SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Because they’ve outgrown what organization President Bruce Morgenstern called the “mom-and-pop” stage, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Assoc. (IGGVA) has named its first full-time executive director.

Jennifer Montgomery comes to the IGGVA from Omaha, where she served two years as the first full-time executive director of the Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Assoc.

“It’s fledgling industry in Nebraska,” she said. “It’s smaller and newer than in Illinois.”

Before working in Nebraska, she worked for 10 years at WineAmerica, the national trade association of American wineries, in Washington, D.C. She worked as a lobbyist on issues related to agriculture, research, immigration, labor and taxes, among others.

Morgenstern said Montgomery was one of 60 candidates for the position. “Any one of them would have been a great choice,” he said. “But Jennifer’s experience is beyond compare, and she has hit the ground running. I’m excited for her and I’m excited for us as an industry.”

One of the owners of Pheasant Hollow Winery in Woodington, Morgenstern said he has served on the board of the IGGVA for more than 10 years and has watched the industry grow from seven wineries statewide to more than 100.

“We’re just hitting our stride,” he said. “Hiring our first full-time director is a pivotal point for us. We’re moving into a new era with a new governor and, most likely, new agency directors, and Jennifer is great at building relationships.”

“The state industry has done a good job of figuring out what grapes grow well in Illinois, and that was big hurdle,” Montgomery added. “I also think there’s a focus on quality. I definitely think the pieces are coming together for the state to make great strides forward.”

Montgomery said her first order of business, as well as a long-term focal point, is making sure people are aware there is a wine industry in Illinois.

“It’s an education process; a lot of people don’t realize we have a thriving industry,” she said.

“I want to make sure people understand that, not just in Illinois, but nationally, as well.”

To increase public awareness, she said the focus will be on changes in marketing presence.

Among other things, she said the association needs to broaden its festival presence statewide. “We just have to continually get out there.”

Established in 1992, the IGGVA is dedicated to developing the viticulture and enology interests of Illinois through information exchange and cooperation among state grape growers and vintners.