Annette is the founder of annette a.p. Wine and Spirits Inc, a consultancy business focused on business development and merchandising for the wine and spirits industry.

She previously held a 37 year career with Costco Wholesale, including 25 years in the Beverage Alcohol department retiring in January 2020 as Vice President/General Merchandise Manager. Annette has extensive managerial and merchandising experience in the wine and spirits business. She led a team in the United States with a global sales volume of approximately $4.8 billion (2019). During her tenure, Annette led the development for the successful private label brand, Kirkland Signature for wine and spirit items.

In May 2021, Annette was appointed to the Board of Directors for Crimson Wine Group, a portfolio which engages in the production and sale of luxury wines. She is also on the advisory board and serves as a Mentor for Wine Unify, a non-profit organization to promote and celebrate diversity in the wine industry.

You can follow her on Instagram at @annette.a.p.

Jenn Holterman is the Merchandise Director of Wine at Target based in Minneapolis, MN. Jenn has been at Target for 12 years with the most recent 9 years on the Adult Beverage team. She began her career in Space/Presentation followed by the Multicultural team supporting Beauty/Healthcare. During her time on the Adult Beverage team, she more than doubled the business to over $1B today through elevated store experiences, new licenses and launching several successful national brands. She also introduced the regional buying model for Target, launched Adult Bev Order Pick-up/Drive-up nationally in nearly 1,200 stores and developed and launched over 14 exclusively launched brands (including California Roots which is now a top wine brand at Target). Jenn has accomplished all this growth while maintaining her passion for driving diversity in the wine industry and delivering curated offerings that are authentic, trend-forward, and innovative for the Target guest.

Jenn is married to her husband Andy and together they have two little boys - Nicholas and Bennett. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, biking and watching sports with her family. You can follow Jenn on Instagram at @jennjeane.

Susan Hayes is the Vice President of MO Cellar Selections, a portfolio specializing in premium and super premium wines and spirits in the Pacific Northwest. Susan retired from a long time career as Buyer in the wine and spirits field at Costco Wholesale, a position she held for 15 years in two regions in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Susan’s buying career expands decades and has allowed her to travel the world, meet notable personalities in the wine and spirits industry, and study with experts; including earning her WSET Level 2 certificate. She was also inducted into Bordeaux’s Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc. Susan’s industry experience is truly invaluable and can help mentees navigate through their own careers. Hayes has a passion for food, wine and spirits, friends, travel, and art. Upon leaving the corporate world, while vacationing in Hawaii, Sue began a business painting pet portraits, which have been commissioned all over the USA and as far as the UK.

Susan lives in Washington State with her companion Rick. They enjoy boating the beautiful Washington lakes, traveling to Mexico and Europe and most of all spending time with their seven children and five grandchildren. You can follow Susan on Instagram at @suehayes3442.

Chrissy Edrozo is the regional wine buyer for Costco Wholesale overseeing the Southwest region, purchasing for 44 locations in 5 states. She holds the WSET Advanced Level 3 award and continues her studies. Chrissy is a wine contributor to the member monthly publication The Costco Connection and a representative of Costco’s in-house women's group, Journey’s. Edrozo began her career in 2001 at Costco. Prior to that, she held many roles beginning in operations at an entry level position before transitioning to the purchasing department. She held various roles within the Mexico buying division and then moved to the Southwest region in the Food & Sundries division.

Today, she resides in San Diego, CA with her Fire Captain husband, Ronnie and their family of labs, Bubba and Besty Lou. You can follow Chrissy on Instagram at @chrissyedrozo.

Amy Karasavas is the founder and sommelier of That Pour Woman located in Brooklyn, NY. Her company offers public and private wine tastings and classes. She is currently a WSET Level 4 Diploma candidate. In addition, she has received her sommelier certification with distinction from the Sommelier Society of America along with her WSET Level 3 certification with distinction.

Amy worked at the neighborhood boutique shop Blanc et Rouge Wine & Spirits in Brooklyn, NY for two and a half years. Her experiences lie in wine education, blind tasting training, and the ins and outs of wine retail. Amy has traveled to some of the world’s famous wine regions to enhance her education like France, Portugal, Italy, Chile, Greece, and the USA.

Melissa Zeman is the owner of BottlesUp!, a bottle shop and experience in Chicago. She graduated from Trinity University (San Antonio) in 2007 and in 2009 leapt into the wine industry, officially beginning her career with the full intent of opening her own shop (which ultimately took ten years). During that time Zeman received her WSET Level 2 and managed two different retail shops, specializing in event planning/execution and wine club management. She opened BottlesUp! in September 2019 and runs all aspects of the business. She focuses on being an active part of the community, growing the shop’s 400+ member wine club, and further developing the recurring BeyoU Ladies’ Nights.

In her free time, you can find Zeman playing soccer and supporting fellow small businesses/industry comrades. Follow Melissa and the business at @bottles_up_chicago.

Alexandria (Alex) Sarovich currently is the Wine Director at Little Saint, Single Thread’s more casual sister restaurant in Healdsburg, CA. Her goal is to build an accessible wine program and be part of a dedicated team committed to creating a unique gathering space that will foster and support the community. Alex's career in hospitality has included Single Thread, E2 Hospitality, and Melbourne’s fine dining, Attica.

Alex’s love for all things food and wine began with the joy she experienced gathering around the dinner table with her family, this also inspired her to enroll in culinary school. While attending Johnson & Wales University she discovered an interest in wine and went on to complete a 6-week European wine program based in Germany where she expanded her wine knowledge exponentially. After graduation from JWU, she passed Level 2 Certified Sommelier of the Court of Master Sommeliers.