Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/504216
90 / the tasting panel / may 2015 After hearing from a number of attendees, several themes—beyond noticing the great strides already taken by women—arose as the common takeaways from the weekend's happenings: • It's about working hard and being passionate no matter your gender. • Men are allies and many of them are just as supportive to our efforts as their female counterparts. • Being a woman should not be considered a negative; we have strengths and a different perspective that can be used to our advantage. But if you had to sum up the event in one word, "inspiring" would best encom- pass the energy felt while being among that group of intelligent and insightful women. Off and Running The panel for the first breakout session that our Publisher and Editorial Director Meridith May moderated, Strategies for Successful Marketing & Promotions: Off-Premise, featured Anne St. John, Director, Project Management and Data Analysis, The Charmer-Sunbelt Group; Kyla Welsh, Director of Winery Retail, True Fabrications; Loulie Willis, Account Executive, American Wine and Spirits; Mary Connolly, Buyer–Wine, Spirits and Beer for Northern California and Northern Nevada, Costco Wholesale; Janice Ojczyk, Category Specialist, Wine & Spirits at Walgreens; and Amy Hoopes, Executive Vice President, Global Sales, Wente Family Estates. While it covered a wide array of off-premise specific topics—such as bringing premium wine selections into a store built around convenience and how to make wine less intimidating to a new customer—the sesson also touched on what being a woman means in a traditionally male-dominated field. While plenty of gender- related horror stories were shared, Hoopes made the point to "try and not to see the barriers; instead, support your fellow women." Connelly brought up that it was "great to see so many strong and so many young women in the room," and after looking around the room of 270 audience members, we couldn't agree more. The Off-Premise Panel (left to right): Anne St. John, Director, Project Management and Data Analysis, The Charmer-Sunbelt Group; Kyla Welsh, Director of Winery Retail, True Fabrications; Loulie Willis, Account Executive, American Wine and Spirits; (kneeling) Meridith May, Publisher and Editorial Director, THE TASTING PANEL; Mary Connolly, Buyer–Wine, Spirits and Beer for Northern California and Northern Nevada, Costco Wholesale; Janice Ojczyk, Category Specialist, Wine & Spirits at Walgreens; and Amy Hoopes, Executive Vice President, Global Sales, Wente Family Estates.