distinguished career of 
service to Lake County, most notably to the Lake County Winegrape 
Commission. It is therefore appropriate that we acknowledge Mrs. Gunier 
today and wish her well in her future endeavors.

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