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Meet our Team

DEB MICHELSON – MARKETING MANAGER AND PARTNER

DEB MICHELSON – MARKETING MANAGER AND PARTNER

Deb is a Portland native but her life’s journey took her far away from the Pacific Northwest. While at Cornell Law School she took the Windows of the World wine class through the university’s famed hotel school. That class sparked Deb’s interest in both the wine and the hospitality industries.

When she returned to her roots, Deb began working on marketing and events for Hawkins Cellars and joined Thane in scheming to build a winery in the Gorge. Together, they planted Pinot Noir on the Underwood Mountain estate, and opened Hawkins Cellars’ Gorge tasting room.

KARI LOCEY – TASTING ROOM ASSOCIATE

KARI LOCEY – TASTING ROOM ASSOCIATE

Kari joined Hawkins Cellars in 2021 helping in the tasting room and fell in love with the people and wine.  As of 2022 she is an official tasting room associate. She has worked in retail for over 30 years and was previously at G.I.Joe’s and Winco Foods in Portland. She is excited to continue learning about the wine industry and is eager to soak in as much as she can with the enjoyment of wine.
 
When Kari is not working, she enjoys almost everything outdoors: hiking, biking, camping, and water! She truly enjoys spending as much time as she can get with her two daughters, Monique and Kionna, and her friends. She also enjoys spending quiet time reading and cleaning her house.

CASANDRA WAGNER – WINE CLUB MANAGER & TASTING ROOM ASSOCIATE

Since 2019, Casandra has been a member of the team at Hawkins Cellars. With over a decade of experience in the wine industry and a WSET Level 2 certification, she brings both expertise and genuine passion to her work, creating meaningful and memorable wine experiences for guests. Outside of the winery, she enjoys life on a small farm with her husband, their energetic 4 yr old son, and a lively mix of animals including a dog, a cat, and a flock of chickens.
 
When she’s not tending to family or farm life, she can often be found outdoor snowboarding in the winter and hiking, camping, or paddle boarding in the summer months. Her love of wine, family, and adventure shines through in everything she does.

MATT RANKIN -TASTING ROOM ASSOCIATE

Matt has been a Gorge resident since 2003 and joined our team in the tasting room in 2026. He has his WSET Level 1 wine certification and continues to learn about wine every day with Hawkins. Matt prides himself on providing our guests with the highest levels of hospitality and ensuring everyone has a great time when visiting our tasting room.
 
When he’s not working, Matt likes to spend time with his wife, Dawn, and visit his daughter, Abby, in Chicago. Matt and Dawn perform in local theater and will drop anything to see a good show. 

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