"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Our tireless leader and native Oklahoman, James Woodward, brings over 23 years of multilevel sales experience to this UNcommon brokerage. He began his wine career at 21 years of age, waiting tables at a fine dining restaurant in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It was there that his manager lit the fuse of Woodward's desire and passion for wine. It all transpired from a simple staff training wine tasting. He went on to become Bar Manager at the same restaurant and started to polish his extensive alcohol product knowledge. He later headed to Dallas, Texas and managed two exclusive nightclubs, Elan and Nostromo. It was in Dallas where he learned to design and implement wine and bar lists.

James returned to Oklahoma in the-mid 1980's to manage the restaurant at the state's finest hotel, the Vista International at Waterford. He was promoted to Purchasing Director for the entire hotel's operations and later promoted to Director of Catering where he generated millions of dollars in banquet revenue. James went on to manage several fine dining restaurants before receiving the call to manage the wine department of the state's largest and best known retail store, Byron's Liquor Warehouse.

It was at Byron's where he perfected his classroom teaching style of wine tasting presentation. Of all of his remarkable talents, his teaching skills in the knowledge and passion of wine are clearly unsurpassed. All those with whom he comes in contact know instantly that he truly loves wine. James went on to become a brokerage sales representative for Hirst Imports of Oklahoma City.

It was at Hirst where he was assigned to call upon every retail store and every restaurant account in a five-city area. He designed numerous wine lists at the best restaurants and motivated, inspired and educated their staffs in the art of wine sales. James opened his own retail wine, spirit and beer store, Woodward's Wines & Elixirs in 1994. During its ten-year history, Woodward's clients had the opportunity to attend over 300 wine tastings and sample thousands of wines. James Woodward has turned a hobby into a profession working with what he truly loves.

He is widely known and respected all over Oklahoma by restaurants and retailers as having the most extensive wine and alcohol knowledge of anyone. James has an incredible memory and recall for detail of many of the over 10,000 different wines he has tasted. It is that exacting memory ability that makes it impossible to fight with him. He remembers everything you previously said.

- Teressa Woodward