Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Executive Director Stacie Jacob announced that she is resigning to open a marketing firm, SolTerra Strategies.

Her resignation is effective August 1 and the search for a new Executive Director is actively underway.

During Jacob’s seven-years with the organization, she created a marketing campaign that achieved regional, national and global brand recognition for the Paso Robles American Viticulture Area and grew the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance into one of the nation’s leading wine trade organizations.

In a news release, Jacob said, “The prestige of the Wine Alliance, quality of its marketing programs and power of the Paso Robles brand are accomplishments of which I am most proud. I look forward to pursuing my entrepreneurial drive as I launch SolTerra Strategies, based in Paso Robles.”

A 10-member Search Committee made up of all aspects of the Paso Robles wine community is in place and the process for a new Executive Director is currently in process. Potential candidates should go to www.pasowine.com and look under the Classifieds Section for details about the position. Candidates are asked to apply by July 22, 2011.

Jacob said she sees the new company she’s launching as an extension of what she’s been doing in her career.

Her new lifestyle-marketing firm will represent clients in food wine and tourism. The name SolTerra combines sun and earth. “My goal is to represent food, wine and experiences that are all rooted in a sense of place,” Jacob said.

Prior to joining the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Jacob was public relations director for the Washington Wine Commission, and before that she served as an account supervisor with the Fleishman-Hillard public relations agency.