Founded as a public-private partnership between the University and the wine industry, the Wine Business Institute (WBI) is an education and research institute of the School of Business and Economics. SSU is the first institution of higher learning in the U.S. to offer professional certificates and MBA degrees specializing in the business of wine, and the first school of business in the world to offer an executive-level wine business degree. Today, professionals from California and around the world choose SSU as the global leader in wine business research and education, to experience first-hand the expertise and wealth of connections among students, alumni, and industry leaders. More than simply meeting the industry’s needs, WBI is helping shape how the industry evolves within the demands of globalization, technology, and changing regulations. Students are equipped with wine business knowledge and industry-specific tools and strategies to deliver results for organizations competing in today's global marketplace. Study alongside industry professionals and advanced practitioners, from winemakers and viticulturists, to brand managers and distributors, to vineyard owners and winery executives. Wine business faculty research informs public policy and drives important product and service innovations, including recent studies on public perception, economic impact, sustainability, and philanthropy, among other issues. In 2016, WBI launched the online Wine Business Case Research Journal, the first academic case journal dedicated to international wine business issues. The publication's founding editorial board includes five past editors of academic journals, wine business researchers, and university scholars from the U.S., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa.