Sales Management
Ted Simpkins
Executive Vice President, Corporate
In his role as Executive Vice President, Corporate, Ted is responsible for development of new business, creation of long and short term strategic initiatives, and enhancement of supplier relations. Ted has had a long and distinguished career in the wine and spirits industry, bringing over 3 decades of sales and management experience. Ted spent 39 years with another major wholesaler, 27 of them in California, with his most recent role as Executive VP Managing Director. In addition to his distributor experience, Ted is also founder of Lancaster Estate located in California’s Alexander Valley.
Office Location: Tustin
Eric Dopkins
President, California
As President of Young’s California, Eric is responsible for all aspects of the Chain and General Market divisions. Eric is also responsible for Trade Development, Business Development, National Accounts and California Operations. Charged with delivering best in class performance and leading the organization in its evolution as a preeminent wine & spirits distributor, each function has evolved in 2011 and support our mission of being “Best in the West”,
Eric joined Young’s Market Company in May of 2010. Eric has over 20 years of spirit industry experience, most recently with Pernod Ricard, USA where he was Vice President and General Sales Manager of the Western US. Prior to Pernod Ricard, he held various sales and channel management roles with Diageo North America, prior to departing in 2007.
Office Location: Tustin
Eric Lake
Senior Vice President National Accounts On-Premise
Eric comes to YMCO with a successful 18 year career in the wine and spirits industry. He began his career working for the former Paddington Corporation as the Central Region National Accounts Manager. After eight years with Paddington / DIAGEO, Eric joined Southcorp Wines (Fosters) as Vice President National Accounts – On Premise. In 2002, he joined Nolet Spirits USA as Vice President ONP National Accounts, and most recently was the Division Vice President – Southern Region / ONP National Accounts.
Office Location: Tustin
Matt Hagel
Vice President National Stratgic Retail
Coming Soon
Office Location: Union City
Geoff Labitzke
Vice President of Fine Wine
As Corporate Vice President of Fine Wine, Geoff works closely with the Company’s network of sales management in every market. He is an industry connoisseur of 18 years with a wealth of experience across all three tiers of the beverage alcohol business. Since joining Young’s Market Company in 2000, he has restructured the Company’s direct Bordeaux business, grown overall import volume within the Estates Group and mentored numerous Company employees through the Certification of Wine Specialist program.
Geoff is one of the elite 24 American Masters of Wine.
Office Location: San Francisco
Ted Galustian
Vice President Safeway Corporate
Ted has worked in the liquor industry for over seventeen years. His experiences, prior to YMCo, include working grocery retail (during college), Sales Rep at Heublein Wines, and Chain Headquarter Manager at Pyramid Brewing. He has been with YMCo since the year 2000, where he has ascended up the ranks and currently holds the position of Vice President. He is the main point of contact, for Safeway Corporate, for all states YMCo does business: California, Hawaii, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. Ted earned his Bachelor degree from San Jose State in International Business.
Office Location: Union City
