Our Team

​Grant Richardson started Pangea Selections in 2019 with the goal of increasing accessibility of natural wines to Texas. Grant has led the growth of Pangea from a self-funded one man hustle into one of the country's most exciting import and distribution companies. Grant has launched three successful start ups in agriculture and hospitality and has a passion for projects at the intersection of farming, food & beverage, and sustainability. Prior to his entrepreneurial journey, Grant worked in operations and compliance for  Fortune 500 companies such as Goldman Sachs and Chevron. He has a Masters in Environmental Engineering & Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida and a BS in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas. Outside of work Grant is an amateur triathlete, enjoys spending time with his husband, daughter, and dogs, & traveling to off the beaten path beach towns and corners of wine country.

Justin Paul Russell joined the team at Pangea Selections in 2022, coming from a broad and varied background throughout the wine industry in hospitality, production, and wholesale businesses. He worked the ground floor in wine retail for several years and over a decade working harvest in Oregon, seven of which were in service of his own winery, Jasper Sisco. After his time in Oregon, he transitioned to a sales role for International Wine in Birmingham, Alabama, which reignited his interest in the wholesale and import side of the wine world. All of this experience was bolstered by working arm-in-arm in high profile fine dining restaurants in Oregon and Texas. Justin now seeks to marry these experiences by building an exciting and compelling view of the world of wine for Texas and beyond. Outside of work, you'll find him adventuring to a swimming hole with his partner and their dog, curled up with a book, or scheming an epic dinner. 

Native Texan Leif Sundström returned to his home state in 2024 after many years of exploring all things fermented-fruit in Oregon, New York and Germany.  He fell in love with wine while working in restaurants in Portland, OR before working his first harvest at Boedecker Cellars; soon after he joined Skurnik Wines in NY to manage the Terry Theise portfolio and then 8 years later joined his former colleague Kevin Pike to work for Schatzi Wines.  This was not without a stop in Rüdesheim, Germany to spend some months making wine at Weingut Leitz, and a return to New York where Leif began the artisan cidery Sundström Cider, making vinous, analog ciders from native Northeast apples.  His best and final vintage is also represented in Texas by Pangea.  In addition to troubleshooting ferments and excel spreadsheets, Leif chooses to spend his time outside whenever possible. 

Julia Proctor spent the first decade of her career in the entertainment industry, booking concerts at iconic venues across Austin and organizing large-scale music festivals nationwide. As her passion for wine deepened, Julia’s career took a new direction. She earned her Level III WSET certification and joined Pangea Selections in 2021. Julia is deeply involved in the Central Texas wine community. She worked in the tasting room at Southold Farm and Cellars, curated the wine program for the Field Guide Festival, and managed events for some of the region’s most recognized boutique venues. Alongside her role at Pangea, she continues to run Wild Wine Saloon, a side project dedicated to making wine education fun and approachable. When she’s not immersed in the world of wine, Julia enjoys gardening, baking, traveling, and hiking with her husband, dog, and her baby boy.

Moriah recently relocated to Austin, TX after spending a year on the beverage team at Hisa Franko, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Slovenia. Her journey in hospitality began as a barista during Denver’s craft coffee boom, where she worked amongst the city's most progressive coffee programs from 2016-2020. Her passion for coffee naturally translated to wine. Inspired by her Swiss heritage and her family’s winemaking tradition, Moriah discovered that wine isn’t just in her blood—it reflects her core values: history, community, music, regenerative farming, and great food. She has spent significant time exploring the wineries of Friuli and has work experience abroad teaching English in the Czech Reoublic. She’s thrilled to have joined the Pangea Selections team, with a heartfelt commitment to bringing exceptional wines to the great state of Texas.

Born & raised in Houston, Carlo's passion for wine was sparked early by his family's Italian heritage and their love for Italian cuisine and wine. Carlo graduated from the University of St. Thomas then pursued his true calling—food and wine. Carlo began his wine career with Trader Joe’s in 2016, where he spent five years contributing to the growth of the company’s wine program. Carlo then worked with several boutique wine distributors, further refining his expertise. He has formalized his knowledge by earning a WSET III certification as well as the prestigious French Wine Scholar title.

Today, Carlo is proud to be a part of the Pangea family, where he continues to share his passion and expertise with the local wine community. Outside of work, you’ll likely find him swimming, skateboarding, surfing at Galveston Beach, or exploring throughout Texas.

North Carolina native Chris Coulson relocated to Texas in 2020 and quickly established himself in the hospitality and fine dining scene. While working as a server assistant at Sammie's Italian, Chris thrived under the mentorship of Justin Paul Russell (now Pangea Sales Manager), which fueled his professional growth and deepened his passion for wine. Chris advanced to Bar Lead before moving to Dallas in 2023, where he immersed himself in the city’s cocktail scene at the prestigious Bowen House.

Joining the Pangea team, Chris brings a wealth of experience as a young beverage professional dedicated to elevating the Dallas-Fort Worth wine scene. He credits his love for hospitality to his mother, who he believes passed down her southern hospitality gene. Outside of work, you’ll often find Chris in Carolina Panthers blue, spending time with his partner Julia and their golden retriever, or teeing off at a loca golf course.

Phil Villanueva has been working in wine fulfillment for 16 years across Texas and has been part of the Pangea team since 2022. When he isn't behind the wheel, Phil loves going to the movies and spending time with his grandkids.