Athena Yannitsas

Director

Athena Yannitsas. Born in Connecticut and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Athena Yannitsas earned a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from Boston University. After graduating, she pursued dual career paths, often parallel to each other. One path followed the world of wine and gastronomy, working for chef Alain Ducasse at the Hotel de Paris (Monaco), Wines From Spain (Florida), Biltmore Hotel & Resort (Florida), Wine News magazine (Florida), and at The American Center for Wine, Food & Arts-COPIA (Napa, California).

The other career path was forged in cultural and educational nonprofit organizations, where Ms. Yannitsas was Director of Development & Marketing at the Society of the Four Arts (Palm Beach, FL) and later at the Mystic Museum of Arts (Mystic, CT). In 2012 she joined the Department of Adult & Community Education at the School District of Palm Beach County as Marketing and Training Specialist.

Ms. Yannitsas is a Certified Wine Specialist and member of the Society of Wine Educators. She taught wine courses at Florida International University and Miami-Dade College. In 2014, Ms. Yannitsas published a wine education book in Spanish, “Vino, Vida y Alegría,” available on Amazon.com. It is the first wine book in the market geared primarily to Hispanic consumers in the United States.

Throughout her career, Ms. Yannitsas developed initiatives to enhance communications and develop relationships with the Hispanic community, reaching a diversity of audiences from different countries and backgrounds. As a board member of the Hispanic Education Coalition of Palm Beach County, she is committed to the mission of elevating access to educational opportunities and cultivating leaders within the Hispanic community.