Katelyn Duarte is the Human Resources Director at Hess Persson Estates, where she leads people strategy for this family-owned wine company. She has built an HR function that is practical and accessible to every employee across vineyard, production, hospitality and corporate teams.

Katelyn has nearly two decades of experience in the wine and beverage industry, the last decade in human resources. She has held roles at global corporations and family-owned producers, including AB InBev, Regusci Vineyard Management and Treasury Wine Estates. Along the way, she has supported organizations through acquisitions, restructuring and shifting market conditions. That range gives her a strategic view of the industry’s workforce challenges, from seasonal and agricultural labor to California’s complex regulatory environment. A certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Katelyn champions engagement initiatives that connect employee groups and sustain morale and trust.