About Us

Our Team

Eric V. Orange

Founder/Developer

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Eric V. Orange has had a diverse and distinguished 20+ year career within the wine industry.

After an enlistment in the Submarine Service of the United States Navy, Eric joined an ex-shipmate who was attending the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. He took a job at Millbrook Vineyards outside of Poughkeepsie and spent almost five years learning to grow grapes and make wine as the Vineyard Supervisor.

Two other wine related positions that he held in New York were Retail/Wholesale Wine Sales at Cascade Mountain Vineyards and Customer Service Manager for the short lived Wine Society of America, a company attempting to sell wine across the country, legally, through the three-tier system.

Eric moved back to his hometown to attend college and took a part time job at a 105 yr old private club which quickly became a full time position as the Bar Manager/Wine Steward. That job led to a position as a Wine Representative for a local Wholesaler, which in turn led to a position as District Manager for Paterno Imports in Colorado.

During five and a half years with Paterno, Eric attained certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers (1st phase) and a Master of Wine Education certification from the International Wine Guild. He is a member of the Society of Wine Educators. He also served on the board of the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF), Denver Chapter.

Leaving Paterno to pursue his desire of combining years of wine experience with the burgeoning Internet, Eric attended several months of computer courses and then developed a website for a multi-state retail liquor chain.

After Eric's wife accepted a promotion and a transfer to Houston, Eric was recruited as Area Manager for WineShopper.com, another company attempting to sell wine across the country through the three-tier system.

Finally, he decided to develop his idea for LocalWineEvents.com

Eric and his family currently live just outside of Philadelphia.

James Gribbons

Director of Product Development

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James Gribbons is a native of Massachusetts who has always been intrigued by the technology field. James graduated from Providence College with a degree in Computer Science and a concentration in Mathematics in 2002.

After graduation, James worked for multiple start-up technology companies, including one that he founded. James started working with Eric in early 2005.

In 2007, James took a full time position with LocalWineEvents.com and became the Director of Product Development. He is responsible for all technical development, strategic direction and maintenance for the site.

James is a beer drinker who is now enjoying the fine world of wine.

Jim B. Morris

Communications Director

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As a kid, Jim loved grape juice. Over the years, his taste matured. Now, as the Communications Director of LocalWineEvents.com, his mission is fermented grape juice. OK, so maybe some things don't change that much.

Jim's background is in journalism. Before joining LocalWineEvents.com, he was a writer, editor and producer in radio (WCBS-AM, CBS News), television (WPVI, CNN) and on the Internet (CNN.com).

Jim grew up in suburban Philadelphia and graduated from Syracuse University, where he rarely drank anything stronger than Grape Tang. In those days, he had little interest in adult beverages. After college, Jim's career took him from Philadelphia to New York City. While living in Manhattan he developed a taste for craft beer. Eventually, his grape appreciation came full circle -- from juice to wine.

Jim and his wife now live in Atlanta, where Jim often runs in the Peachtree (10K) Road Race.

He has more than 10,000 songs on his Mac, including three versions of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine."

Laura Bengford

West Coast Regional Editor

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Laura grew up in Southern California and began her early career in the aerospace industry and during the downturn, shifted to the entertainment industry. As an experienced technology executive in media and entertainment companies (Fox, Warner Bros, New Line Cinema, Sony Pictures, Thomson Reuters), she traveled globally to over 40 countries and was able to develop an extensive wine and food palate.

In 2003, Laura began to research winemaking and joined Cellarmasters L.A. to make wines sourced from California's Central Coast region. Part of a growing cooperative including some of the new Malibu wine appellation winemakers, her wines include Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, Petite Verdot, and Chardonnay.

Laura's passion for wine and technology encouraged her to work with LocalWineEvents.com in the early stages to promote wine education, publicize events, and work with consumers and trade on the West coast.

Laura's other hobbies include an active lifestyle including cycling, skiing, traveling, eating at the latest restaurants, and spending time with her son who is pursuing film directing at Chapman University Dodge College of Media Arts.

Stacey (OJ) Orange

Director of E-Commerce

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Stacey D. Orange, known as "OJ", was born in Oregon and raised in Wichita, Kansas. OJ is the youngest of five, along with two brothers and two sisters, so yes, life could get a little rough at times. After high school, OJ joined the U.S. Navy where he proudly served 22 years on the West Coast, and there he met his lovely bride to be. After retiring from the Navy in 2006, OJ and his family moved to central Pennsylvania and OJ started working with his brother EVO at LocalWineEvents.com.

OJ and his wife (a JROTC instructor at a local high school) are the proud parents of two wonderful boys. His oldest son attends college and serves in the U.S. Army reserves; his youngest son attends middle school.

OJ enjoys spending time with his family as well as riding his motorcycle around the east coast of the United States. He is currently attending college, and is working on his degree in computer networking.

Lee Romano Sequeira

Director of Promotion & Publicity

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Lee Romano Sequeira is a veteran of the publishing industry, with over 20 years in the business, most notably as Director of Promotions & Publicity for a major non-profit organization. Lee has collaborated with a number of authors in the promotion of their books, in addition to extensive work with publicity, rights, social media and web promotions.

An entrepreneur as well, Lee and her husband run Sparkle Plenty Designs, a crystal and rhinestone apparel business specializing in custom logo design. In addition, Lee is the founder of the online women's boutique, GoodtoBeYou.com.

An avid reader and animal advocate, Lee enjoys free time with her two terriers and husband in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia. Favorites include getting together with friends to share a nice Malbec, or a bottle of bubbly over a tasty dinner. Lee is currently working on a humorous memoir.

Randy Cosby

British Columbia Regional Editor

Randy Cosby was born and raised in Ontario, Canada in the heart of what was to later become the Niagara Wine Region. Back then though, the Niagara Peninsula was mainly fruit trees and the only wine people were drinking was Baby Duck and Mateus Rose.

Randy went to community college in Hamilton, Ontario and graduated with a Computer Programming diploma. He worked in the area for a few years, then wanderlust grabbed a hold of him and he moved to Edmonton, then Calgary and finally to Vancouver where he has lived ever since.

Randy became more and more interested in wine as time went along and he has been up and down the Okanagan Valley more than a few times. As well as sampling wines in France and Italy, he has been to South Africa to the heart of the Paarl - Stellenbosch - Franschoek wine areas. He graduated with a WSET Foundation Certificate and has been volunteering with LocalWineEvents.com since 2002. He is currently the LocalWineEvents.com Posting representative for British Columbia (Greater Vancouver, Victoria and the Okanagan Valley). Randy, an avid traveler, also posts events happening in other parts of the world, primarily in South Africa.