Karen Ross

Secretary of the California Dept. of Food & Agriculture

Under Karen Ross' leadership, the California Department of Food & Agriculture has worked to protect and promote California agriculture, championing water conservation, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation strategies for farmers and ranchers across the state, while strengthening farm-fresh food access for kids through CDFA's Farm to Fork Program.

Before CDFA, Karen served as chief of staff to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, and vice president of the Agricultural Council of California.

K.C. Cornwell

Social & Digital Director, CA GROWN

K.C. Cornwell is a food and wine professional two decades in, and a farm kid before that—her father is a fourth-generation California farmer and her mother is a phenomenal cook. Raised in the San Joaquin Valley, she has built a career telling the story of California agriculture from the inside: as a consultant to restaurants, wineries, and food brands through California Pomegranate Co., and today as Social & Digital Director for CA GROWN.

She develops recipes and videos for Whole Foods Market, the California Fig Board, and CA GROWN, and is a contributing editor at GFF Magazine. Her work has appeared on BuzzFeed, Tastemade, and feedfeed, and she is a regular on the PBS series Valley's Gold, with additional national appearances on PBS and Food Network. She also founded G-Free Foodie, a gluten-free resource born from her own celiac diagnosis, and sold its Box Club to Love With Food in 2014. K.C. can be found in her tomato garden, in her kitchen, or in a Central California winery.

Kerry Diamond

Founder of Cherry Bombe & Host of Radio Cherry Bombe

Kerry Diamond is the founder of Cherry Bombe, the media and events company that celebrates women in and around the food world. She's also the editor-in-chief of Cherry Bombe’s print magazine; host of Radio Cherry Bombe, the country’s #1 podcast dedicated to women and food; and co-author of the Cherry Bombe Cookbook. Over the past 13 years, the company has shared the stories of more than 1,000 women in food, from Ina Garten to Padma Lakshmi and Alice Waters.

Kerry has also worked at WWD, Harper’s Bazaar, Lancôme, and Yahoo, and owned several Brooklyn restaurants and the Smith Canteen coffee shop, which was recognized for its sustainability efforts.

A lifelong New Yorker and graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh, Kerry serves on the board of directors of the Food Education Fund and the board of NYC Tourism + Conventions. She loves the intersection of culinary arts and culture, and is committed to supporting women and bringing people together through food and drink.

Dinner & demo with

Mariana Velásquez

Cookbook Author | Food Stylist | Designer

Mariana Velásquez has spent over 20 years immersed in the world of food — from cooking on the line to styling, hospitality consulting, and beyond. Her work spans food, fashion, design, and storytelling, with projects across New York, Latin America, and Asia, blending luxury hospitality, cookbook authorship, food styling, and immersive event design.

Dinner & demo with

Mariana Velásquez

Cookbook Author | Food Stylist | Designer

Mariana Velásquez has spent over 20 years immersed in the world of food — from cooking on the line to styling, hospitality consulting, and beyond. Her work spans food, fashion, design, and storytelling, with projects across New York, Latin America, and Asia, blending luxury hospitality, cookbook authorship, food styling, and immersive event design.

Dinner & demo with

Mariana Velásquez

Cookbook Author | Food Stylist | Designer

Mariana Velásquez has spent over 20 years immersed in the world of food — from cooking on the line to styling, hospitality consulting, and beyond. Her work spans food, fashion, design, and storytelling, with projects across New York, Latin America, and Asia, blending luxury hospitality, cookbook authorship, food styling, and immersive event design.