(May 11; Sebastopol, CA) – Anisya Fritz, proprietor of Lynmar Estate in the Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, will be the speaker at Loyola University Maryland’s Commencement ceremony on May 14, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the M&T Bank Stadium (1101 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD 21230). As an accomplished alumna, the university will also present Anisya with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the commencement ceremony. For those unable to attend, the commencement will also be aired live online. For more information, visit www.loyola.edu/join-us/
A widely respected and innovative vintner who leads the consumer experience at Lynmar Estate, the Russian River Valley winery she owns with her husband, Lynn Fritz, Anisya has been instrumental in leading the winery’s transition away from the wholesale paradigm in favor of becoming a consumer-first winery. Her systematic approach to creating processes, assembling a vibrant team, and creating multi-sensory hospitality experiences for guests has made Lynmar
Estate a sought-after destination where over 98 percent of the wines are sold directly to consumers.
“My academic studies at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore provided me with a values-based education and a desire to learn, which has been the underpinning of my business endeavors and remains a common thread throughout every aspect of my life,” says Anisya. “I believe students will come away from their time at Loyola University with a foundation that transcends their career, and incorporates how they view the world, ways to serve their community, and the values they hope to embody”.
Anisya moved to the United States from her home in India at the age of 17 to attend college at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in just three years. Anisya’s experience and contributions to academia continued upon graduating from Loyola University Maryland, when she transitioned directly into the PhD program at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business and went on to become a business school professor by the time she was 25, serving on faculty at Florida International University and the Stockholm School of Economics. Her work has been published in top tier publications, including Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal and more.
Anisya continues to teach Wine Business courses at nearby Sonoma State University, and mentor women within the industry. “Over the past decade, Dr. Fritz has created an alliance of students and entrepreneurs of all ages, who come together to share ideas and offer support and mentorship,” says Ray Johnson, executive director of the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. “She is keenly aware that education doesn’t just end at commencement. To make the most out of an education, it is important to take the lessons learned and continue to sharpen the saw throughout life.”
Former student Elise Nerlove of Napa Valley’s Elkhorn Peak Cellars credits Dr. Anisya Fritz with providing her with the strategic foundation to define her business and its future. “Today, I enjoy a fulfilling career and run a profitable micro-winery that is aligned with the business plan I built under the direction of Anisya Fritz,” says Elise. “Dr. Fritz’s influence also led me to pursue the Micro-Winery Ordinance, which passed March 2022 in Napa County. This is a big change in the local wine laws, which will provide opportunities to Napa Valley’s smallest wine businesses which previously didn’t exist.”
In addition to her academic career, Anisya also has a successful background as an entrepreneur, business strategist and humanitarian. In 2000, Anisya and her husband Lynn co-founded the global, not-for-profit Fritz Institute to bring supply chain best practices from the commercial sector to humanitarian relief using academic tools and research to bridge the two. They also co-founded LynnCo Supply Chain Solutions to explore further applications of technology in the field of logistics.
For more information about Lynmar Estate, please visit www.lynmarestate.com
About Lynmar Estate
Located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, Lynmar Estate is a preeminent producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Resident proprietors Lynn and Anisya Fritz are intimately woven into daily operations, sharing overarching values of sustainability, world-class winemaking, locally sourced food, and community. Always more than the sum of its parts, Lynmar Estate is comprised of four touchstone vineyard parcels in the Russian River Valley, beginning with Quail Hill Vineyard established by the family in 1980.
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