WASHINGTON, D.C.— February 21st – The United Sommeliers Foundation (USF), a charitable organization dedicated to providing assistance to wine professionals in critical financial need, is proud to announce the appointment of Jessica Palatka and Alpana Singh, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
“As the USF continues to uphold its mission to support and strengthen the sommelier community, we are excited to bring new leadership to our board to guide our path. I am personally excited for the energy and experience Jessica Palatka and Alpana Singh will be bringing to the board and look forward to our ongoing growth.” said Co-Founder and President Cristie Norman.
Jessica S. Palatka resides on the East Coast and is the Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) for the Department of Commerce. As a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), she is responsible for providing leadership, developing policies, and directing programs in all aspects of human resources and human capital management and administration for all 13 bureaus of the Department of Commerce, covering 55,000 employees located in all 50 states, every U.S. territory, and more than 86 countries. “I am honored to join the Board of Directors for the United Sommeliers Foundation. I see the USF entering a period of growth and look forward to leveraging my past experiences to provide advice as they continue to expand and, most importantly, find innovative ways to support the sommelier community.” said Palatka.
Alpana Singh, based in Chicago, has also been appointed to the United Sommeliers Foundation Board. She has served as the host of Check, Please!, on Chicago’s PBS station. Singh has also established herself as a successful restaurateur, having owned four concepts, most recently her namesake restaurant Alpana. Singh has served on multiple boards and given her time to numerous organizations including bringing the James Beard Awards to Chicago and has served as the Treasurer for Choose Chicago, the Tourism and Convention Board for the City of Chicago. “I’m beyond thrilled and honored to join the United Sommeliers Foundation’s Board of Directors. I have long admired the Foundation’s initiatives to provide a lifeline to our fellow sommeliers, especially during the Covid-19 crisis. The pandemic is slowly entering our rear-view mirrors but there is still much more work to be done and I look forward to joining the Foundation in its efforts to continue making a positive impact on our community.” Stated Singh.
The Foundation to date has awarded over $1 Million to their applicants and is continuing to provide financial aid to wine professionals in emergency situations beyond their control. To apply for aid, donate or learn more please visit www.unitedsommeliersfoundation.org.
About The United Sommeliers Foundation
The United Sommeliers Foundation is a 501(C)(3)charity whose mission is to provide information and immediate financial assistance to Sommeliers experiencing a pause or termination of employment due to circumstances beyond their control. The organization assists sommeliers nationwide and was founded by several of the industry’s leading experts with more than 100 years combined experience and knowledge. The organization’s goal is to positively impact the wine industry and the sommelier community for years to come. Please visit www.unitedsommeliersfoundation.org for more information.
