:: SPEAKERS
OPENING KEYNOTE
Mary Ellen Vernon, Co-Founder & Designer :: Fresh Produce
{ KNOWING }
Fresh Produce first sprouted in 1984 in Long Beach, selling silk-screened t-shirts in bright graphics and custom jewelry at the '84 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the parking lot across the street from the coliseum. The concept then is the same as now - to bring the emotions, the colors, the sensations, the leisure of beach life to everyday life through fashion. It was and is the life of Thom and Mary Ellen Vernon, the dynamic husband and wife team that started the company and whose vision continues to inspire the Fresh Produce culture. Now in its third decade, Fresh Produce continues to be primarily Made in the USA with one of the most original, refreshing and captivating casual, resort and sportswear lines in America. Known and loved by women ages 6 months to 60-plus for lush colors, year-round sensibility, simply inspired design and coastal comfort, Fresh Produce continues to delight customers around the globe.
Fresh Produce can be found in over 500 specialty boutiques and resort retailers. Plus, company-owned stores and factory outlets are scattered throughout the country, including exclusive seashore resorts in North America and the Caribbean.
Mary Ellen lives with her husband-business partner and two adult sons in Boulder, Colorado,
as well as her summer getaway in spectacular Santa Barbara County.
Mary Ellen Vernon, Co-Founder & Designer :: Fresh Produce
{ KNOWING }
Fresh Produce first sprouted in 1984 in Long Beach, selling silk-screened t-shirts in bright graphics and custom jewelry at the '84 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the parking lot across the street from the coliseum. The concept then is the same as now - to bring the emotions, the colors, the sensations, the leisure of beach life to everyday life through fashion. It was and is the life of Thom and Mary Ellen Vernon, the dynamic husband and wife team that started the company and whose vision continues to inspire the Fresh Produce culture. Now in its third decade, Fresh Produce continues to be primarily Made in the USA with one of the most original, refreshing and captivating casual, resort and sportswear lines in America. Known and loved by women ages 6 months to 60-plus for lush colors, year-round sensibility, simply inspired design and coastal comfort, Fresh Produce continues to delight customers around the globe.
Fresh Produce can be found in over 500 specialty boutiques and resort retailers. Plus, company-owned stores and factory outlets are scattered throughout the country, including exclusive seashore resorts in North America and the Caribbean.
Mary Ellen lives with her husband-business partner and two adult sons in Boulder, Colorado,
as well as her summer getaway in spectacular Santa Barbara County.
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE
Monica Ferguson, Co-Founder :: Soulmate
{ PERSISTENCE }
Monica Ferguson, Co-Founder :: Soulmate
{ PERSISTENCE }
Monica Ferguson graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Finance. She spent several years at Goldman Sachs working in various sales and trading roles in New York including within Private Wealth Management and in Public Finance. Upon graduating from Columbia Business School, she returned to the Investment Management division at Goldman before resigning to launch and
co-found New York based Solemates in 2010 with her partner Rebecca Brown.
In addition to being featured on Shark Tank, Solemates have been seen in O Magazine, Real Simple, and People; and worn personally by Oprah, Gayle, Carrie Underwood, Viola Davis, Lauren Conrad and many other celebrities.
In Monica’s spare time, she is an avid reader, traveler, and soul cycler.
co-found New York based Solemates in 2010 with her partner Rebecca Brown.
In addition to being featured on Shark Tank, Solemates have been seen in O Magazine, Real Simple, and People; and worn personally by Oprah, Gayle, Carrie Underwood, Viola Davis, Lauren Conrad and many other celebrities.
In Monica’s spare time, she is an avid reader, traveler, and soul cycler.
Julie Gordon White, CEO :: The WELL for Women Entrepreneurs & SYMPOSIA
{ PIVOT }
Julie Gordon White has over 25 years in the corporate and small business world, is a bestselling business author, and has advised hundreds of business owners as the founder & CEO of BlueKey Mergers & Acquisitions, a multi-million dollar firm she founded in 2004.
