My latest in Winebusiness.com :
“Women in Wine: Fermenting Change in Oregon” Sells Out
by L.M. Archer
“Women in Wine: Fermenting Change in Oregon” keynote speaker Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of “Wild.” ©L.M. Archer
Turner, Ore. – Change is thirsty business. On July 8, 2019 more than 200 beverage professionals gathered under sunny skies at Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner, Oregon for the first annual “Women in Wine: Fermenting Change in Oregon.”
“We’re thrilled with selling out over 200 tickets, with an all-volunteer committee, and with this beautiful day at Willamette Valley Vineyards,” said committee member Carrie Wynkoop, owner of Cellar 503.
The full-day function pivoted around speakers, panels, and presentations geared towards personal growth, collaboration and connection. “Oregon is super-collaborative, and there are many events, and there’s a lot of sharing that goes on,” explained fellow committee chair Briana Seeley, vice president of consumer sales for Adelsheim Vineyards, “But we realized there wasn’t something that was specific for women in the industry. More importantly, we wanted to talk about things that were outside of the wine industry, up-leveling the professionalism of individuals, and providing [necessary] resources.”
Powerhouse speakers like Meg Crofton, former president of Disney Parks and Resorts, touched upon the importance of following one’s ‘inner compass’ to guide one’s life path. DRY Soda CEO Sharelle Klaus and Philana Bouvier, VP of new business development at Young’s Market Company, took on the topic of ‘Empowering Female Leaders,’ while bestselling author Cheryl Strayed dove deeply into ‘Risk Taking and Challenging Yourself.’ Additional break-away sessions covered issues like ‘Unconscious Bias’ with Susan Freeman of “Women’s Business Connection,” ‘NextGen Marketing Solutions’ with Jason Parks of Barkley, and ‘Leadership Styles’ with Sarah Graves of inviteCHANGE. Overarching themes centered around leadership, mentoring, and authenticity. “I always think it’s powerful to have people gathered in a room who are all thinking about things with intention,“ said keynote speaker and Portland resident Cheryl Strayed, “And how to celebrate, too, the powerful work that women have done in this industry.” READ MORE HERE.
Copyrighted 2019 LM Archer | LM Archer LLC. All Rights Reserved.
