A theatrically-trained actress turned wine professional, Anitha works in NYC and is always looking for reasons to travel abroad to wine countries. As a top Sales Representative for David Bowler Wine, covering both Manhattan and Brooklyn, Anitha offers her insights and perspective as a mentor for anyone looking to start fresh in this industry, especially in sales, and to be candid about all of the challenges that await, from opening and managing accounts, to education and to managing your own bottom line. As an under-represented member of the wine community (South Asian women), Anitha wants to be a part of changing the landscape of our world of wine, reaching a broader audience - and one which looks more like her...and like you. Interests include helping lift up the voices of BIPOC folx, and not just the ones you see, but also the ones in the vineyards who support this entire industry, mostly in the background.

Follow her on Instagram at @happybellyhappylife.

Aleks is a multifaceted wine professional with 14+ years of industry experience spanning from retail to viticulture and hospitality to sales. Growing up in Atlanta, she worked in her dad’s shop, Decatur Package Store, learning the ins & outs of beverage retail. After college, she moved from retail to restaurants and focused on continuing education through Somm certifications and a harvest internship at Domain Les Lys in Southern France. Aleks was able to work with high performing teams from corporate establishments to Michelin Star programs during her time in the restaurant industry. In 2017 she moved into sales as the Northern California Brand Manager for Trinchero Family Estates. After 6 years with RNDC, she moved on to Northern California Area Manager for Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners. Aleks currently lives in Oakland and is very excited to share her passion with the Batonnage Mentorship program.

As Head of Commercial Strategy & Planning Bonnie is responsible for building the global business strategy for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Her work focuses on supporting the mission of WSET, to offer best in class beverage education to trade and enthusiasts worldwide. With 15 years of experience in the wine industry, Bonnie started her career working in retail and then moved to the distribution and import side of the business. Her work focused on business development for partners ranging in size from international suppliers to boutique family run wineries. Bonnie holds a master’s in International Business Management and WSET Level III Wine qualification.

Julia Vaninger has 20+ years of experience in beverage, primarily focused on distribution and sales. She currently is the SVP for Jacquins Spirts and has had the great privilege of working for Red Bull, Diageo, Remy Cointreau, Heineken, Coravin and Stoli throughout her career. Past experience includes key account management, distribution management, National Accounts and high image accounts in all 50 states and Canada. Her goal and objective with the Batonnage program is to coach women who are eager to grow their career in distribution and sales within beverage; working with them to overcome daily challenges and find their long term career path. She is eager to understand her mentees goals and hep work to achieve them.

Katixa Mercier started her career 18 years ago as a sommelier in fine dining; curating and managing award-winning programs in New Mexico. In 2010, Mercier started consulting for beverage programs for boutique restaurants and hotel groups to private collections nationally. In 2016, she was head-hunted for a sales position for a boutique wholesaler, Favorite Brands, where she quickly ran up the ranks becoming both Wine Portfolio Manager and Sales Manager. She consistently met with local government and participated in state senate hearings to repeal the then retaliatory tax on imports before the pandemic hit and continued to via Zoom thereafter.

During the pandemic, Mercier additionally took on managing the company alongside Texas-based leadership. With staff on furlough, this meant pulling and staging orders, running deliveries, merchandising, sales and continuing to run the portfolio. While running deliveries in the early hours, she additionally met with state legislators via Zoom to advocate for local restaurants and retailers to continue business in any capacity. In 2021, she was offered a position with importer French Libation and soon after was approached by importer Boutique Wine Collection, a portfolio specializing in indigenous varieties from the eastern hemisphere. While running the western half of the region, she also interprets producer meetings overseas and is on the brand development and acquisitions team.

Mercier is of Parisian-Basque in heritage, grew up in Central America and is first generation United States citizen, currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri with her sweetheart.

Giddy up! Yes girl, Natalie Vaclavik, @purplecowgrl as many of her friends call her. With over a decade of experience in distribution and sales, Natalie's journey in the wine industry has been an incredible adventure built on relationships and tenacity to get the job done. Natalie is currently the National Sales Director of family-owned estate vineyards Jonata & Hilt Estate in Santa Barbara and is the winery owner of Poggio Costa, a sparkling prosecco from Italy. Natalie is deeply involved in every aspect of her wineries. Her approach is rooted in building her career based on genuine relationships and pursuing her passion for building the wineries footprint across the country.

Natalie's professional trajectory began just like many of you, as a sales rep on the streets, working for Glazers Domaines & Estates Wine, where she quickly became a top performer, specializing in high-end wine sales for the top accounts in Houston. At the youthful age of 24, she had an opportunity of a lifetime, taking on the role of Sales Director for Evening Lands Vineyards working in Burgundy, Oregon, and Santa Rita Hills. As this world is so connected, subsequently, Natalie became the first sales manager for Terroir Selections, representing renowned brands such as Qupe, Leviathan, Mayacamas, Sandhi, and Mulderbosch. Her entrepreneurial spirit then led her to create Victory Wine Group, a successful distribution company that she helped build from the ground up. The foundation of Victory Wine Group is built on the strong relationships Natalie cultivated with both producers and customers, showcasing her commitment to fostering genuine connections in every aspect of her professional life, which has been integral to her success.

In addition to her thriving career, Natalie recently embraced the joys of motherhood, welcoming a beautiful baby boy last year. Not sure if having a baby was meant to slow her down, she now has a charming copilot accompanying her on the flights around America, navigating the world of wine sales with the baby in tow. This journey has surprisingly proven that being a mother has not only added depth to her personal life but has also brought a unique perspective and resilience to her professional endeavors, reinforcing the idea that parenthood and a successful business can coexist harmoniously.

As third season mentor for Bâtonnage, she is driven by the desire to help demystify the distribution and sales processes, encouraging individuals to delve deep into their true passions within the business. Her mission goes beyond imparting knowledge; she is dedicated to guiding others in following their intuition and unlocking their full potential within the industry. For her, these mentorship connections are cherished above all, recognizing that meaningful relationships are the cornerstone of professional growth in the wine industry.