In 2012, Julie began living her true passion as the founder of The WELL for Women Entrepreneurs, teaching women how to crack the code of growing to a million and someday selling for a million through a step-by-step training and coaching program called Accelerate!, speaking, consulting, and signature events.
Julie is a featured small business expert for Google Small Business and Intuit QuickBooks; and has been quoted in Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg Businessweek.com, New York Times, Enterprising Women, Black Enterprise, San Francisco Business Times and will release a new book in 2017, titled "100K Concept: The Freedom Formula for Women & Girls".
{ PIVOT }
Julie Gordon White has over 25 years in the corporate and small business world, is a bestselling business author, and has advised hundreds of business owners as the founder & CEO of BlueKey Mergers & Acquisitions, a multi-million dollar firm she founded in 2004.
In 2012, Julie began living her true passion as the founder of The WELL for Women Entrepreneurs, teaching women how to crack the code of growing to a million and someday selling for a million through a step-by-step training and coaching program called Accelerate!, speaking, consulting, and signature events.
Julie is a featured small business expert for Google Small Business and Intuit QuickBooks; and has been quoted in Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg Businessweek.com, New York Times, Enterprising Women, Black Enterprise, San Francisco Business Times and will release a new book in 2017, titled "100K Concept: The Freedom Formula for Women & Girls".
Anese Cavanaugh, CEO :: Anese Cavanaugh
{ PRESENCE }
Anese Cavanaugh is devoted to helping people show up and bring their best selves to the table in order to create significant positive impact in their lives. She is the creator of the IEP Method® (Intentional Energetic Presence®), an advisor and thinking partner to leaders and organizations around the world, and author of Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives (McGraw Hill, 11/15).
As a leading voice on intention, energy, and presence in leadership and culture, she helps people unlock greater leadership potential, collaborate more inspiringly, create more openly, intuit more bravely, and lead more joyfully and effectively. Top innovators and executives in companies like IDEO, Zingerman’s, Cooper, Joie de Vivre, Fitbit, Nike, and others have engaged with Anese to strengthen team health, maximize leadership impact, and optimize company culture. In addition to appearing in publications like Harvard Business Review, The Huffington Post, CEO.com, and the NY Times, Anese writes regularly for Inc.com in her column “Showing Up”.
As an active entrepreneur, advisor, author, movement-maker, and speaker for the last 15 years, Anese is also a mom to two kids and two rescue dogs in Rocklin, California.
{ PRESENCE }
Anese Cavanaugh is devoted to helping people show up and bring their best selves to the table in order to create significant positive impact in their lives. She is the creator of the IEP Method® (Intentional Energetic Presence®), an advisor and thinking partner to leaders and organizations around the world, and author of Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives (McGraw Hill, 11/15).
As a leading voice on intention, energy, and presence in leadership and culture, she helps people unlock greater leadership potential, collaborate more inspiringly, create more openly, intuit more bravely, and lead more joyfully and effectively. Top innovators and executives in companies like IDEO, Zingerman’s, Cooper, Joie de Vivre, Fitbit, Nike, and others have engaged with Anese to strengthen team health, maximize leadership impact, and optimize company culture. In addition to appearing in publications like Harvard Business Review, The Huffington Post, CEO.com, and the NY Times, Anese writes regularly for Inc.com in her column “Showing Up”.
As an active entrepreneur, advisor, author, movement-maker, and speaker for the last 15 years, Anese is also a mom to two kids and two rescue dogs in Rocklin, California.
Dava Guthmiller, CEO :: Noise 13
{ MAVEN }
Dava Guthmiller is the founder and Chief Creative Officer at Noise 13, a branding and design agency that
focuses on consumer brands. She is the connector of teams and clients such as Uber, Twitter, and Old Navy to name a few,
and keeps her eye on the bigger business vision when planning for a brand strategy.
