Women Who Lunch is Here!

Jan. 15th, 2010 “Women Who Lunch” Group Leaders

Christina Bark: Christina Bark is a trusted business advisor with expertise in strategy, risk management, operational optimization, leadership development and change implementation.

Christina’s diverse experience as a corporate leader, attorney and entrepreneur has honed her ability to design and promote achievable solutions, even when the odds are against a favorable outcome. Her results-oriented approach is well-suited to accelerate growth, optimize operations, manage risk and introduce new business models. Whether you are considering starting a venture, expanding a business, energizing teams and leaders, managing change or exiting a business successfully, Christina serves as a catalyst for breakthrough results.

Previously, Christina was Global Leader of Business Affairs for Oliver Wyman, a leading international management consulting firm and $1.2 billion subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan companies [NYSE:MMC]. While at Oliver Wyman, Christina was responsible for business process optimization, operational risk mitigation and leading a global team. She focused on enhancing the firm’s ability to win projects, increase client loyalty and maximize revenue while minimizing risk exposure. She also led programs that enhanced the business through innovative training and organizational transformation.

Christina’s legal expertise has fueled her business success. She served as Chief Legal Counsel for Oliver Wyman prior to its acquisition by Marsh & McLennan, as General Counsel of Scient, Inc. and as a Senior Attorney for IBM. She practiced law with Porter Simon, a California- and Nevada-based firm, and in the San Francisco office of Proskauer Rose LLP, a New York-based firm. She has represented private, public and governmental clients in the areas of general commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, real estate and land use, employment law, traditional labor law, complex litigation, trust and estate administration and bankruptcy from the creditor’s perspective. Christina is admitted to practice in California and Nevada.

Christina’s “hands-on” experience building businesses fortifies her effectiveness as an advisor. Oliver Wyman has been one of the fastest growing top-tier, strategy-consulting firms with an annual growth rate exceeding 20%. Scient was one of the fastest growing consulting and technology services start-ups during the dot-com era. Christina was also co-owner of a retail business in the San Francisco Bay Area founded with limited capital and an abundance of sweat equity. Armed with a shrewd business plan, talent for capitalizing on free marketing and publicity, a healthy dose of optimism, a fondness for simple solutions and relentless perseverance, the business expanded into four locations in five years and was successfully sold at a competitive price. Christina understands the challenges and accountability of driving business growth. Christina graduated from Vassar College (A.B., Sociology) and Stanford Law School (J.D.).

Vicki Koenig, MS, RD, CDN: is a Masters level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She has maintained a private counseling practice and consulting business since 1987. As consulting Nutritionist to the national Stonyfield Farm yogurt company, she writes a popular Wellness Moosletter, answers consumer questions and helps with new product development.

As Co-President of Natural Affinity Ventures, Inc. with Dan Schneider, Vicki and Dan are creating a network and virtual community of like-minded business and health consumers by creating A Discount Card with a Conscience. Vicki offers onsite Corporate Wellness programs to create a healthier workplace. With personalized goals and group incentives, businesses can have a healthier bottom line. Employees are more productive, use less sick time and insurance usage goes down. Vicki has worked with people of all ages promoting nutrition for wellness while addressing diverse chronic health conditions. Working as a consultant to food companies, businesses, schools and organizations, Vicki communicates healthy nutrition guidelines that make it easy to move towards health.

Drawing on her comprehensive knowledge of nutrition throughout the life cycle provides Vicki with a broad perspective when speaking, counseling, consulting and writing; allowing her to specialize in Nutrition for Wellness. Vicki lives in the Hudson Valley of New York State with her Green Architect husband, Rick Alfandre, twin daughters, Joy and Sonia, dog Pearl and Jaspurr the cat.

Allie Roth: Allie Roth is a nationally known career consultant and coach with 27 years experience helping women and men find more creativity, fulfillment and success in their career and professional lives.  In addition to her private practice, Allie has led seminars and provided coaching and consulting services in more that fifty corporations and not-for profits.  As a career consultant, she has taught at NYU, Bard College, SUNY Ulster, College of New Rochelle, the New York Open Center and Omega Institute.  She is trained and certified in the Myers Briggs Type Inventory and has successfully used it with thousands of individuals in career transitions and development.

Chef Maria Sivori: Born into a family of Neapolitan restaurateurs, Maria developed a love for cooking as a child and as a teenager worked alongside her mother and grandmother at Icumani, the family restaurant. Coming to America in 2000, she quickly broke into the New York culinary world, establishing a reputation for creativity and quality which led to posts as Chef at Caffe Pompei, Cinema Paradiso (Astoria), and a brief return to Italy as Sous Chef at Milan’s Princi. Maria’s strong personality and passion for her art puts a unique stamp on her dishes. She currently has her own catering business and is exploring opening her own restaurant. She also has a weakness for Martinis and can drink any three Northern Italians under the table with one hand tied behind her back, blindfolded, and standing on her head. Maria’s Menu