Team
Alana Mignano
Co-Owner, General Manager. Full-time cat herder. “Mom Alana” to the Happiness Engineers.
Alana grew up on Bainbridge and went to the Art Institute of Seattle where she learned to bake all the things. She also has a BS in Business with an accounting focus. When she's not in charge, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, reading, cooking, traveling, and discovering new things with her son, Alexander. If you happen to spot him in the tasting room, feel free to strike up a conversation about basketball, and he'll be your buddy in no time. Don’t ask Alana to pick a favorite Eleven wine; it changes with her mood, the seasons, what she ate for lunch, her outfit, or what jokes were told in the tasting room that day.
Armathia Bolles
Co-Owner, Winemaker. Making the Snuggie look good since 2009.
Armathia graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Business Animal Science - pre-vet. Her passion for animals led her to become a loving dog mom to Charlie, Lucy, and Tannin (the wine dog), while also managing a group of winemakers who she affectionately calls "herding cats." Armathia fell in love with the chemistry and art that goes into winemaking, but she excels at quality control (umm…tasting the wine).
Ashley Dunlap
Co-Owner, Tasting Room & Events Manager. Coffee scholar. Band groupie.
Ashley is a Kitsap County native who's passionate about photography (she earned a degree in Commercial Photography from the Art Institute of Seattle) and early mornings when the world is still asleep and the only sounds are the birds chirping and the coffee brewing. And while she may not have the greenest thumb, she is determined to become a gardening pro! You can usually find her snuggled up with her husband Jaymes (the musician - swoon) watching their favorite tv shows or cheering him on with friends at his local gigs. Ashley is thoroughly enjoying this chapter of life learning about the wonderful world of wine and making the most of life’s moments with a glass of Malbec in hand.
Stephanie Bell
Wine Club & Marketing Manager. In search of sleep, sanity, & unicorns. Dog mom.
Stephanie moved to the Pacific Northwest from the wilds of South Carolina, where she did something very, very corporate. She loves it here and has gotten used to the raincoats and waterproof shoes. These days, in addition to making the Eleven wine club the most fun wine club around & designing this website, you can find Stephanie petting all the dogs, drinking Chai tea, hiking and watching Hallmark Christmas movies (who cares if it’s July!).
Dane Iussig
Winemaker. Mycophile. Globetrotter. Secretly a wizard.
Dane's great-grandfather brought winemaking skills from Northern Italy to the US in the early 1900s. Dane became interested in winemaking as a teenager after hearing stories from my father and grandfather about the family's old winemaking press and equipment. After completing his Enology and Viticulture degree, he worked harvests in Chile and Australia and gained experience in winemaking and grape growing at wineries and vineyards throughout Washington, including Corliss, Cardaretta, Seven Hills, and Milbrandt. What are Dane's future plans? - building an estate winery and vineyards on his family's home in Northeastern Washington. Maybe we can get free tastings?
Jill Pentzer
Tasting Room & Events Manager. Bringing back the 80s with neon and cassette tape earrings.
Born and raised in Montana, Jill naturally loves the outdoors but is terrified of bees. Any and all buzzing, really. (So the best time to be outside is in the snow - no bees!) Jill has a deep love of learning and has pursued numerous passions starting with earning her B.S. in Business from Montana State University (Go Cats!) and her Diploma in Residential Design from the Art Institute of Seattle. Her current passion besides being a wife, and a mom of furry, feathery, and human kids, is learning all things wine. Isn’t that un-bee-lievable!
Forrest Sherman
Wholesale & Happiness Engineer. Will go into survival mode if tickled.
Forrest's roots run deep in the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest, and he has always cherished his connection with nature. While studying Conservation Biology at the University of Idaho, Forrest discovered his passion for winemaking, and it has since become a central focus in his life. He relishes the opportunity to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors to the tasting room, and he takes pride in working alongside the winemaking team. Forrest has taken on the exciting challenge of wholesale sales, further expanding his expertise in the wine industry.
