founders
Alicia
Towns Franken
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Alicia Towns Franken has spent more than 30 years in the wine industry, building acclaimed wine programs, mentoring professionals, and creating opportunities for others to succeed. Today, she is recognized as one of the nation's leading advocates for expanding opportunity in wine. Throughout her career, she has been guided by a simple belief: talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too.
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As Executive Director of Wine Unify, Alicia leads the organization's mission to welcome, elevate, and amplify underrepresented voices through education, mentorship, professional development, resources, and community. Under her leadership, Wine Unify has awarded hundreds of scholarships and educational opportunities, helping aspiring and established wine professionals earn certifications, build meaningful industry relationships, and advance their careers. She believes education opens doors, mentorship keeps them open, and community gives people the confidence to walk through them.
Alicia is a sought-after speaker, educator, and mentor who explores the intersection of wine, culture, agriculture, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. Her work encourages the industry to think beyond the glass and consider who has the opportunity to participate, lead, and thrive.
Her leadership has been recognized nationally. She was named a Wine Enthusiast Future 40 TasteMaker in 2023, a Food & Wine Game Changer in 2025 for her leadership at the intersection of wine, culture, and social impact, and received the Food & Wine Mentor Award in 2026 in recognition of her commitment to cultivating talent and creating lasting pathways into the profession.
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As a personal extension of her work with Wine Unify, she cofounded Towns Wine Co, with her husband. Towns Wine Co. is a nonprofit négociant that aims to amplify underrepresented voices in the wine industry. They partner with female winemakers of color to amplify their stories and showcase their talent and regions.
Because investing in people is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to building a stronger, more innovative, and more resilient wine industry.
Michael Franken
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Michael is a distinguished biotech executive with a passion for driving innovation and transformative advancements in the field of biotechnology. Trained in medicine and with a strong track record of business success, he has been at the forefront of pioneering research and development initiatives that have shaped the future of healthcare and biomedicine.
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Michael has held key leadership positions in prominent biotech companies, spearheading groundbreaking projects and strategic collaborations that have accelerated the discovery and delivery of life-changing therapies. His dedication to scientific excellence and patient-centricity is the driving force behind shaping the future of medicine and bringing hope to patients around the world.
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Beyond his professional accomplishments, Michael remains deeply committed to fostering a collaborative ecosystem, nurturing emerging talent, and promoting diversity in biotechnology and works to inspire a new generation of scientists and entrepreneurs to make a positive impact on human health and well-being.