The 6th Annual Women’s Beverage Alcohol Symposium brought over 200 women in the beverage alcohol industry together last month around the theme “Just Thrive.” The symposium was hosted by Martignetti Companies at its headquarters in Taunton, MA.
To kick off the event, a short video featured interviews with winemakers and distillers from around the world on how they “Thrive” in their careers. Highlights of the video included Jen Wall of Barefoot Wines on how collaboration makes the difference; Kim Nichols of Markham Winery, who reminded attendees to ask for what they want; Kelly Woods from Burgess Cellars, who encouraged women to take risks in their careers; and Heidi Scheid of Scheid Family Wines, who believes working moms provide a strong role model for their children.
Keynote speaker, Priya Parker, is the author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters. In this interactive, 75-minute session, She guided attendees through a series of exercises, asking them to connect with people they hadn’t met on an authentic level. From business meetings to hosting events in your home, attendees learned that purpose and a little vulnerability will lead to more meaningful gatherings.
This year’s breakout sessions were on topics ranging from health and wellness, harnessing your strengths, making workplace allies, and wine and spirits education. Martignetti Companies’ partnership with Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business remained the cornerstone of the symposium, the company said, bringing awareness to women in the workplace.
Closing the symposium was Fawn Weaver, author, historian, founder of the Nearest Green Foundation and co-founder of Uncle Nearest Whiskey. Weaver shared how she uncovered the story of Nathan “Nearest” Green through research in Lynchburg, TN. Known as Uncle Nearest to his family and friends, one such friend being Jack Daniel, Green is credited with the distilling process that lead to the original Tennessee whiskey recipe and becoming Jack Daniel’s first master distiller.
Martignetti Companies and their supplier sponsors have made workplace diversity a priority with the annual Women’s Beverage Alcohol Symposium, the company says. “We look forward to seeing what the future may bring in the many years to come.”
