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About: The VinNOW Team

Expertise

VinNOW is comprised of professionals with experience in both computer technology and wine industries. Our expert team is intimately familiar with a winery’s needs and has the technical knowledge to offer and support a specialized integrated system for winery management. Created by winery owners who are software developers with a multitude of hands on experience, VinNOW offers a personalized and specialized approach that is dedicated to and in touch with the business needs of a winery.

Team Leadership

Ted Starr - CEO
Attended his first computer class in 1975 where he discovered his appreciation of computers.  In the early 1980’s he started working full time as a systems analyst and computer programmer for companies such as Pacific Southwest Airlines, Price Club, Integrated Health Services, Reynolds & Reynolds (where he met Vern), CarePartners and Callaway Golf.  Ted has managed multiple programmers in the development of extensive business systems.  Ted met Deanna in 1989 when he was Director of Information Services and she was Director of Nursing.  They teamed up in a multi-million dollar healthcare computer ground floor up design and programming project.   In 1993, Ted created Update Software located in Southern California.  

He developed his wine tastes in the late 70’s while working in a specialty wine store in Coronado, California.   As avid wine enthusiasts, Ted and Deanna amassed a large personal wine collection, while belonging to over twenty wine clubs.   At the request of a Sonoma winery, Update Software started development of the VinNOW winery software package in 1999.  In 2001, Ted and Deanna purchased Milano Family Winery in Hopland, California.  At that time, Ted directed Update Software to intensify their focus on the wine software business and moved their office to the Winery in Hopland.

Deanna Starr - CFO
As a registered nurse and home winemaker, Deanna decided to change her career and become a full time winemaker.  Along with being Milano Winery’s winemaker, Deanna brings her extensive computer experience to VinNOW clients.  Deanna worked in management positions in multi-specialty medical groups, hospital materials management and home health services.  She was in charge of converting a 425 bed hospital’s manual purchasing system to an automated purchasing and inventory system in 1986.  Deanna was the Clinical Consultant for the development of a patient database, medical record and remote 24 hour telephonic monitoring system for a home health agency and pharmacy covering patients throughout California.  She furthered her computer experience by participating in the selection of and hands-on implementation of a patient documentation and billing system for a ten-office home health agency located in California and Ohio. 

At Milano Winery, as winemaker, she is responsible for all production, inventory, purchasing and compliance tasks as well as overseeing the Tasting Room, Wine Club operations and accounting.

V​ern S​yverson - Director of Product Development
Joined Update Software in 2000.  He attended his first computer class in 1968 using a CDC mainframe computer at the University of Minnesota.  He was drafted out of college to serve in the US Army during the Vietnam War.  After military service and a few years of working in the construction trades, he returned to college and obtained his Bachelors degree in Computer Science in 1981.  In the early 1980’s he worked as an independent computer consultant on some of the very first PCs (e.g. Tandy TRS-80, Osborne1, DEC PDP11, and the original IBM PC).  In 1983, he joined National Medical Computer Services as a software engineer, developing software for radiology and anesthesiology physician practice management systems.  These projects covered billing and insurance claims processing, automated medical records, and radiology image management using mainframe, mini, and PC computers including Data General, ATT System V, IBM PC AT, IBM 360-390, IBM Systems 34-36-38, and IBM AS/400.  In the 1990’s, Vern worked for Reynolds & Reynolds Company on a project management team responsible for the development of a new medical practice management system using the combined development staff from five offices located across the country from San Diego to Ohio, and off-shore in India.  In 1997, Vern became the Vice President of Software Development for Radiology Information Systems at Infocure Corporation managing software programming development in six satellite offices scattered across the country from San Diego to Florida. 

After spending a couple of years constantly traveling from one coast to the other managing projects for a combined staff of more than 60, Vern decided to move  on and use his development experience in a more sane, but still challenging environment at Update Software.

Barbara Starr-VP Operations
Barbara comes to us with a long history in Call Center Management, Training, Computer Systems and Customer Service from her background in Law Enforcement and her certificate in computer technology in 1988.  A couple of years ago, after many years of visiting wine county, for fun and “working vacations” during harvest,  she left Law Enforcement behind to open a Mobile Bottling Business which she owned and operated for two years.  During this time she bottled for many wineries and gained an understanding for the winery business and the diversity of winery operations.  Unfortunately, her business was too young to withstand the downturn in the economy and she chose to sell the line which was our gain. 

She currently is putting her skills and experience to work as the VP of Operations for both VinNOW and Milano Winery and wears many hats.  Depending on the time of day or year, when not handling VinNOW Operations, you could find her on the crush pad, filling in at the tasting room, bottling or working events.  Her management and analytical skills combined with her experience in winery operations make her a valuable asset to our team. 

Adam Savin – VinNOW National Sales Manager
Adam joined VinNOW in Fall 2009 to manage national sales.  Bringing more than 10 years industry experience, Adam has worked in many aspects of the wine business including farming, production, importation, restaurant, retail, and wholesale.

After receiving an undergraduate degree in Spanish and History from Santa Clara University and a postgraduate degree in History from University of Arizona, Adam left teaching and coaching to enter the wine industry.  Having a strong appreciation for his Northern California roots, Adam enjoys “representing a local product and helping wineries be more successful”.  Prior to VinNOW Adam worked in sales for Iron Horse Vineyards, owned and operated Savin Wine Merchant, a wine import company, directed national sales for Roshambo Winery, and managed sales for Magnanimus Wine Group.

Adam is especially enthusiastic about VinNOW and its industry progressive product and service.  Understanding the needs and demands of wineries, he enjoys providing solutions to make companies more efficient and effective.  When not working, Adam spends time with his family and grows olives and grapes at Clever Ranch, his family’s property in Hopland, CA.