Donna Rene Johnston, Wine-Texas Friendly

Donna Rene Johnston has been working in the Texas wine industry since 2010. She currently runs the Facebook Group, Wine-Texas Friendly!, an informational group seeking to promote Texas wines, winery events, and consumer participation in a friendly atmosphere.

 Her professional history includes over 18 years in Texas state government- including as a tour guide at the Texas Capitol and Governor's Mansion and a summer internship with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  She is a former small business owner, and has also worked in the nonprofit sector.  She is a certified Adult Trainer through GSUSA, and has completed Mediation Training through the Austin Dispute Resolution Center. In 2011, she was awarded the "Up and At Em" Award by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in recognition of her positive attitude, 'can do' spirit and her willingness to focus on team outcomes. 

In 2013, she was the first Texan to earn a Tasting Room Management Certificate from the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University.  Recently, she became a Level I Certified Wine Sommelier through the International Wine Guild.  She has presented classes for tasting room staff across Texas, developed tasting programs and a fundraising wine dinner for the Symphony League of Wichita Falls, and The Bridle Gate Wine Society of Bandera.  She has spoken to the Texas Hill Country Wineries Tasting Managers Luncheon and the Hill Country Symposium.  Her classes are positive, upbeat, and focus on the needs of each student.