Meet the Women in Conversation speakers

When: Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 6:00 PM

Host, Amy Gutierrez, will be joined by three inspiring local women: Distiller and breast cancer survivor, Tara Jasper; hair and make-up stylist, Vanessa Colombo; and entrepreneur and tea lover, Alison Kilmer.

Plus, Eat The Season with Heather Irwin from Sonoma Magazine’s Biteclub and make a seasonal cocktail with Duskie Estes.

Tara Jasper

Tara Jasper, Chief Executive Officer at Sipsong Spirits – Physical health, Breast Cancer awareness, and the botanicals that make up Gin

Tara Jasper is a breast cancer survivor and founder of Sipsong Spirits. As a survivor, she knows the value of self-care, and discovered the importance of genetic testing only after she was diagnosed. She now spreads the message far and wide: genetic testing is easily available, affordable, and can play a significant role in preventing a future cancer diagnosis.

Tara grew up here in this flavor-topia. She has always been searching for a way to share Sonoma County with the world. Following her heart all these years led her to create Sipsong. She truly is “Distilling The Moment:” the moment when you taste something you never want to forget, whether it be a cocktail that found just the right balance or the perfect gin and tonic. Sipsong crafts small batch spirits with a focus on gin, intended for the refined palate in search of that moment of pure bliss.

Vanessa Colombo

Hair and Make-up Stylist – Natural beauty with fast, easy ways to feel good about yourself

Hairstylist and makeup artist Vanessa Colombo runs her own business in Santa Rosa and has contributed as a hair and makeup specialist on many of the TV shows and movies, including 13 Reasons Why and Wine Country, that have been filmed over the past few years around Sonoma County. As a beauty and entertainment industry professional that has been significantly affected by the pandemic, as well as a fire survivor that lost her home in the 2017 Tubbs fire, Vanessa is no stranger to self-care through difficult times. She specialized in helping people feel good about themselves and embrace their own natural beauty.

Alison Kilmer

Founder & CEO of Uppercase Tea – Empowering woman through tea!

By blending modern day convenience, English refinement and Eastern Zen, Alison Kilmer has transformed the traditional tea ceremony into a refreshingly civilized timeout for today’s busy women.

Tea and women have a powerful history. As an entrepreneur, tea lover and proud supporter of women’s rights, Allison started UppercaseTea® as a modern evolution of that history and female spirit.

She just launched a skin care line as well. UppercaseTea® Apothecary, in collaboration with MacArthur Place, is a luxurious bath and body line hand-steeped in organic loos leaf tea, which imparts all the anti-oxidant, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties abundant in tea.

Inspired by the Suffragettes and the brave women before us, who united and mobilized over tea, UppercaseTea® is a women-only brand focused on building a powerful sisterhood around tea.

Teacups aloft ladies, let’s do this.

Sonja Schluter and Jill McLewis

Jill McLewis has a passion for chocolate, community service, and challenging projects. After years of working as a critical care Respiratory Therapist, and later in medical and surgical device sales, Jill earned her credential as a project management professional. This served her well during her years as a nonprofit Executive Director and active volunteerism including the Angel Island Conservancy, Sebastopol Community Center serving as President of the Board, Gravenstein Schools Magnet Program Foundation, and other community groups. She however, always felt a tug towards pastry and confections, having obtained her Baking & Pastry Management degree in Orlando, Florida. Jill has continued to attend classes throughout the world, such as Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, studying new techniques and honing her chocolate and pastry skills. The late Master Chocolatier Jean-Pierre Wybauw made a lasting impression that continues to influence her chocolate creations today. She joined Sonja at Eye Candy Chocolatier in 2018 and brought her many talents to their sweet little chocolate kitchen in Gravenstein Station, where they create their tasty treats with laughter, care, and passion.

Sonja Schluter, M.D., local Ophthalmologist and Master Chocolatier, has a passion for crafting delicious and beautiful chocolates and for taking care of her patients. She followed in her mother’s footsteps (the late and beloved Sebastopol ophthalmologist-pioneer Tamara Suslov, MD). After completing her residency in ophthalmology, Sonja trained at the prestigious Wills Eye Hospital for her glaucoma fellowship. She expresses deep satisfaction with the practice of medicine and with developing relationships with her patients. She balances some of the intensity of medicine with the lightness and fun of chocolate, her hobby of 20 years. She opened Eye Candy Chocolatier in 2016 after years of making chocolate for her friends, teachers, and colleagues, and developing her skills and recipes. She received her culinary training from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Ecole Chocolate, and Callebaut Chocolate Academy