Gail Simmons and 4 New Speakers Join #BlogHer19 Food
With less than one month until #BlogHer19 Food, we are stoked to introduce you to the latest amazing women in our speaker lineup. Leading the group is the incredible culinary expert, food writer and TV personality, Gail Simmons. She will be taking the stage to discuss how she is using her platform and position in the food industry to make the business a better place for all women. She will join a panel with a group of inspirational women who are making the food industry positive for women everywhere.
Also joining the speaker lineup for #BlogHer19 Food are Kristen Tomlan of DŌ, Food Stylist Mariana Velasquez, Claire Mysko of the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), and food blogger, Rachel Mansfield. We are so excited to hear from each of them how they are endeavoring to inspire, empower, and educate aspiring foodies everywhere. Meet them below!
Gail Simmons: Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert and television personality. Since the show’s inception in 2006, she has lent her expertise as a judge on BRAVO’s Emmy and James Beard Award-winning series Top Chef. She is also the host of Iron Chef Canada. Since 2004, Gail has served as special projects director at FOOD & WINE. In 2012, she published her first book, Talking With My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater. Her first cookbook, Bringing It Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating, was released in 2017 and nominated for an IACP award for best general cookbook. Gail is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Babson College, co-founder of Bumble Pie Productions, and sits on the board of several philanthropic organizations. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband two children.
Kristen Tomlan: Kristen Tomlan is the Founder and CEO of DOÌ„, Cookie Dough Confections, the world’s first edible cookie dough confectionary. Her unique take on the formerly forbidden treat is a viral success and has inspired millions of customers worldwide to eat cookie dough just how the crave it — straight out of the mixing bowl! Her flagship shop in New York City garners hours-long lines and has captured the attention of leading outlets including The New York Times, the TODAY show, and People magazine. Her brand has grown to include multiple retail outlets & pop-ups, a booming ecommerce business, and more. Her first cookbook, Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake, and Share debuts in October of 2019. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Chris, and their rescue pup, Nelly.
Mariana Velasquez: Mariana Velasquez makes food and style one and the same. Published author, celebrated food stylist, entrepreneur and fashion philocalist. Her work expands over two decades of creating food scenes for books, magazines, catalogs, video, television and all sorts of visual media. She makes you eat with your eyes. From Haagen Dazs to Michelle Obama, from Williams Sonoma to Vogue, Mariana has done it all and continues to do so expanding her universe from the culinary to the experiential.
Claire Mysko: Claire Mysko is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and an internationally recognized expert on eating disorders, body image and media literacy. She is the author of Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby (2009) and You’re Amazing! A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self (2008) an award-winning self-esteem manual for girls. Mysko has overseen a rapid expansion in both reach and programs, including the implementation of an evidence-based eating disorders prevention program in New York City schools, initiatives to bust prevailing myths about eating disorders, and the cultivation of key relationships with companies including Aerie, Crisis Text Line, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Rachel Mansfield: Rachel loves to cook, eat and talk about all things food, wellness and entrepreneurship. Everything about the food and wellness industry entices her. She has a passion to create delicious and easy recipes that are made with just the good stuff: wholesome and simple ingredients that anyone can enjoy. Her recipes have minimal prep work, ingredients and they are for cooks, non-cooks, anyone who craves something delicious. Rachel does not believe in sacrificing flavor for health and wants everyone to have their gluten-free chocolate cake and eat it too. Rachel is a sucker for a good piece of her Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and can likely be working on her cookbook, Just the Good Stuff (coming in Spring 2020) or found strolling around Hoboken with her husband Jordan and new born son Ezra.
Each of these dynamic women have unique backgrounds, skillsets and wisdom that they are eager to impart on our attendees at #BlogHer19 Food. Please join us in welcoming these ladies to the stage and purchase your conference ticket today!
