Conversation Events

 CONVERSATIONS OVERVIEW

The Forum's "Signature" Conversation Events are held in a more intimate setting and relaxed atmosphere while providing the same high caliber of speakers and programming offered at the Symposium. Guests are greeted with wine as they arrive and the evening concludes with a fully-hosted hour-long reception (cocktails and hors d'oeuvres). Each Event features two related and inspiring presentations. The conversational approach encourages speaker remarks that are thoughtful and candid, while also substantive. The environment enables a lively exchange of ideas and the building of relationships among the speakers and the participants. Locations include Lakeview Inn at Camelback Inn Golf Course, Mariposa Ballroom at Orange Tree Golf Resort (both with outdoor patios adjacent to the golf course), the Sanctuary Resort and the Madison Center for the Arts. Join us for an evening of insights, inspiration and camaraderie!

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025

"REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP: FROM THE CHEF'S TABLE TO THE BOARDROOM"

HEAR & MEET ELITE CHEFS, RESTAURATEURS & CULINARY EXECUTIVES, INCLUDING
3 JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNING / SEMIFINALIST CHEFS &
2 CHEFS WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE JULIA CHILD

HOW THEY TACKLED CHALLENGES & GAINED RECOGNITION
CREATED THEIR OWN OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANCED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES
PLUS, A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE KITCHENS OF TOP RESTAURANTS

SHARE WINE & HORS D'OEUVRES, WISDOM & CONVERSATION
BUILD VALUABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH 200+ POWERFUL WOMEN

3:00 - 3:30 PM -- Registration & Wine on Arrival
3:30 - 5:00 PM -- Trailblazers' Fireside Chat & Culinary Leaders' Roundtable
5:00 - 6:00 PM -- Hosted Reception with Hors d'Oeuvres & Open Bar

Orange Tree Resort
10601 N. 56th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85254

$125 Advance Registration -- $500 "Group of 5" Registration

 

CHARLEEN BADMAN -- Leaders'' Roundtable Chef & Co-Owner of FnB Restaurant, Scottsdale 2019 James Beard Awards Winner, Best Chef Southwest Chef & Co-Owner of Inside & Chef de Cuisine of Lobster Club, New York City As Chef and Co-Owner of the award-winning FnB Restaurant in Scottsdale, Charleen is one of Arizona's most celebrated chefs, including a James Beard Awards Winner for Best Chef of the Southwest 2019. In 2010 FnB won "Best New Restaurant" designation from every major Phoenix news media outlet. In 2013, she and her Partner at FnB were inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame as "Best Restaurateurs."  Prior to opening FnB, Charleen was Sous Chef at Cafe Terra Cotta in Scottsdale, Chef de Cuisine at the famed Lobster Club in New York City and Chef/Owner of the Greenwich Village restaurant, Inside. She is the founder of the nonprofit organization, the Blue Watermelon Project.

ROCHELLE DANIEL -- Leaders' Roundtable Chef/Owner of Atria Restaurant, Flagstaff & 3 New Concepts in Development 2022 James Beard Awards Semifinalist, Emerging Chef U.S. Executive Chef at L'Auberge De Sedona Resort & Fat Ox  A Phoenix native and award-winning chef, Rochelle is Chef/Owner at Atria in Flagstaff. She was previously the Executive Chef at Fat Ox in Scottsdale. She was a James Beard Semifinalist for Emerging Chef in 2022, received the Top Chef Foodist Award in 2023 and was a Finalist on the Food Network's "Chopped Grill Masters." Prior to that, she was the Executive Chef at L'Auberge de Sedona Resort and the Chef de Cuisine at Zinc Bistro. She was inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame in 2017. Rochelle is currently working with her partners on additional restaurant concepts in Northern Arizona.

SAMANTHA SANZ -- Leaders' Roundtable 2020 James Beard Awards Semifinalist, Best Chef Southwest 2019 James Beard Awards Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef U.S. Chef de Cuisine at elements/Sanctuary Resort & Talavera/Four Seasons Resort A native of Nogales, Samantha grew up in her family's restaurant and developed a deeply rooted passion for food. After graduating Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale and spending a year in France, she began her career at elements and Virtu Honest Craft. At 28, she found her way to Talavera at Four Seasons Resort and became one of the youngest chefs in the Four Seasons brand. She returned to elements at the Sanctuary Resort as Chef de Cuisine in 2020. Samantha was a James Beard Awards Semifinalist for Rising Star Chef in 2019 and a James Beard Awards Semifinalist for Best Chef Southwest in 2020. She was honored with the 2023 Latina Strong Chef Ambassador Award.

