Michele Garber

Michele Garber joined New Medici in the summer of 2007. Garber’s budding love of wine combined with her extensive experience in marketing, public relations, event production, project and hospitality management, was a natural compliment to Bonnie Graves’ rapidly expanding multi-platform wine, travel and lifestyle company.

As a young woman, Garber had the unique opportunity to not only travel extensively throughout Europe, but to live there multiple times as well. She became enamored with its art & architecture, fashion & accessories, and especially its regional cuisine & wine. She developed an intense passion for international travel and decided to pursue a career in hospitality. She earned a BSBA in Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism Management from the University of Denver and went on to work both in hotels and hospitality PR.

Then her career path took a bit of a detour. She was offered a chance to join ultra-chic eyewear designer Oliver Peoples and relocate to Germany to open and manage its European Headquarters. The opportunity was especially attractive at the time as Oliver Peoples was still in its fledgling stages, operating out of the back room of its Sunset Plaza store. Garber had the rare chance to gain hands on experience in building a designer brand from the ground up. Naturally, she accepted the offer and found herself once again living in Europe. After the European company was up and running, Garber returned from Germany and became Oliver Peoples’ Vice President while continuing to serve as its subsidiary company’s General Manager.

During her tenure at Oliver Peoples, Garber was also responsible for overseeing all brand marketing initiatives for its mainline, as well as its licensed brands Paul Smith Spectacles and Elton John Limited Edition Spectacles. She orchestrated events for Paul Smith, Elton John, Prada Eyewear, LA Eyeworks, and Theo. She oversaw joint marketing initiatives with Warner Brothers and the re-launch of Ford Thunderbird and collaborative marketing efforts with Vanity Fair, Vogue, The New Yorker, Forbes, and Interview.

Garber departed from Oliver Peoples in 2002 to start her own consulting business and worked with various clients including her former employers, as well as Crown Media, Jericho Entertainment and Anvil Films. Then in 2005 her career came full-circle when she was stung by the infamous wine-bug. After earning a certificate in Viticulture & Oenology from UCLA, she was a pre-opening team member at Santa Monica’s tony Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen, where she continues to work in their wine program. Garber now works with New Medici’s numerous consulting, branding and lifestyle marketing efforts.

Garber is also a contributing accessories editor for Luxury Life & Style Magazine. She is a member of WCR. The LA native resides in Santa Monica with the newest member of her family, a puli puppy named Bixby.