For consumer brands, success means standing out against an increasing number of competitors and staying relevant to customers. Noise 13 is a brand strategy and design agency that works in partnership with their clients to create insightful, compelling brands. They believe there are two key components to building a unique and lasting brand, Life + Style. From brand strategy to visual identity programs to website and marketing, everything they create is born from a desire to help you stand out in the market and create relationships with your customers.
Dava has also been an Instructor at the Academy of Art, a judge for the Adobe Achievement Awards, founded and maintains Pow.wow Network, and sits on the boards for Good People, Slow Food San Francisco, Good Food Awards, and Get Gone.
{ MAVEN }
Dava Guthmiller is the founder and Chief Creative Officer at Noise 13, a branding and design agency that
focuses on consumer brands. She is the connector of teams and clients such as Uber, Twitter, and Old Navy to name a few,
and keeps her eye on the bigger business vision when planning for a brand strategy.
For consumer brands, success means standing out against an increasing number of competitors and staying relevant to customers. Noise 13 is a brand strategy and design agency that works in partnership with their clients to create insightful, compelling brands. They believe there are two key components to building a unique and lasting brand, Life + Style. From brand strategy to visual identity programs to website and marketing, everything they create is born from a desire to help you stand out in the market and create relationships with your customers.
Dava has also been an Instructor at the Academy of Art, a judge for the Adobe Achievement Awards, founded and maintains Pow.wow Network, and sits on the boards for Good People, Slow Food San Francisco, Good Food Awards, and Get Gone.
Brenda Mixson, Co-Founder :: The Grade Cellars
{ GUMPTION }
Brenda Mixson who was, "born to dance and raised on a cattle ranch," and her business and life-partner Tom meet on a blind date and delightfully discover that they had much in common – a passion for food, fun, wine, margaritas, a spontaneous outlook on life’s opportunities and an ethic for hard work. Yet, it was still a surprise to their friends and family when they announced that they were moving from New York to take on the stewardship of a piece of Calistoga earth. Brenda has made a career in the investment world and Tom is a practicing architect, and after making that life changing decision - they've never looked back.
Their initial goal was to grow the best quality fruit their Calistoga earth could produce, so in 2000 they replanted their vineyard into five distinctive Cabernet blocks and began selling fruit to some of Napa’s finest wineries. In 2004, they undertook their next life-changing endeavor by making their inaugural vintage of wine – THE GRADE - of which they were awarded a 99 point score by famed Robert Parker for their 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Brenda and Tom have recently opened a tasting room in downtown Calistoga called “The Library” where they run the business and share wine with friends and customers in beautiful Arts & Crafts styled surroundings.
{ GUMPTION }
Brenda Mixson who was, "born to dance and raised on a cattle ranch," and her business and life-partner Tom meet on a blind date and delightfully discover that they had much in common – a passion for food, fun, wine, margaritas, a spontaneous outlook on life’s opportunities and an ethic for hard work. Yet, it was still a surprise to their friends and family when they announced that they were moving from New York to take on the stewardship of a piece of Calistoga earth. Brenda has made a career in the investment world and Tom is a practicing architect, and after making that life changing decision - they've never looked back.
Their initial goal was to grow the best quality fruit their Calistoga earth could produce, so in 2000 they replanted their vineyard into five distinctive Cabernet blocks and began selling fruit to some of Napa’s finest wineries. In 2004, they undertook their next life-changing endeavor by making their inaugural vintage of wine – THE GRADE - of which they were awarded a 99 point score by famed Robert Parker for their 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Brenda and Tom have recently opened a tasting room in downtown Calistoga called “The Library” where they run the business and share wine with friends and customers in beautiful Arts & Crafts styled surroundings.
Rebecca Alonzi, CEO :: Rebecca Jean Catering
{ METEORIC }
At two years old, Rebecca Jean started helping her mother measure and stir in the kitchen. At 15, she attended school full-time, worked 40 hours a week, and threw dinner parties using ingredients like arugula and aioli. At 25, with $13,000 in savings, Rebecca Jean Alonzi founded Rebecca Jean Catering (RJC), a catering company that specializes in seasonal, sustainable food.
