Rodney Nourse is an attorney whose career has been dedicated to the hospitality, food and beverage, and beverage alcohol industries. Rodney has worked at all levels of these industries from busboy to Vice President.

A native of Biloxi, Mississippi, Rodney finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Mississippi in 1971, and obtained his Juris Doctor at the Jackson (Mississippi College) School of Law in 1975 where he was a member of Sigma Delta Kappa. Rodney acquired his MBA in 1995 with honors at San Francisco State University where he was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honors society.

While attending law school Rodney began his career in the hospitality, food and beverage industry working at T. G. I. Friday's Restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi. While at Friday's Rodney progressed from busboy to bar manager. After finishing law school, Rodney worked for POETS, Inc. where he was Assistant Manager of POETS Restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later, General Manager of POETS Restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi.

In 1979 Rodney departed Mississippi for Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was employed as an Assistant Beverage Manager for the Riviera Hotel and Casino. Continuing his migration west, Rodney arrived in Berkeley, California, in 1981 where he was employed as a Beverage Manager for the highly acclaimed Santa Fe Bar and Grill.

At the Santa Fe Bar and Grill, Rodney was introduced to the wines and wineries of California. His love of wine and winemaking grew and in 1986 Rodney departed Berkeley for Beaune, France, where he completed the Brevet Professionnel Adult curriculum in both viticulture and enology at the Lycee Viticole. In 1987 Rodney returned to California and began his employment in the beverage alcohol industry as Cellar Master for Acacia Winery, part of the Chalone Wine Group of wineries.

After earning his MBA, Rodney returned home to Biloxi where, as Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Campus, he taught Business Law and Statistics for Business. In 1996 Rodney settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was employed by Sazerac Company, Inc. - a well respected manufacturer, importer and exporter of wines and spirits. During his tenure at Sazerac Rodney was promoted from Director of Corporate Development, to Vice President of Corporate Development, and ultimately to Vice President of Corporate Development and Corporate Counsel.

While at Sazerac Rodney was actively engaged in both the financial analyses and contract negotiations for several brand acquisitions including: its purchase of Old Charter from Diageo; its cross-border purchase of the Canadian rights to Dr. McGillicuddy from Seagram; and its purchase of the A. Smith Bowman Distillery brands and production assets. Rodney was involved in new product development, negotiating international wine joint ventures in both Australia and Chile. Rodney also negotiated and executed numerous trademark licensing agreements and agency brand distribution contracts for Sazerac.

As Corporate Counsel for Sazerac, Rodney was actively engaged in the full array of corporate legal affairs, including commercial, employment, intellectual property, litigation management, personal injury and product liability matters. As a beverage alcohol attorney, Rodney was involved in assuring compliance with all state and federal regulations affecting Sazerac Company.

Rodney returned to Biloxi in 2005, and continues to build his commercial and administrative law practice focusing on commercial and regulatory matters affecting the hospitality, food and beverage, and beverage alcohol industries. He is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association, and is admitted to practice before the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi and the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Rodney's hobbies include snow skiing, back-packing, fishing, jazz music, the cuisine and music of New Orleans and, as always, wine appreciation.

Photo of Rodney as Cellar Master for Acacia Winery, circa 1993, by Wilson Wong.