Madeline Triffon joined Plum Market in 2011 as the in-house Master Sommelier. Plum Market is a full-service grocery retailer with stores in Southeastern  Michigan and Metro Chicago. Madeline directs wine tasting events, hand selects wines for in-store and online retail sales, and serves as a corporate wine educator. Madeline is one of 147 professionals who have earned the title Master Sommelier in North America; of these, 23 are women.

Described by Decanter magazine as ‘the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world’, Jancis writes daily for JancisRobinson.com (voted first-ever Wine Website of the Year in the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers Awards 2010), weekly for The Financial Times, and bi-monthly for a column that is syndicated around the world. In 1984 she was the first person outside the wine trade to pass the rigorous Master of Wine exams and in 2003 she was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen, on whose cellar she now advises.

Dr. Laura Catena, a fourth-generation winemaker and pioneer in high-altitude viticulture research, leads her family’s iconic Mendoza winery in producing Argentina’s most celebrated and influential wines. She is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata and has been called “the face of Argentine wine” for her active role in studying and promoting the Mendoza wine region and Argentine Malbec.

Cheron is the General Manager and Wine Director of Harold’s Meat + Three restaurant located in New York City and has worked in high profile NYC restaurants for 20 years, including Gramercy Tavern and Blue Hill. As the 2016 US representative for the South African Wine competition, Cheron was the only female of the 8 international finalists selected. She is a certified sommelier with the Court of Masters.

Dorothy J. Gaiter, Senior Editor of The Grape Collective, conceived and wrote the Wall Street Journal’s wine column, “Tastings,” from 1998 to 2010 with her husband, John Brecher. She has been tasting and studying wine since 1973, and with Brecher has written four wine books. She has had a distinguished career in journalism as a reporter, editor, columnist and editorial writer at the Miami Herald and the New York Times, as well as at the Wall Street Journal, which twice nominated her writing on race for the Pulitzer Prize, and once for “Tastings.”

Maria Garcia is an LA native with degrees in political science and history from the University of California, Los Angeles. She worked under Master Sommelier Chris Miller at Spago Beverly Hills and has gained certifications through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Maria most recently was the wine director at République restaurant in Los Angeles, where she curated a cellar of approximately 1800 selections. She is currently consulting and providing private sommelier services.

Jennifer Thorpe-Moscon, PhD, has been Director and Panel Manager at Catalyst since April 2013. As Panel Manager, she develops and expands Catalyst’s research panels globally as a part of the effort to extend progress for women and businesses around the world. Prior to joining Catalyst, Jennifer worked as a biostatistician at Mount Sinai as well as an instructor of master’s-level statistics at New York University. She has led several research labs of up to 13 researchers in both corporate and academic settings. Additionally, she authored the book How Geek Girls Will Rule the World (2013).

Miriam Caporali is Valdipiatta’s owner and general manager. From 1997 to 2002, Miriam worked closely at her father’s side at the winery, learning all the various aspects of winery management. Sharing her father’s passion for Montepulciano’s terroir and its ancient winemaking tradition, she decided to dedicate herself completely to the family business, taking over its management in 2004. Miriam has been member of the board of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile for 8 years, she is qualified as a professional Sommelier (AIS – Italian Sommelier Association) and she is also member of the Woman of Wine Italian Association.

Nathalie Tollot knew from a young age that she wanted a career in the winemaking business, and she spent her childhood in the domaine working alongside her father. After attended high school in Beaune – the heart of Burgundy wine country – Nathalie began working full-time at Domaine Tollot-Beaut. Nathalie became the first female president of the Burgundy Groupe des Jeunes Professionnels de la Vigne in the 1990s.

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Keynote Address: Dana Cowin, Editor-in-Chief of Food & Wine on the topic of risk-taking (now Chief Creative Officer, Chefs Club International, with restaurants in Manhattan and Aspen, CO

Moderator:  Madeline Triffon, MS, Plum Market in-house Master Sommelier (Southeastern Michigan and Metro Chicago)

Panel 1: Taking Intelligent Career Risks

Jennifer Iannolo, The Concordia Project, Founder & CEO
Gina Langone, BJs Wholesale Club, National Wine Buyer
Maeve Pesquera, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Director of Wine
Laura Williamson, MS, The Mandarin Oriental New York, Wine Director