Rebecca has led her self-funded company to meteoric success, averaging 100% growth in each of its first five years. In 2015, Rebecca Jean Catering served approximately 600,000 meals, feeding 3,000 people a day through its corporate Daily Dining partnerships and other events. Its client list includes companies like Google, Pinterest, Sony and Nasdaq Inc.
At 31, Rebecca is just getting started. A seventeen-year industry veteran, Quince-trained chef, and culinary visionary, Rebecca's manifesto is steeped with the power of food to heal, transform, and fuel individuals and communities. Currently, her passion for workplace wellness and health education are driving multiple new food entrepreneurship initiatives, including a national social impact campaign called #RealFoodIsSexy and a workplace consultancy that creates bottom-line efficiencies for companies looking to invest in the health and well-being of their workforce.
{ METEORIC }
At two years old, Rebecca Jean started helping her mother measure and stir in the kitchen. At 15, she attended school full-time, worked 40 hours a week, and threw dinner parties using ingredients like arugula and aioli. At 25, with $13,000 in savings, Rebecca Jean Alonzi founded Rebecca Jean Catering (RJC), a catering company that specializes in seasonal, sustainable food.
Rebecca has led her self-funded company to meteoric success, averaging 100% growth in each of its first five years. In 2015, Rebecca Jean Catering served approximately 600,000 meals, feeding 3,000 people a day through its corporate Daily Dining partnerships and other events. Its client list includes companies like Google, Pinterest, Sony and Nasdaq Inc.
At 31, Rebecca is just getting started. A seventeen-year industry veteran, Quince-trained chef, and culinary visionary, Rebecca's manifesto is steeped with the power of food to heal, transform, and fuel individuals and communities. Currently, her passion for workplace wellness and health education are driving multiple new food entrepreneurship initiatives, including a national social impact campaign called #RealFoodIsSexy and a workplace consultancy that creates bottom-line efficiencies for companies looking to invest in the health and well-being of their workforce.
Natalia Pegram, CEO :: NuLuxuryLabels.com
{ RISING STAR }
Natalia’s newest role as founder of online luxury consignment store, NU LUXURY LABELS, has been her
biggest challenge to date. Launching the business Summer of 2016 has been brought together from years of entrepreneurial spirit
and a lifelong passion for all things ‘luxury’.
Growing up in England, Natalia made the move to the San Francisco bay in 2012 after investing in a local technology business. Settling in the Bay and making the US her home, Natalia felt like it was a "now or never” moment to bring her luxury business dreams to reality. As a successful entrepreneur in the UK, Natalia has built a number of businesses with her husband for the last 20 years.
Multi-talented Natalia has interests in businesses from Property, Environmental, Energy, Tech and now fashion. Selling her UK based facilities group in 2014 for multimillions expanded her skills & opportunities yet further. As successful as Natalia has been, her quiet demeanor and grounded personality has seen her actively taking time to stay out of the limelight; this event has seen her take a huge leap of faith out of her comfort zone!
{ RISING STAR }
Natalia’s newest role as founder of online luxury consignment store, NU LUXURY LABELS, has been her
biggest challenge to date. Launching the business Summer of 2016 has been brought together from years of entrepreneurial spirit
and a lifelong passion for all things ‘luxury’.
Growing up in England, Natalia made the move to the San Francisco bay in 2012 after investing in a local technology business. Settling in the Bay and making the US her home, Natalia felt like it was a "now or never” moment to bring her luxury business dreams to reality. As a successful entrepreneur in the UK, Natalia has built a number of businesses with her husband for the last 20 years.
Multi-talented Natalia has interests in businesses from Property, Environmental, Energy, Tech and now fashion. Selling her UK based facilities group in 2014 for multimillions expanded her skills & opportunities yet further. As successful as Natalia has been, her quiet demeanor and grounded personality has seen her actively taking time to stay out of the limelight; this event has seen her take a huge leap of faith out of her comfort zone!
:: SYMPOSIA SPECIAL GUEST EXPERTS ::
Even More Amazing Speakers Coming Soon!