Michael Corso

Mike Corso brings a wealth of experience to the company. Starting in 1972 at The House of Glunz, Chicago’s oldest wine retail shop, he has worked in all aspects of wine sales at the restaurant, wholesale distributor and importer levels. After a 7-year association with World Shippers & Importers of Philadelphia, where he succeeded Robert Kacher as National Sales Manager, he spent 16 years as Import Manager at Union Beverage in Chicago and helped create Chicago Wine Merchants, one of the leading fine wine distributers in the U.S. The basis of the Michael Corso Selections portfolio was created during this time. In 2008 he established MCS as an independent importer of high quality estate wines and spirits from France and Italy. The portfolio is his creation and is an extension of his taste in wine, which is very traditional, and of his long experience in the wine trade. Mike’s interests include Art History, French and Italian language, fine food and ice hockey. He has a B.A. from Boston College and spent two years of study in Italy at the Loyola University Rome Center and at the Universita Per Stranieri in Perugia, Italy.

Elizabeth Corso

Beth Corso studied theatre at West Virginia University and The Goodman School of Drama, which inevitably led to a career in the hospitality industry.  During a diverse 20-year run in fine dining restaurants, Beth had a constant involvement in wine and restaurant wine programs. She later moved fully to the wine side as Chicago Metro Manager for Wilson Daniels, where she enjoyed a highly successful career representing such icons as Romanée-Conti, Maison Faiveley, Domaine Leflaive, and Salon Champagne, along with the outstanding American wines in this famous portfolio. Today she oversees all internal operations of Michael Corso Selections, and travels extensively each year to the wine regions of France and Italy.  She is a passionate cook and her dinner parties are the stuff of legend. She is also a voracious reader, and classical music provides the soundtrack to her life. 

Matthew Corso

Matthew grew up around wine and is excited to be part of the family company. He relocated from Washington, DC, his longtime home, to Chicago. He will be working on all aspects of internal administration and brings a wealth of professional experience to the company. Matthew has over 15 years’ experience in communications, events and program management, and is adept at managing customer service requests and working in a deadline driven environment. Prior to joining the company, he worked in international development at the U.S. Agency for International Development, as a consultant for DAI, and at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and Sister Cities International. Matthew is an avid internationalist, wine enthusiast, and enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, bocce, darts, running, and volunteering in his local community. He has a M.A. in International Affairs from the Elliott School at The George Washington University and a B.S. in Political Science and German from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Eau Claire, WI.

Donn Danielson

Donn Danielson brings a passion for wine, especially French wine, with over 30 years of experience in the industry working with distributors, wine suppliers, and National Accounts On and Off Premise. Donn grew up in Chicago working in restaurants with his family and as a means of supporting himself in college. He got started in the wine business with his first job out of college running the wine department for Marshall Field’s in Chicago. In the evenings, he attended Chicago Wine School to become more proficient in wine and wine education. In 1994, Donn joined Chicago Wine Merchants, a division of Union Beverage Company, where he first met and worked with Mike. After several years and different roles including Sales Representative, District Manager and finally Brand Manager, Donn decided to move to Northern California in 1999 to begin his career as a supplier. He worked for The Hess Collection Winery, Grgich Hills Estate, and Folio Fine Wine Partners/Michael Mondavi. In 2015, Donn and his wife Catherine and daughter Ava moved to New Orleans where he joined European Cellars/Eric Solomon Selections as Director of National Accounts On and Off Premise. Most recently Donn was the Vice President of Sales – National Accounts, On Premise at The Mark Wine Group. When not working Donn loves to cook, play golf, and spend time with his family. He has a Business degree from Indiana University and is a huge fan of all the Chicago sports teams, with a real affinity for the Chicago Blackhawks!

Steve Vesely

Steve brings over 28 years in beverage sales experience to the team. He met Mike during his tenure with Chicago Wine Merchants in 2003, where he represented, among other things, their French Portfolio which would become the basis for Michael Corso Selections.

Steve has traveled throughout the world’s wine regions, and extensively in France. He loves history, music and is a bonafide sports fanatic.

Jodie Hellman

Jodie Hellman was born in Philadelphia and then moved to Florida and now resides in Las Vegas. She went to school to study commercial art, but always kept getting drawn back into hospitality. Once she moved to Las Vegas, she got bit by the wine bug. It started with daily training classes at work, then grew when she became part of the opening team at craftsteak at MGM with Tom Collicchio. After a few years, she moved to open Daniel Boulud at Wynn Las Vegas as a sommelier and worked at all the outlets on property. From hospitality, she moved to the sales side starting with a family winery in California and eventually with imports from all over the globe. She recently became an Italian Wine Ambassador as part of a program with VinItaly and the Italian Trade Association. Jodie is a huge Bruce Springsteen fan and enjoys traveling, movies and spending time with family and friends.

Chris Miller

Chris Miller started working at Young’s Market Company in Santa Cruz County in 1998, and by 2001 had worked his way up to the Northern California Market Manager for Wilson Daniels. In 2008, after his tenure with WD and working as a Sales Manager for Chambers and Chambers, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a restaurant wine director then later spent close to 4 years as the southern California Italian wine buyer for K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood. Returning to Northern California in 2013, he held managerial positions at Massanois, Grandes Places Selections and Winebow. In 2022, he brings this wealth of knowledge and experience to Michael Corso Selections. Chris has traveled exhaustively throughout the wine regions of France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Hungary and North America. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys, hiking, camping, kayaking and drinking Champagne, Burgundy, Riesling and craft beer.  

Brittany Pansino

Brittany Pansino brings a wealth of administrative and wine experience to Michael Corso Selections. Prior to joining the company, she spent nearly a decade in the building materials industry, and brings with her supply chain, data management, and fast-paced customer service experience to the team. She has been making wine with her husband’s family for over 13 years (though, the in-laws have been doing it for far longer!), using traditional old-world Italian equipment. She holds a WSET L2 in wines, and has a passion for French wines, but has yet to meet a wine she doesn’t like, and can’t pass up the opportunity to try something she’s never heard of. Brittany has a BA in History from DePaul University, and enjoys travel, live music, cooking, and taking full advantage of Chicago’s robust restaurant scene, especially during patio season.