The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING KARISSA KRUSE AS THE 2020 WOMAN OF THE YEAR
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HON. MIKE THOMPSON
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, March 26, 2021
Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Karissa Kruse, whom I have named the 2020 Woman of the Year in Sonoma County, California. Woman of the Year recognizes women who have made important contributions to California's 5th Congressional District in Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service.
Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ms. Kruse grew up surrounded by a loving and supportive family. A University of Pennsylvania alumna, she graduated with a BS in Economics and an MBA in Marketing from the prestigious Wharton School of Business. In pursuit of a warmer climate, she came to Sonoma County shortly after graduating, starting Argot Wines and Karma, an angel investment firm.
Ms. Kruse began her career with the Sonoma County Winegrowers in 2012 as the Director of Marketing before being named President in 2013. The following year, she launched an initiative charting a 5-year path to 100 percent sustainability, an ambitious target that reflects both her decisiveness as a leader and her passion for our environment and farming families. By September of 2019, nearly all of Sonoma County's vineyards had been certified sustainable, making it the most ecologically friendly wine region in the world. Ms. Kruse continued to build upon the organization's environmental leadership, establishing an exclusive partnership with the California Land Stewardship Institute to launch a Climate Adaptation Certification, the first of its kind for agriculture.
Her tenure as President has also coincided with the recent wildfires that have challenged the resilience of the wine community. Ms. Kruse has been instrumental in guiding our agricultural communities through these tumultuous times, re-establishing the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation in 2016 to improve the lives of agricultural workers and their families. Over the past two years, the Foundation has provided over $1 million for wildfire recovery, housing support, and workforce development. These funds have been crucial in supporting the stability of the wine industry, which in turn has been a lynchpin in rebuilding our communities. Moreover, Ms. Kruse is thrilled to have recently married Steve Dutton, a 5th generation Sonoma County farmer, on January 1, 2021. She is honored to be a member of the Dutton family along with Steve and her new stepchildren, Jake and Jordan.
Madam Speaker, Ms. Karissa L. Kruse exemplifies the kind of business leadership that fosters vibrant, cohesive, and prosperous communities. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today as Sonoma County's 2020 Woman of the Year.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 57
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