EILEEN JOY SPITALNY -- Leaders' Roundtable Co-Owner & Co-Founder of Fairytale Brownies Eileen and her Fairytale Brownies' Co-Founder, David Kravetz, met in a Madison School District Kindergarten classroom and made a playground pact that they would one day be their own boss. That pact became a reality when, after college and several years in the corporate world, they founded Fairytale Brownies, which now bakes about seven million brownies each year. A one-time USC Entrepreneur and Arizona Small Businessperson of the Year, Eileen served as an ASU Art Museum Advisory Board member, a Slow Food member and President of the San Francisco and Phoenix chapters of Les Dames d'Escoffier.

HELEN YUNG -- Leaders' Roundtable Co-Owner & Co-Founder of Sweet Republic Artisan Ice Cream Previously an Investment Banker, Citigroup in New York, London & Tokyo Helen is the Co-Founder and creative culinary force behind Sweet Republic, an award-winning artisan ice cream company. Prior to embarking on her culinary career, Helen was an investment banker at Citigroup's New York, London and Tokyo offices. She combined her formal culinary trailing from Le Cordon Bleu with her global palate cultivated from travels to 25+ countries. Sweet Republic has been named among the top ice cream shops in the U.S. by Bon Appetit Magazine and USA Today. It has grown to three locations in the Valley and is distributed at Whole Foods Market and fine-dining establishments throughout Arizona..

BETH COCHRAN -- Leaders' Roundtable Regional Vice President, Snooze AM Eatery Executive at Paradise Bakery and Cafe, P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Salty Sow Beth is the Regional Vice President at Snooze A.M. Eatery, a full-service restaurant company based in Denver, CO and currently operating 71 locations across 10 states. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., Beth began her Arizona career opening the very first P.F. Chang's China Bistro in Scottsdale where she spent 15 years. Her next role was Director of Franchise Operations for Paradise Bakery and Cafe. She joined the Snooze team in 2014 and now oversees the Arizona and Nevada regions, in addition to being a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

BARBARA FENZL -- Trailblazers' Fireside Chat Host of PBS TV Series "Savor the Southwest" Shown in 90 U.S. Cities Owner of Les Gourmettes Cooking School in Phoenix for 36 Years Author of the Award-Winning Southwest the Beautiful Cookbook  A true trailblazer, Barbara has played many roles on the American culinary stage. She hosted the PBS TV series Savor the Southwest, shown in 90 cities throughout the country. She authored the award-winning Southwest the Beautiful Cookbook, as well as Savor the Southwest and Seasonal Southwest Cooking. With a love for teaching, she owned and operated, for 36 years, the acclaimed Les Gourmettes Cooking School. Her kitchen hosted renowned guest chefs, including Julia Child, Jacques Pepin and Robert Mondavi. Barbara was a frequent contributor to Bon Appeiti magazine and was the Food Editor of Phoenix Home and Garden magazine.

SUSAN DAVIDSON -- Trailblazers' Fireside Chat Associate Chef to Julia Child & Executive Director of the Julia Child Foundation Executive Director of Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris, France Food Editor of Food & Wine Magazine  Susy Davidson charted her own idiosyncratic path in what was a rapidly evolving culinary world. After college, she attended Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris, and later returned as the Executive Director of the prestigious culinary school. She became friends with Julia Child, acting as her Associate Chef for Julia's segments on ABC's Good Morning America. She was the Food Editor at Food and Wine magazine. For many years, Susy  was a food consultant to American Express on several exclusive programs, including its Platinum Card By Invitation Only program, its Restaurant Trade Program at the Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen and its restaurant business publication, Restaurant Briefing.

EVENT PARTNER

 

$125 Advance Registration   $150 Full-Price Registration   $500 Registration for Group of 5
Seating is Limited. Register Early.

Please click here for our Registration Form.

If you have questions, please contact us online or by phone at 602-861-9350.