Matt Albee
Founder. Scientist. Chef. Bike racing fanatic. All my puns are intentional.
It may seem unlikely, but winemaking brings aspects of all of these things together. Making great wine requires careful study, meticulous preparation, and long hours of hard work. Matt's deep experience in the lab, the kitchen, and on the road prepared him well for the day that he first wandered into the cellar, and emerged changed. Winemaking encompasses all that is important in life: respect for the earth, hard work and careful study, sharing experiences with friends and family.
Brooke Hollis
Happiness Engineer. Coffee-Drinker, Lego Master, Recent cat lover.
Brooke is a multi-talented recent arrival on Bainbridge. Armed with a degree in Computational Data Science & Chinese Language from Penn State (We Are!), Brooke has had a string of interesting jobs since moving to Bainbridge. She's been a barista, a lifeguard, and a data engineer, to name a few. But her current role as a Happiness Engineer is undoubtedly the best one yet! When she's not busy making people happy, Brooke loves to travel and explore the Pacific Northwest. With her adventurous spirit, who knows where she'll head next?
Connor Ehlers
Happiness Engineer. I wish I knew when my pizza would arrive.
Connor is a Southern Oregon native who ventured to Washington to pursue his Bachelor's degree in Marketing. When he's not hitting the books, he indulges in his hobbies, including photography, pop-punk music, and all things tech. (If you're having trouble with your computer, he might be able to help you out!) Connor also has a soft spot for sneakers and his two French Bulldog boys. But above all, his heart belongs to cold brew and Eleven wine (of course!).
Tiffany Aney
Happiness Engineer. Recommended by 4 out of 5 people that recommend things.
Tiffany is an amazing Bremerton local with a heart that beats for the Pacific Northwest! When she's not busy working in the wine industry, she's running around with her three kids, taking them to their sports and activities. Tiffany also has a wonderful woodworking business that specializes in creating lovely decor for kids.
She's a huge fan of road trips and discovering new places, as well as searching for the perfect french fries - who isn't, right? Tiffany's adventurous spirit has led her to taste hundreds of ciders in the last couple of years, but she's excited to learn more about wine.
Ryan Olsen
Happiness Engineer. We can only be as strong as our WiFi signal.
Meet Ryan, the ultimate creator! He's not just crafting wooden boats and funky wine barrel furniture (seriously, you've got to see the winery's cool setup), but also weaving bonds over a glass of fine wine.
When he's not swirling wine in tasting rooms or tackling quirky winery projects, you'll find him soaking up the breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest.
And oh boy, ask him about his latest escapade as a ski instructor—it's bound to be a tale packed with snow, slopes, and maybe a few hilarious wipeouts!
Rachel Allen
Happiness Engineer. When life hands you lemons, give them back. You deserve ice cream.
Chicago-born and raised, Rachel got a taste for adventure as diverse as the city's skyline! From chomping down on deep-dish delights to savoring global flavors, her culinary journey started young and never looked back.
After whipping up dreams in Charleston at The Culinary Institute, life took her on a whirlwind tour across the States as a military spouse. But it was in the vineyards of Napa Valley where she found her grape escape, falling head over heels for wine and all its glorious vibes!
Fast forward to now: armed with WSET certifications (Level 1 & 2, baby!), she's ready to pop the cork on a new adventure with the fab Eleven winery team!
Oceana Williams
Happiness Engineer. Living in the moment, preferably one with snacks and wine!
Oceana’s journey started on Bainbridge Island, took a detour through Seattle, and then led her to the sunny south of France in Aix-en-Provence. While there, she racked up degrees in International Relations and French Studies and even taught English at a French university.
Her time at Eleven in 2020 sparked a wine obsession that had her exploring vineyards and mastering wine pairings in France.
Now back in Washington, she’s thrilled to mix her love of wine with her passion for the great outdoors. Ask her what her go-to wine is for a hike—she’s got a bottle in mind!
