Former Newtown resident and business owner Morgen McLaughlin was recently named new executive director of the Santa Barbara County (Calif.) Vintners’ Association (SBCVA).

Ms McLaughlin previously served the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association in Corning, N.Y., where she served as the president and CEO since early 2007. From 1994 to 2006, Ms McLaughlin co-owned and managed McLaughlin Vineyard in Sandy Hook, overseeing all aspects of wine production, grape growing, and marketing.

While at Finger Lakes Wine Country, Ms McLaughlin helped increase the association’s revenues by more than 50 percent, developed powerful and effective integrated tourism and wine marketing campaigns, and generated significant media coverage for the Finger Lakes region.

SBCVA Board of Directors President Kurt Ammann said Ms McLaughlin’s experience is a perfect fit “at a time when the association is poised to increase recognition for the area as a whole and better communicate the unique diversity and quality of the areas vineyards and wines.”

Ms McLaughlin said she was honored to be chosen for this new post.

“I believe that my proven experience in the wine and tourism industries will help me bring increased regional, national and international attention to the AVAs, wineries, vineyards, and wines of Santa Barbara County,” she said in a release.