Robert (Bob) J Emrick

Owner

Bob Emrick knows and loves Oregon—and not just because he was born in Portland, went to high school in Keizer, played football for Linfield College in McMinnville, or graduated from Western Oregon University. He knows Oregon because he’s invested his intellectual and physical resources in developing its economy, its community spirit, and its culture. And Bob loves Oregon because it’s more than just his home—it’s his touchstone for all he’s become.

Career: Bob was the owner and CEO of Force NW Manufacturing from 1977-1987, and in the waste management industry for 37 years. Across those nearly four decades, he was owner and CEO of several waste management companies: Western Oregon Waste, Riverbend Landfill, NW Greenland, Waste GO Services. Through his involvement with these enterprises, Bob developed his innate business acumen and his ability to work with complicated situations and a diversity of people.

Community: In concert with his career, Bob has actively participated in community life through a broad spectrum of contributions--serving as President of: Hillside Community from 1990-1995; Kids on the Block from 1995-1999; Chemeketa Foundation from 2003-2010 and on the Chemeketa Board of Directors from 2000-2014; Oregon Refuse and Recycling in 2005; West Coast Refuse and Recycling Association in 2006. He also served on the ORR Board of Directors from 1980-2005 and as Chairman of Yamhill County Salvation in 1990.

McMinnville: During his 35 years as a resident of McMinnville, Bob served on the McMinnville Planning Commission from 1983-1993, and on the Yamhill County/McMinnville Joint Planning Committee in 2000. He was President-elect for the McMinnville Rotary in 2014. In other hometown capacities, Bob has enhanced the life of the McMinnville community in his role as music director for Church on the Hill from 1988-1998 and on the Board of Directors for the church from 1990-1996.

Mentor: Bob has also devoted 24 years of his life to teaching “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” including training over 1.000 people as facilitators for the course.

Personal: Married for 42 years to Nancy Emrick, an internationally recognized opera singer—a relationship Bob credits with profoundly expanding his exposure to world travel and global experience. Bob and Nancy have one daughter, Ginger Emrick-Hoover and a grandson, George Hoover. As for his own enrichment, Bob finds golf and weightlifting good for the body, teaching a boon to his mind and spirit, and the passions of music and photography as medicine for the soul.

Dustin Wyant

Owner & General Manager of Operations

Dustin Wyant’s stellar career in the hospitality industry has steadily revealed the nature of his core talent: Dustin knows how to grow things. Whether it’s a wine distribution company, a Washington brewery, a Montana resort, two critically-acclaimed restaurants sourced by sustainable farming, or the volume of eminently satisfied customers, he’s done it … with resounding success. Raised in Bend, Oregon, Dustin has lived and traveled extensively throughout Europe, New Zealand, South America and the United States--only to return to a place that heralds the act of growing: Oregon wine country.

Career: In 1993, Dustin started his own wholesale wine distribution company in Central Oregon, working five years in the Oregon/Washington wine and beer industries and in the process, rising to Vice President/General Manager of Willamette Valley Vineyards--Oregon’s first public, consumer-owned winery. He was also elected by the winery’s shareholders to the Board of Directors for The Seattle Brewing Company, and subsequently grew Aviator Ales in Woodinville, Washington to one of the top five brands in the market in under three years.

In 1997, Dustin relocated to Montana, entering the hospitality industry. For 11 years, he operated the “St. Mary Lodge and Resort” near Glacier National Park. As partner and General Manager, he transformed this “stop on the way,” into “The Resort at the Glacier” –a world-class destination. This no-small-feat included adding 50 luxury rooms, conference and event space, an employee village housing over 200 people, and completing a 90% remodel of existing facilities. Under Dustin’s creative care, the resort more than doubled its revenues and was voted one of the Top 40 Small Independently-Owned Resorts in the U.S. by Lodging and Hospitality Magazine—just one of many honors bestowed upon the resort in reflection of Dustin’s growing prowess.

Watching Oregon’s winery growth from his home in Montana, it became clear to Dustin that the state had significant potential for upscale, environmentally-conscious tourism in its wine country—something that was not being developed. The opportunity to pursue his passion for hospitality by creating a revolutionary, lifestyle-oriented operation in the heart of wine country was too compelling to resist. Mutual friends introduced him to Kendall Bergstrom, who was pursuing a similar path. This alliance led to the formation of REAL Development, LLC., an enterprise fueled by a vision of creating sustainable, organic working farms that create a new model for both hospitality and farming in the U.S. REAL’s first development was The Inn at Red Hills and Farm to Fork Restaurant—which won critical acclaim for both quality and service from Sunset Magazine, Northwest Palate, Portland Monthly, Wine Spectator and other regional periodicals.

At the end of 2009, Dustin sold his interest in REAL and in 2010, opened Recipe – A Neighborhood Kitchen, located in historic downtown Newberg. Recipe has received numerous accolades from a list of respected publications: Sunset Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Vancouver Magazine, Tasting Magazine and USA today. For two consecutive years, Recipe received the Oregon Wine Growers/Wine Press Award for its distinguished wine list, and was also voted Oregon Wine Cellars of Distinction each of its four years in operation. Both Trip Advisor and Yelp have given the restaurant a 4.5 “outstanding” rating for three years straight.

As anyone in the hospitality industry knows, such consistent success requires more than delicious, imaginative fare and a distinguished wine list.
It is also dependent on knowing how to cultivate a high quality staff and how to build relationships with customers that keep them coming back.

Education: After graduating with honors from Bend Senior High School, Dustin attended The University of Virginia and received a Bachelor of Science and Marketing from the McIntyre School of Commerce. While at McIntyre, he founded the school’s first International Business Exchange Group and as a result, spent five months studying at Bath University in Bath, England.

Volunteer Work: Throughout his career, Dustin has avidly participated in community roles: Tourism Advisory Committee in Salem, Oregon 1993-1994; Tourism Advisory Task Force, Woodinville, Washington 1994-1997; Rotary International Member, Bothell Washington 1994-1997; Glacier-Waterton Visitor’s Association Member 1997-2005; Montana Tourism “Glacier Region” Emergency Task Force 2001; Yamhill County Economic Revitalization Team 2007-2010; Carlton Business Association, current; Founding Member and Vice President of the Dundee Civic Association; and
ongoing member of the Chehalem Chamber of Commerce.

Dustin has also introduced legislation to create Agritourism facilities for the purpose of creating a balanced approach to economics: preserving idyllic farmland and creating high-end, overnight guest accommodations and services.

Personal: Dustin makes his home in Carlton, Oregon with his wife, Maryfrances and their two daughters, Makenna and Hallie. Some of his many sources of enjoyment are closely related to his work: organic gardening, developing the culinary arts and cooking. Others take him out into nature: golf, fly fishing, skiing, camping and mountain biking.