Natalie Cilurzo and her husband, Vinnie, are co-owners of Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, Calif. While Vinnie pursued his passion in craft beer, Natalie put herself through college earning a bachelor’s degree in business from Sonoma State University. She also enjoyed a diverse career in the wine industry before making the leap to beer. During that time she honed many skills and interests, from picking grapes and dragging hoses to distributor relations and sales analysis. In 2003, she and Vinnie were given the opportunity to acquire Russian River Brewing Company from Korbel Winery. They wrote a business plan, convinced friends and family to invest, and opened their brewpub in downtown Santa Rosa the following year. Natalie oversees all things related to the pub, finances, human resources, payroll, marketing, and sales/distribution. She is currently serving as president on the board of directors for the California Craft Brewers Association.