Panel 2: Guided Wine Tasting

Dominga Cotarella, Falesco, Italy
Carole Meredith, Lagier Meredith, U.S.2015
Viviana Navarrete, Leyda, Chile
Lissi Wieninger, Weingut Wieninger, Austria

Panel 3: Fostering Diversity Through Inclusive Leadership
Lee Campbell, Andrew Tarlow Group, Wine Director
Anna Lee Iijima, Wine Enthusiast, Contributing Editor
June Rodil, MS, McGuire Moorman Hospitality, Wine & Beverage Director
Clarice Turner, Starbucks, Senior Vice President, Americas Business
Jeanine Prime, PhD, Catalyst, Senior Vice President, Research

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Keynote address: Ruth Reichl, bestselling author and food critic

Panels and guided tasting moderated by Madeline Triffon, MS, Plum Market in Michigan and Chicago

Panel 1: Creating and Defining Work-Life Balance
Cynthia Emrich, PhD, Catalyst (non-profit research group)
Shelley Lindgren, A16 and SPQR, San Francisco, CA
Marika Vida-Arnold, The Ritz-Carlton, New York City
Deborah Hansen, Taberna De Haro, Brookline, MA

Guided Tasting
Autumn Stoscheck, Eve’s Cidery, Finger Lakes, New York
Izabella Zwack, Dobogó, Tokaji, Hungary
Valentina Argiolas, Argiolas, Sardegna, Italy
Maria Pica, J Portugal Ramos, Alentejo & Vinho Verde, Duorum, Douro, Portugal

Panel 2:  Pathways and Strategies for Success
Marianne Ruggiero, Optima Careers
Jordan Salcito, Momofuku, New York City
Cynthia Tom, Whole Foods Market, New Jersey & New York
Kristen Wolfe Bieler, Beverage Media

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Keynote and moderator: address: Madeline Triffon, MS, Plum Market in Michigan and Chicago

Panel: Strategies for Career Advancement
Debbie Zachareas, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant San Francisco, Owner
Linda Milagros Violago, Contra Restaurant NYC, Beverage Director
Mary Melton, P.F. Chang’s, Beverage Director
Kristie Petrullo, Petrullo Wine Consulting

Panel: Building Key Relationships: Mentorship & Sponsorship
Pascaline Lepeltier, Rouge Tomate NYC, Beverage Director
Anna Beninger, Catalyst, Senior Associate, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to expand opportunities for women and business.
Jill Roberts, The Marrow NYC, Beverage Director
Virginia Philip, MS, Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy (West Palm Beach), Owner, The Breakers, Beverage Director

Inspired by Wine Panel & Guided Tasting
Sandra Tavares, Wine & Soul, Owner, Winemaker
Julie Johnson, Tres Sabores, Owner, Winemaker
Roberta Ceretto, Ceretto, Public Relations/Communications
Silvia Imparato, Montevetrano, Owner
Marta Santander Martínez Bujanda, Viña Bujanda, Finca Valpiedra, Finca Antigua

Closing remarks by Madeline Triffon, MS and Q & A

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Keynote and Moderator: Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW

Panel 1: Challenges and Successes of Women in the Wine World
Annette Alvarez-Peters, Assistant General Merchandise Managers (wine, spirits, beer), Costco
Leslie Sbrocco, Author, Speaker and owner of Thirsty Girl
Madeline Triffon, first female MS in the U.S. and director of wine at Plum Market
Christy Canterbury, MW, author, speaker, consultant, educator

Panel 2: Multi-Generational Wine-Producing Families
Marilisa Allegrini: Allegrini, Poggio al Tesoro, San Polo
Laura Catena: Bodega Catena Zapata
Xandra Falcó: Marqués de Griñón
Heidi Scheid:  Scheid Vineyards (24 Knots)

Inspired by Wine Panel & Guided Tasting
Marilisa Allegrini: Allegrini, Poggio al Tesoro, San Polo
Laura Catena: Bodega Catena Zapata
Xandra Falcó: Marqués de Griñón
Heidi Scheid:  Scheid Vineyards (24 Knots)
Nadia Zenato: Zenato
Tamra Washington: Yealands

Panel 3. Industry Trends.
Christy Frank, owner, Frankly Wines, NYC
Stephanie Johnson, Director of Wine, City Winery, NYC
Jackie Bergeron, Nielson
Carla Rzeszewski, Wine Director: The Spotted Pig, The Breslin, The John Dory Oyster Bar

Closing remarks by Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW and Q & A