Sarah, the founder of Deco Denim, graduated from San Francisco’s Academy of Art with a BFA in Fashion Design. She’s positioned herself in the fashion industry over the years having interned with Gwen Stefani’s label L.A.M.B and then moving onto Old Navy, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic Outlet, and Gymboree before landing her dream job at Levi’s."While at Levi's I did everything from reporting on trends, working on design collections, supply comments for shade reviews, designed back pocket embroideries, selected hardware and denim, and managed fittings." Her time at the legendary denim brand was invaluable. It also shed light on how the fast fashion industry decimates even the most well-respected brands. She witnessed how forecasting each season resulted in the overdevelopment of fabrics, excessive use of water for washing and chemicals for dry processing.Sarah took her established brand insights and knowledge and made a move to Gustin - a rising company with a different philosophy to jeans. Here, she learned about the art and love of premium denim made right—ethically and with the best possible materials."While with Gustin I helped source fabrics and new factories, wrote copy for product campaigns, designed new products and managed entire productions."Still, she found herself daydreaming about what was to come. And after 15 years in the denim trenches, Sarah finally set her sights on her creating her brand, her way."Although I loved my time with Gustin, I couldn't stop thinking about how few brands were out there that embraced sustainable practices and ethically-made products. Not only that, but brands ideally should be empowering their customers to ask questions about how and where their clothes are made." Today Sarah is tackling everything that she sees lacking in the industry with Deco Denim—an ethical, sustainable, size inclusive and gender fluid brand with a mission to weave transparency and thoughtfulness in every stitch."I wish more people knew how much waste surrounds fast fashion; not just in production but also the sheer volume of what's donated or thrown away." Deco Denim hit the ground running in late 2022, and looking ahead Sarah has a clear vision for the future of her brand. "I would love to see Deco Denim outfitting everyone- all sizes and identities globally. I want this brand to be a resource for education about the fashion industry, to help people feel empowered to ask questions and dig deeper into what they're buying." 

Chef Matt Vawter was raised in Summit County, Colorado, where his first exposure to the culinary arts occurred as an underclassman at Summit High School.  Before his senior year, Vawter was invited to the Colorado Mountain College Culinary Apprenticeship Program in Keystone. After completing the program at CMC while fulfilling coursework for high school graduation, he was encouraged by mentors to explore beyond Summit County and gain experience in the burgeoning Denver restaurant scene. In 2007 Vawter joined the culinary team at Fruition restaurant under Chef Alex Seidel. Seidel and Vawter proved powerful collaborators, leading Fruition to nationwide prominence, and then, in 2014 opening Mercantile Dining & Provision at Union Station. During Vawter’s time at Fruition and Mercantile, he developed his cooking style and honed his culinary ethos with a focus on intentional sourcing. Vawter has maintained a commitment to local purveyors, to utilize the best ingredients available, and to nurture relationships with Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and artisans. The challenges of seasonality with the elevated mountain environment have expanded relationships nationwide with a network of small, independent partners. Rootstalk has dedicated its efforts to using techniques to highlight these ingredients in a sustainable manner.Amidst the collective successes of Mercantile and Fruition, Vawter was drawn to return to his mountain roots and to raise his children at home in Summit County. In December of 2020, he opened Rootstalk in Breckenridge intending to provide an approachable, technique-focused, ingredient-driven dining experience to the local community. Rootstalk was designed to feel like coming home, evoking Vawter’s own nostalgic return to the place that he loves dearly. With a steadfast commitment to fostering an environment where hospitality professionals can feel empowered and flourish amidst the backdrop of mountain living, Vawter envisions Rootstalk as more than just a dining destination—it's a place where guests are welcomed, embraced, and invited to savor exceptional food, drink, and genuine hospitality. Eighteen months after Rootstalk’s opening, Vawter and his partners opened Radicato in the heart of Breckenridge. Radicato celebrates the rich heritage of Italy and speaks to feeling deeply rooted in a place and the desire to embrace the energy there, while also echoing Rootstalk’s commitment to intentionality and excellence on every level.Both of Vawter’s restaurants are gathering places for the Summit County community and visitors alike, providing a welcome home to this special place and a memory in the making.    Milestones, Awards, and Accolades 2005 | Completes CMC Culinary Apprenticeship Program 2007 | Begins career at Fruition Restaurant in Denver, CO 2014 | Zagat 30 Under 30 Culinary Game Changers 2014 | Eater Young Guns 2014 | Opening of Mercantile Dining & Provision in Denver, CO 2017 | Starchefs Rising Star 2020 | Opening of Rootstalk in Breckenridge, CO 2022 | Opening of Radicato in Breckenridge, CO  2023 | Best of Summit Awards ‘Best Chef’  2024 | James Beard Award Semifinalist ‘Best Chef: Mountain’

