Springfield, Ill.—Jennifer Montgomery is the first full-time executive director of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, IGGVA. The group announced the hire earlier this month. Montgomery previously was the executive director of the Nebraska Winery & Grape Growers Association for two years and prior to that worked for 10 years as the director of grassroots and political affairs at WineAmerica. The IGGVA also recently released a report it commissioned on the economic impact of the state’s wine industry. The report, based on 2012 data, found the Illinois wine industry generates a total economic impact of $692 million and supports 3,887 full-time jobs paying $153 million in wages and generates $88 million in total, annual tax revenues.