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About Us
Our Background
Like so many others, we are wine fans. We are fans who not only enjoy wine, but the activities, the people and most importantly the happy combination of both people and activities which create fun experiences involving wine.
Whether it is a big wine event with tons of people and wines to taste, a unique experience with special food and/or atmosphere, or simply an evening on the porch with a bottle and a glass as one watches the world go by - we want to help consumers and the industry expand the fun, joy and experiences of wine.
We like to say "there are no wine boundaries, just wine opportunities." Silvadore helps to develop these opportunities through information, education, products, and ideas that help people and/or businesses expand and appreciate wine.
Silvadore's mission is: “We don't make the wine, we make the wine experience better”. If we focus on this for our customers every day, Silvadore will continue to be a good partner for consumers and the wine industry.
Our Team
Gary Gottfried
I am the "old man" of the team, but I like to believe myself to be “young at heart” with the benefit of business experiences of “kicking the tires” in the work world several different times and many different ways. I am the guy with the food and wine background. I have been extremely fortunate to have some wonderful industry friendships and relationships thanks to my past experience, my customers and associates as well as through my industry involvements. As a professional member of the Society of Wine Educators and currently as Chair of the Preparedness and Education Industry Working Group for the Specialty Food Association, I have learned so much from so many, while being able to stay on top of what is happening in the food and wine world.
While having been welcomed by so many folks, the kindness of people has been both a business and personal emotional joy. I feel my personal and professional growth continues even as the "old man". The absolute best part of the industry is, regardless of whatever business ever gets done, it is simply a great group of people/industry to be associated with and around.
On the personal side, my wife and I are originally from the Washington D.C. area (inside the Beltway in Silver Spring, MD). Graduated from the University of Vermont and started my career in Cleveland with Oscar Mayer and Co... Subsequently lived in Detroit, San Francisco, Cleveland, Dallas, and finally firmly entrenched for all the "right" reasons back in Cleveland. Have had some industry background in healthcare, manufacturing and professional sports (Cleveland Browns .. people are usually curious), which has given me an extremely broad business perspective and contacts that have been invaluable to me over my career.
Our kids are grown and "getting" launched, however, still our "kids" no matter what. My most immediate responsibility being walking the dog around the block, keeping my wife Deb happy, and giving back where possible to our community. Fortunately, I have the flexibility to pour myself into Silvadore.
Jim Bartlett
I was bit by the entrepreneurial bug back in 2004. Most of my small business career has been in Sports and Outdoors, helping athletes and families keep themselves and their kids safe while skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and BMX racing. Before becoming entrepreneurial, my work background included the U.S. Navy, Staples The Office Superstore, and Dean&Deluca.
With Silvadore, I'm super excited to bring my entrepreneurial, operational, and digital marketing perspective to the wine preservation and wine essentials space. My role is making sure our consumer and B2B customers have an outstanding experience with Silvadore. Our Ecommerce sales channels, Digital Marketing, Customer Service, Inventory, Fulfillment, and Accounting - all the nuts and bolts stuff required to have a well run business.
At home, I'm the father of a blended family of four kids (mine) plus one (hers). Three are in college, one is in high school, and one is middle school. Add our two rescue dogs - Izzy and Duncan - and lot's of sports and small town fun, and it's a full life.
My professional experience begins at the U.S. Naval Academy. After commissioning, I spent five years hunting submarines in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. After earning a graduate degree at The University of Chicago, I went to work for Staples The Office Superstore managing acquisition integrations to running a region of fulfillment centers. I joined the high end food cataloger Dean&Deluca, running all catalog operations for the company. From there, I ran the operations of a large industrial distributor before finally striking out on my own in 2004.
From all of these different experiences, I've learned a great deal about customer expectations (both consumers and business customers), treating people everywhere with respect, making tough decisions, communicating things well, and simply getting sh$# done correctly and on time.
On the other hand....my wine preferences are simple. I love big Cabernets and classic Chiantis. Hey, I'm half Italian, you know. My experience drinking wine changed dramatically when Gary introduced me to wine preservation. Gary showed me how I can enjoy a really nice glass of wine from a good bottle, preserve it, and then enjoy an equally nice glass from the same bottle days or weeks later. I quickly learned I can seriously upgrade the quality of the wine I drink at home, knowing I'll get four awesome glasses whenever I want.
Gary had me at "Hello, here's how to preserve your wine".