Through her career in journalism, communications and global development, Madeline has shed light on important issues and underrepresented communities around the world. She has been a producer for MSNBC and VICE, and her editorial work has appeared in Al Jazeera, Forbes, France24, Teen Vogue and the UN Dispatch. Madeline worked internationally in West Africa and Asia for both small nonprofits and government agencies helping to foster diplomacy and empower local communities before founding Juniper Media in 2019. She holds a master’s in International Affairs from Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment at The New School with a focus on human rights and media. Juniper Media is a female and LGBTQ+ founded media company harnessing the power of journalistic storytelling to create social change. Tackling critical issues from gender equity to climate justice, we collaborate with like-minded brands and organizations to amplify marginalized voices and make an impact through innovative storytelling.

Alicia Tulsee is a native New Yorker and Harvard alum, based in Boston, MA and is the founder of the first direct to consumer medical apparel brand for nurses, Moxie Scrubs.In awe of all of the amazing nurses who cared for her loved ones, Alicia felt a calling to do something meaningful for the nursing profession and founded Moxie Scrubs out of Harvard University’s Innovation Lab with the passion to create a brand dedicated to giving nurses the sense of fashion, professionalism, and respect that they want and deserve.“I founded Moxie Scrubs in 2019 with the passion to create a brand dedicated to giving nurses the sense of fashion, professionalism, and respect that they want and deserve. There couldn’t be a more pressing time for a brand and mission like ours” ~ Alicia Tulsee, Founder & CEOMoxie Scrubs is disrupting the medical apparel market as the first direct-to-consumer brand for nurses. To propel their mission further, Moxie Scrubs has partnered with nursing organizations across the country including the American Nurses Association (ANA) who have worked to advance the nursing profession for over a century. “This partnership gives us access to over two million nurses across the U.S., almost half of the nursing population,” Tulsee says. “It’s a huge validation… We want to support the people who come through for us in times of great need: our nurses.” Through these partnerships, Moxie Scrubs is fostering a strong community among nurses, to inspire, support, and empower them and their life-saving work. The Moxie team prides itself in maintaining an authentic connection to their customer, from involving nurses in how they approach designing products and in every aspect of their brand to making sure that values like empathy and care (hallmarks of the nursing profession) come through in their company culture. In effect, Tulsee says, most people are surprised to learn that Moxie is still a startup in a 12 billion dollar medical apparel industry.Just reaching their 2 year mark, Moxie Scrubs has already gained significant traction with placements in publications such as USA Today, Medium, Forbes Next 1000, and others, with over 14 thousand email subscribers and already generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue after only 6 months of sales. Moxie Scrubs aspires to become the number one direct to consumer lifestyle brand for nurses and healthcare professionals alike.

Jen Lippe - CN, ACNMeet Jen (with one "n"), our energetic Chief Nutritional Officer and supplement expert, known for her ability to transform complex information into engaging insights, making your supplement journey both informative and enjoyable. As a seasoned functional nutritionist and entrepreneur, Jennifer Lippe owns and operates two nutrition-based companies that emphasize a whole food philosophy, educating and supporting numerous patients while integrating functional nutrition systems into doctors' offices through online courses. Jen is your go-to gal for all things supplements, simplifying intricate details and turning them into enticing anecdotes. With her wit and wealth of knowledge, she'll be your guide through the supplement world, ensuring you make well-informed decisions and steer clear of any snake oil salesmen. Plus, when she's not busy enriching lives, you can find her living a wellness-focused lifestyle, enjoying sports like snowboarding, surfing, and marathon running.

Ethan Levine is a researcher, advocate, and award-winning speaker on interpersonal violence and LGBTQ communities. He brings a combined 15+ years of professional experience, along with lived experience of sexual and dating violence, to the work.

