Meet Our Managers

Mark Johnston, Founder, President

Mark spent six years in the Madison wholesale wine market, first as a street salesman, calling on both restaurant and retail accounts. Later he was promoted to wine division manager of Kessenich’s Ltd. responsible for brand management and sales planning, for a team of five salespeople.

He started L’Eft Bank Wine Company in December of 1985. Starting as a one man operation, L’Eft Bank has grown to forty-five full time employees today.

Mark is married to Patty Peltekos, and has a son, Jeffrey. They live on a farmstead in Southwestern Dane County.

Richard Serrano, Domestic Brand Manager

Raised on beer and tequila since the age of 12, Richard had his first sip of White Zin at the age of 26, and declared it righteous. A bottle of cheap Chilean Merlot followed a week later, and there was no turning back. After a brief flirtation with high-alcohol fruit-bombs, two years in wine retail tempered and matured his palette. He now spends his time in the Sisyphusian pursuit of finding Domestic wines that emphasize balance, purity, and terroir. Known as the company hothead, he spends his off time listening to acoustic blues, reading Decanter, and trying to find old bottles of Roussanne on close-out.

Elke Brendel, Southern Hemisphere/German Brand Manager

Growing up on the banks of the Rhein River, Elke comes by her adoration of the Riesling varietal naturally.

After emigrating to the United States at the impressionable age of 10, her horizons widened, but she never lost sight of home and the bracing acidity and pure fruit she had learned to love.

Like many Germans, later in life Elke set her sights on South America, and eventually that interest spread to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. She now balances her many wine interests by searching out wine treasures from South of the Equator, as well as from the “Vaterland”.

Jeff Eastman, French/Spanish Brand Manager

Jeff was introduced to the ups and downs of the distribution business at an early age with the advent of the Bubble Yum line and its fruit-forward style and soft-texture. Among several students at the local Junior High to start selling pieces individually at a fair margin, Jeff was able to afford a new Aerosmith album. His business was short-lived however, as he had to close out his remaining stock for an un-sharpened #2 and a tattered notebook, as the urban legend that BubbleYum contained spider eggs spread from coast to coast.

Jeff joined L’Eft Bank in 2002 as a sales rep. in the Milwaukee area and now Brand Manages the French, Portugal and Spanish portfolios. His interests include music, traveling, history and a long-running promise to run a marathon.

Stacy Sandler, Sales Manager

Stacy began working at Left Bank in 2005 and helped develop their integrated invoicing and inventory system. She worked closely with the sales, office and warehouse staff to move the order processing into the 21st century, making the fax machine very lonely. Though not involved professionally in the wine business prior to her experience at Left Bank, Stacy has been a "foodie" and thus a wine lover for a long time. Depending on the day, Stacy could be out visiting customers, making deliveries, explaining the difference between Honjozo and Dai Gingo or creating point of sale.