Shortly after introduction, I am commonly asked, “are you an engineer? architect? contractor?" to which I often respond, “none of the above, I am a mechanic with an economics degree”.
At an early age, I began working in my father’s land surveying business where I would spend my weekends and summer months running surveying crews throughout the farmlands of Yolo, Sutter, and Colusa counties. Once licensed to drive, I began working for R.C. Collet Inc. A local general engineering firm for which I would spend the next ten years learning heavy equipment operations and civil construction. I left R.C. Collet in 1989 to attend California State University, Chico where I obtained a B.S. in Financial Management and a B.A. in Economics. Upon graduating CSU Chico in 1993, I accepted a managerial position with Tenco Tractor, a Caterpillar dealership in Pleasant Grove, CA.
The arc of my career took a substantial turn in March 1996 as I was offered the opportunity to work for E&J Gallo Winery in Healdsburg, CA as their Heavy Equipment Manager. From that time onward, in an endless string of opportunities and increasing responsibilities, I worked directly with Gallo family members overseeing the development of their marquis vineyard and winery properties throughout Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, and Santa Barbara counties. For over twenty-three years, I had the honor of leading the team that would go on to build the “foundation” for what is currently the Gallo Wine Family’s Premium Business Unit. Fittingly, my final project with the Gallo Family was the renovation of their historic Louis M. Martini Winery in Napa County, California. Originally built in 1933, the Martini Winery reopened in the spring of 2019 and stands today as an icon and tribute to the founding families and early pioneers of the California wine industry.
With a broad base of experience and an extensive network of extremely talented professionals within the land development and construction industry, I formed Chuck Conner Consulting, Inc. in September 2019 such that I may offer land use services to property owners throughout Napa and Sonoma Counties. No matter the scale and scope; if your interests are in agriculture, hospitality, residential, or private land development, our team can help advance your land use objectives.
