The Rotary Club of Forest Grove is proud to welcome Juanita Lint as the club’s newest member! Juanita was inducted at our Satellite Club/Thirsty Thursday meeting on August 20.

Juanita is one of the owners to Plum Hill Vineyard, which she and her husband, RJ, opened on Valentine’s Day 2009. Juanita was also recently hired as the executive director of the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce, replacing fellow Rotarian Howard Sullivan.

After a few younger years in the Midwest, Juanita grew up in a modest family in Eastern Oregon where she did well in school. She participated in sports, cheerleading, music and other extracurricular activities including Junior Rotarian.

Juanita’s career in computer technology began in Oregon after she earned a computer science engineering technology degree at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. She spent 22 years in her technical career designing, building and implementing computer systems for a variety of industries but mostly telecommunications.

She managed large projects while continuing her education and earning her Bachelor of Science from the University of San Francisco, a Master of Technology and two other specialty certificates.

Juanita took early retirement at 41 but quickly established a craft business before getting interested in the Oregon wine industry with her husband, RJ. In 2007, Juanita and RJ bought a feral dairy farm and spent 18 months converting it to a vineyard and winery.

Since starting Plum Hill, Juanita has been very active in wine and several business associations.  Juanita was a member of the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber and served on the board for seven years, including a term as vice president.  She chaired and co-chaired the Western Washington County Tourism Committee where they developed a tourism brochure and a Forest Grove/Cornelius business directory. She also served as President of the North Willamette Vintners Association developing two successful flagship annual winery tourism events.

She served on State Senator Chuck Riley’s Small Business Council before it disbanded in 2016, igniting her political interests. Juanita ran in 2016 for Oregon house representative in District 29, which includes Forest Grove, Cornelius and historic Hillsboro. While unsuccessful at procuring that position, her interest in politics stayed.

Shortly thereafter, Juanita was elected to the Washington County Museum Board, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Leadership Council and PAC Board, first vice president of the Beaverton Hillsboro Republican Women and Washington County Business Council Board, as well as appointed to Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce’s Public Policy Committee.