Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1025306
september 2018 / the tasting panel / 41 "An Incredible Gift" For Make Time Off, the company drew inspiration from its Volunteer Time Off hours (VTO), which enable employees to spend time volunteering in their community without sacrificing any compensation. And while the Make Time program grew fluidly out of the VTO initiative, volunteering isn't the only out-of-office pastime Wente has promoted amongst its ranks: As a natural extension of fifth-generation winemaker Karl Wente's own personal passion for music, the company developed its Make Time for Music program, which, among other initiatives, features concerts hosted on the Wente Vineyards property. Hoopes says the program was so popular that they realized it wasn't so much about music as it was about the desire to "make time" for employees' personal fulfillment. "We want to really engage the public and help people understand the bigger picture of what we're doing as a company while motivating others to find and pursue the things that inspire them," says Hoopes. Though the Make Time program is still new, Hoopes says it's been met with overwhelm- ingly positive responses from employees. "We've gotten so many emails from people who have used or even just requested their Make Time Hours," she adds. "They're telling us how much they appreciate the program and that the time is an incredible gift." And while the company isn't tracking any official metrics for the program, Hoopes says she's seen firsthand how employees have become more thoughtful and present in their interactions since it launched, citing a recent Make Time barbeque organized by the finance department that was intended to keep spirits high during a particularly work- heavy period. "We spend so much time at work, and when you feel valued, engaged, and involved, you work harder," Hoopes adds. "In family businesses there's a different culture already, but the Wente family puts people at the forefront of their cultural fabric, and that just reinforces why we work as hard as we do." As the President of a high-profile company and the mar- ried mother of two daughters, Amy Hoopes says people often confront her with the same familiar question: How does she balance it all? Fortunately, she always has a thought-provoking response ready for advice-seeking inquirers. "It's not about balance—it's about choice," Hoopes says. "I choose to make time for the things that fulfill me and make me feel whole: first and foremost, my family." In the Hoopes household, family dinner is a must—so valuable, in fact, that all devices go in a basket so every- one can engage free from distraction. "It's important to prevent the churn of daily life and the glow of electronics from taking over and to put the focus on our face-to- face relationships," Hoopes says. "It's a daily practice and requires constant reminding, but we need to have intention with our time." Wente Family Estates President Amy Hoopes with her family. As a married mother of two, Wente Family Estates President Amy Hoopes says the #MakeTime program helps her utilize her own time more effectively. As a family-run business for the past 135 years, Wente Vineyards aims to prioritize the happiness and well-being of its employees through initiatives like the Make Time program. Making Time with Amy Hoopes