Lou has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Indiana University. He spent 25 years in corporate finance with Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Avery Dennison.  

In 1998, his first career venture outside the big corporate world was as Chief Financial Officer for the largest distributor of charitable gaming and bingo products, equipment, and services in the U.S. 

Lou developed an interest in the wine industry in the late 1990s with the purchase of Stover Oaks Winery, located in the Sierra Foothills of California.

One year later, Lou became General Manager and CFO of Frank Johnson Vineyards and Roshambo Winery in Sonoma County and held this position for four years while owning Stover Oaks. In 2009, he became Controller & CFO for Hall Wines in Napa County and worked there through the end of 2015 when he semi-retired, continuing to maintain the Stover Oaks brand.  

From 2019 through 2021 his focus shifted to financial & business consulting as an Area CFO for Sharp CFO and Vend Advisors providing fractional and interim advisory services for small-to-medium sized for-profit and non-profit organizations. 

Lou is also involved with many non-profit organizations participating in multiple community, college, and corporate fundraising drives including the United Way Board of Review (Ohio) and the Napa Valley College Foundation Board (California). He is currently V.P. & Treasurer for the Association of African American Vintners, a non-profit trade association composed of wineries, vintners, and growers, as well as professional and industry members.

Get in touch with Lou: Lou@LegacyBarrelServices.com  

barrels barrel inventory barrel management barrel leasing used barrels