2022 Programs
Sonoma County Forum offers an exciting array of speakers including leaders in business, education, health care, the arts, and local government. Our speakers provide an excellent way to gain knowledge of the community and learn about its vast resources.
For information about past speakers click here.
Upcoming Speakers
June 2, 2022
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Terri Stark, co-owner, Starks Reality Restaurants
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Even in the best of times, according the National Restaurant Association more than one in three new restaurants in the U.S don’t make it through their first year. 80% don’t make it past four years.
Terri Stark, co-owner and operator with her chef husband Mark of seven of Sonoma County’s most popular restaurants, shares what it’s taken to keep Stark Reality Restaurants thriving through fire, flood, power shutdowns, labor shortages, and a pandemic.
With the Starks’ first restaurant, Willi’s Wine Bar, now celebrating its 20th year, learn how Terri’s recipe for longevity and resiliency can be applied to businesses and organizations outside the hospitality industry.
Terri Stark, co-owner and operator with her chef husband Mark of seven of Sonoma County’s most popular restaurants, shares what it’s taken to keep Stark Reality Restaurants thriving through fire, flood, power shutdowns, labor shortages, and a pandemic.
With the Starks’ first restaurant, Willi’s Wine Bar, now celebrating its 20th year, learn how Terri’s recipe for longevity and resiliency can be applied to businesses and organizations outside the hospitality industry.
June 16, 2022
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Dr. Charlyn Belluzzo, founder of Belos Cavlos
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Dr. Charlyn Belluzzo is the founder of Belos Cavlos, a 501c3 nonprofit in Kenwood that uses the wisdom of horses to enhance human connection, facilitating a process of healing when pain and trauma are too severe to openly discuss. While many know of benefits that dogs can provide beyond companionship, there’s less awareness about equestrian therapy programs and their value in assisting people with mental health issues.
Dr. Belluzzo is an internationally recognized global health expert, holding a doctorate in public health and tropical medicine. She has earned graduate degrees and post-graduate training from LaSalle University, the University of Colorado School of Business, Georgetown University School of Medicine and Tulane University of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Her professional passion is to promote human health and wellness, strengthen communities, generate economic prosperity and enrich the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.
Along with Dr. Belluzzo’s health/wellness experience and business management background, she has received extensive training and is certified in equine assisted experiential learning and development by the Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A) During her 30-year career, she’s worked across the spectrum in clinical care, bio-medical/pharmaceutical research, and global health roles that address population health. Charlyn is a certified facilitator in Equine Experiential Education by E3A Association and guides the vision, purpose and values of Belos Cavalos.
Dr. Belluzzo is an internationally recognized global health expert, holding a doctorate in public health and tropical medicine. She has earned graduate degrees and post-graduate training from LaSalle University, the University of Colorado School of Business, Georgetown University School of Medicine and Tulane University of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Her professional passion is to promote human health and wellness, strengthen communities, generate economic prosperity and enrich the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.
Along with Dr. Belluzzo’s health/wellness experience and business management background, she has received extensive training and is certified in equine assisted experiential learning and development by the Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A) During her 30-year career, she’s worked across the spectrum in clinical care, bio-medical/pharmaceutical research, and global health roles that address population health. Charlyn is a certified facilitator in Equine Experiential Education by E3A Association and guides the vision, purpose and values of Belos Cavalos.
2022 Program Schedule
DATE |
Speaker |
Thurs. Jan. 6 |
Teri Sloat, "The Importance of Sharing Our Stories" |
Thurs. Jan. 20 |
Alegria De La Cruz, Director, Sonoma County Office of Equity |
Thurs. Feb. 3 |
Mary-Frances Walsh, NAMI Sonoma County |
Thurs. Feb. 17 |
Jayne Burns, Artstart |
Thurs. March 3 |
Rebecca Rogers and David Becker, Peace Corps in Ukraine |
Thurs. March 17 |
Katherine Rinehart, Sonoma County Archives |
Thurs. April 7 |
Janet Gracyk, Historic American Landscapes (link to PDF of slide show) |
Thurs. April 21 |
Albert Straus, CEO, Straus Family Creamery, "Sustainability measures being used for renewable energy generation and carbon farming" |
Thurs. May 5 |
Matt Leffert, Executive Director, Jack London State Historic Park (link to PDF of slide show) |
Thurs. May 19 |
Stephanie Derammelaere, Exec. Director, Robert Ferguson Observatory |
Thurs. June 2 |
Terri Stark, Co-owner, Stark Reality Restaurants |
Thurs. June 16 |
Dr. Charlyn Belluzzo, Founder of Belos Cavalos |
Thurs. July 7 |
TBA |
Thurs. July 21 |
Ella Wen, Youth Poet Laureate of Sonoma County, California Poets in the Schools |
Thurs. Aug 4 |
Joe Madigan, Nelson Staffing, "Challenges of Hiring in this Job Market and the Impact of Working Remotely" |
Thurs. Aug 18 |
Isabel Lopez, Raizes Collective |
Thurs. Sep 1 |
Wendy Cilman, Santa Rosa Symphony Music Education Program |
Thurs. Sep 15 |
Simone Kremkaw, Sonoma County Library History & Genealogy |
Thurs. Oct 6 |
TBA |
Thurs. Oct 20 |
TBA |
Thurs. Nov 3 |
TBA |
Thurs. Nov 17 |
TBA |
Thurs. Dec 1 |
TBA |
Thurs. Dec 15 |
Holiday meeting (for members only) |
Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 8am at the Epicenter, off of Piner Road,
west of Coffey Lane in Santa Rosa.
Guests are welcome, but proof of a valid COVID-19 vaccination is required and masks must be worn inside (except while eating).