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.

Ali Hill is a Certified Sommelier originally from New Mexico where she spent five years with a local distributor selling full book and eventually managing the Beer Portfolio. She is currently based out of Denver and has been with Wine Bridge Imports for nearly seven years. She manages the Southwest and New England regions for WBI where she is proud to represent a small, family-owned Importer who specializes in small production, carefully crafted wines from Argentina, Chile, Spain, Portugal, Italy and New Zealand. Ali is on the board of the Women’s Wine Guild of Colorado and committed to advocating for Women in the Beverage and Hospitality sectors.

Alison Barstad is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries, specializing in wine and spirits sales, luxury brand development, and operational strategy. Born and raised in Napa Valley, she brings deep-rooted expertise in fine wine, craft cocktails, and five-star hospitality. She has held executive roles including District Manager at Palm Bay International and Beverage Director at top Napa and Southern California establishments, driving territory growth, revitalizing beverage programs, and leading large teams. Alison also consults through her firm, AB Consulting, scaling e-commerce brands and spearheading marketing and operations across on- and off-premise markets.

Christina Donley began her career at Ridge in 2003 when she was hired at the newly constructed Lytton Springs Winery. After managing sales and hospitality at the Tasting Room, Christina became Ridge’s first Wholesale Manager and over the years directed sales in 31 states and four Canadian provinces. Currently she manages the Western Region including California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii and her favorite, New Mexico.

 Born in the Bay Area, Christina grew up in Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in International Affairs. After University she pursued a life back in California, where she lived for several years before finding a new life in Sandia Mountains of New Mexico.

 A champion for women and minorities in the wine industry, she helped create Ridge’s Diversity Committee in 2020 and has continued to help her community through mentorship and leadership. An avid cook, Christina also loves camping, singing, and hanging out with her friends and family. She is honored to be a part of the Ridge Team and their commitment to producing wines of the highest quality.

Sarah Kasai is a seasoned sales and marketing professional, currently serving as the Director of DTC Sales & Marketing at Three Sticks Wines. She brings a strong background in direct-to-consumer strategy, with a particular focus on fine wine and luxury, family-owned wineries. Sarah is passionate about leveraging customer data to create meaningful, personalized experiences that drive engagement and loyalty.

She holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management from Florida Atlantic University and completed the Graduate Program in Wine & Beverage at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Sarah also holds several wine certifications, including Level 2 Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Originally from South Florida, Sarah now calls Sonoma County home. An avid baker and enthusiastic traveler, she enjoys spending time exploring California with her husband and dog.

Marisa Sergi is a third-generation winemaker, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and the CEO of L’uva Bella Winery, one of the fastest-growing wine companies in the Midwest. With over a decade of hands-on experience in brand building, retail strategy, and product development, she has led her wines into 5,000+ retail stores nationwide. Marisa is passionate about creating pathways for women and underrepresented communities in the wine industry, using her platform to mentor, advocate, and help others navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship, leadership, and scaling in a competitive market.

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.

Susan Hayes is the Vice President of MO Cellar Selections, a wine broker with a portfolio specializing in premium and super premium wines and spirits. She covers 6 West Coast states Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. 

Previously Susan held a 34 year career at Costco Wholesale, with 15 of those years as the Wine and Spirits Buyer.  Her buying career expands decades and has allowed her to travel the world, meet notable industry personalities.  Hayes holds the WSET Level 2 certificate. In addition, she was 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.

Jo Barrett is the Regional Sales Manager for Broadbent Selections and brings over 15 years of experience in wine sales, brand development, and distribution strategy. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with a diverse portfolio of producers, from esteemed European estates to emerging New World wineries, helping them grow their presence through thoughtful, market-driven storytelling. Jo is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of women in the wine industry and views mentorship as a vital means of encouraging leadership, building confidence, and promoting long-term success. She believes that wine should be both intentional and accessible, and that creating space for others is essential to a thriving industry.