Speakers & Guides
• Passion • Purpose • Produce •
Laura King - Speaker
Laura King is an experienced Coach, Facilitator, and Leadership Mentor with a focus on connection, authenticity and realizing one’s potential. With 25 years in coaching and leadership, she knows that nurturing the growth of each individual is at the heart of building strong relationships and communities. Her approach emphasizes “embodied living and leading,” which encourages leaders to stretch inward and tune into their inner wisdom to live full and rich lives with great confidence and clarity.
Her unique approach weaves lightness, wisdom, and care, making her a valued partner in personal and professional growth. In her free time, you will find her hiking, reading, playing with words and poetry or cold plunging across the beauty of Vermont or abroad.
Mark Mulcahy - Guide
Regenerative Retail specialist
Mark (He, Him, His) was born on Long Island, NY and moved to Northern California when I was 2 years old. He moved to Sonoma County 28 years ago to live in the Valley of the moon along the banks of Sonoma creek.
Mark is a member of Columinate and the founder and owner of Organic Options, which provides transformative leadership and consulting services for natural and organic food Retailers, Businesses, Farms and Distributors. An award-winning consultant, educator, mentor and organic advocate, he has spent more than 40 years in the organic produce industry leading, guiding and inspiring others to their fullest potential.
He is well known for his creative merchandising, effective training techniques, unique and creative approaches to leadership, successful sales growth and promotion strategies, as well as his deep-seated passion for produce and dedication to sustainable agriculture.
A Connoisseur of workplace Joy and inspirational retail operations Mark works with leaders at every level to reimagine their workplace so it can grow and thrive in the changing marketplace.
Mark is the co-creator and presenter of Rising Stars, a nationally recognized leadership development course for natural food retailers.
He also co leads Passion, Purpose and Produce, a fun thought-provoking, interactive and inspiring gathering of diverse and talented dreamers, changemakers and inspired individuals for a weeklong retreat focused on expansive thinking, building individual and operational resilience & excellence, and creating the space to own your purpose and inspire others to courageously own theirs.
As part of the Columinate Manager on contract and his own produce and operations manager development program Mark has helped businesses of all sizes revamp, revitalize, and restructure their organizations as they transition to a new or reimagined leadership structure.
Mark is an avid baseball fan, Pun Enthusiast®, poet and lover of Pie!
Regenerate the land
Regenerate your heart
Regenerate your life
Samuel Vandegrift - Guide
Lamp Lighter. Instigator. Consultant. Resturanteur. Fighter. Lover. Dreamer. Pie Baker. Swirler. Partner. Parent. Hugger. Comrade.
Samuel (he/they) brings unstoppable energy, expertise, and a passion for hospitality that transforms businesses and electrifies guest experiences. He spent his career leading teams, creating unforgettable outcomes, dynamic programs, and turning retail and restaurant spaces into hubs of excitement and connection. As a culture consultant with Columinate, he helps businesses sharpen their identity, strengthen team culture, and design customer experiences that drive loyalty and sales. As a restauranteur, he builds dynamic beverage programs, crafts engaging events, and leads teams of all experience levels to deliver excellence. Whether shaping a wine list, developing innovative marketing strategies, or mentoring future industry leaders, Samuel thrives on making hospitality more fun, more inclusive, and more successful.
Holding a prestigious Diploma in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, he combines top-tier expertise with an irreverent, fun-loving approach. Samuel believes that great food and drink should inspire joy, not intimidation. His curiosity and love for all things delicious fuel his mission to break down barriers to pleasure. “Time and again, folks seem apologetic, even embarrassed, to ask questions about the unknown - something I really started to notice around wine. This speaks to ways fear limits our point of view and potential. What could happen if we live, instead, in possibility rather than preconception? Imagine just how expansive, delicious, and joyful your world would become?!” This ethos lies central creation of the Flavor Foundations workshop series, which brings people closer to ways flavor, memory, and perception interplay in our lives.
His high-energy events, engaging public speaking, and hands-on mentorship spark confidence, excitement, and a thirst for knowledge among both customers and industry professionals. Throughout his career, Samuel built sales territories from the ground up, led teams to smash revenue goals, and designed multimillion-dollar beverage programs that keep guests coming back for more. He judged wine competitions, presented at conferences, and developed teams to defy expectations. Whether deep in a P&L, revamping a beverage program, or sharing an incredible beverage with a great story, he makes life an adventure—one filled with laughter, discovery, and unforgettable experiences.
He thinks you should read this.