Domonique Rose is a creative floral design studio experienced in creating art with florals for weddings, special events, bespoke orders, editorials, and installations. Each design is multifaceted, intentional, and a little rebellious. We are unapologetic, funky, and love the finer things in life. We don’t take life too seriously – and we’ll always stop to smell the roses. Technically, we’re supposed to write all the buzz words: woman-owned, minority-owned, etc. Although these all apply, our main focus is and always will be the art we create.Combining a unique blend of seasonal and foraged stems, Dom orchestrates each design with an elevated approach while honoring the natural state of flowers. She has worked with brands and celebrity clientele such as Jessica Alba, Avaline, RMS Beauty, Lizzy Mathis, Full Stop Management, Victoria's Secret, Stance, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, YouTube, and more. We are based in Los Angeles, CA but will travel wherever your floral story takes us! About DomNo dramatic story here with florals, more of a cliche "flowers found me" situation. Creative outlet turned hobby turned career! I'm a down to earth, sarcastic, and quirky florist bringing beauty to the world one stem at a time.I'm born and raised in Los Angeles with cultural background of Mexican and Native American heritages. And be the LA native that I am, I a true valley girl at heart. Dont' get me wrong, the hidden gems and inspiration around LA are immeasurable, but there's something about that valley heat and those hillside views that make it magical. I love being outside and will do anything I can to enjoy the fresh air. Preferably with good company, music, food and drinks! I'm always up for a good adventure but will gladly take a spa day instead. And let's be honest, a dream day would be to do both! My husband (also a Valley native) and I have been married for almost 8 years. We have a 5 year old son, Donovan, who also happens to be my Chief Floral Officer.Thanks for getting to know me a bit more! I look forward to learning more about you so feel free to drop a line on IG or email over a hello! 

Yvette Rose is a certified and registered Holistic Health Coach who specializes in nutrition, brain health, dietary supplement programming, yoga, Reiki, and meditation. Yvette founded the health and wellness brand JouleBody, drawing on her own experiences as a mother seeking natural health remedies. Her time at Equinox highlighted the connection between maternal health and child well-being, prompting her to develop nutritionally-rich foods for busy women and mothers. Discovering the impact of environmental toxins that can disrupt hormones, Yvette created JouleBody, convenient bars and teas promoting functional nutrition and daily detox for modern lifestyles.

Elizabeth spent the first ten years of her career producing commercials for some of the biggest brands and advertising agencies around the world, with her work taking her across North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It was while working with overseas clients and local film crews in places far from home that Elizabeth realized the kind of meaningful change that can take place when you spend time experiencing cultures different from your own.  As a dual citizen of the UK, Elizabeth was born in London and spent her early years there before moving stateside to Richmond, and then Atlanta. After graduating from Ole Miss, she moved to New York City for nearly a decade before she and her husband relocated to London for a few years, during which they traveled Western Europe extensively. When they relocated to Denver, Elizabeth launched her travel business under the tutelage of industry veteran Betty Jo Currie. She is delighted to have found a home at The Local Foreigner, which will allow her clients to benefit from the company’s wealth of knowledge, leverage their incredible worldwide relationships, and enjoy all the VIP perks and treatment The Local Foreigner is known for.

Distillery 98 was founded in 2016 by Harrison Holditch and his brother-in-law and head distiller David Kapitanoff. Learn more at distillery98.com.Half Shell is a distinctive spirits brand informed by the unique ecology of the Florida coastline. Made from locally grown corn, distilled through an 18-plate column, and filtered through Gulf oyster shells, Half Shell lives up to both its moniker and the spirit of the Panhandle.

As a professional chef to athletes in the NBA, NFL, and WNBA, a mother to two kids with a rare genetic cancer disease, and a living kidney donor herself, Chef Kirsten Sandoval couldn't find healthy convenience products on the market in inclusive flavors that fit all of her needs.She knew there was a way we could have it all: convenient blends that work as hard as we do, globally-inspired flavors that invite everyone to the table, quality ingredients that boost flavor AND nutrition, variety, versatility, and above all GREAT taste.So, she went out and created them for her clients, and now we are sharing them with you! (Here is the link to Mesa de Vida on Press Hook!)Kirsten Sandoval is also a driven entrepreneur with a diverse culinary and professional skill set. Prior to launching Mesa de Vida, she owned and operated her own personal chef and nutrition consulting business for over 12 years, served as a chef spokesperson for nutritious food brands and health nonprofits. She has a wide variety of nutrition education, combined with her life experiences of overcoming obstacles (health transformation losing over 100 pounds, being single mother to two kids with a rare genetic disease, food addiction, domestic violence, poverty), in addition to a healthy dose of grit.Her journey to living the most delicious, vibrant life - and helping others do the same - has led to the honor of having been on Food Network and the covers of Womans Day and Womans World magazines, and more. (Fun fact: she won her episode of Guy's Grocery Games!)Chef Kirsten and her kids are also domestic violence survivors. After receiving help from a domestic violence shelter they rebuilt a life of happiness, respect, and big dreams.This passion has forged a life, business, and career devoted to making it easier for people to live more healthier, more delicious lives, and shaping the type of products she wants to bring into the world, and company she wants to create.

🏒 Meet Christina, Turbie Twist's dynamo and the epitome of a hockey mom on the go. Co-founding our brand by day and cheering from the ice rinks by night, she masterfully navigates the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship with the same grace and fervor as a game-winning goal. 🌟 Her spirit is as resilient as it is nurturing, ensuring that both her Turbie family and her team at home skate smoothly towards success.