Beauty + The Bias / Women-Owned Business Shopping Event

Date: Thursday, May 12
Venue: Historic Davidson Opera House, downtown St. Cloud
Time: 5-6 p.m. Happy Hour, Socializing + Shopping | 6-7:30 p.m. Panel, Discussion + Shopping

It’s no wonder the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day was “Break the Bias.” Even today, in 2022, women have to work extra hard to break through perceived walls at work, online and beyond. 

Shifting the perception of female leaders in the workplace is a marathon, not a sprint. Get in the race now by joining a positive and empowering conversation on May 12 with AAFCM as we host our fifth annual panel discussion with a diverse group of Minnesota businesswomen. After our conversation, attendees have the opportunity to shop from a variety of women-owned businesses.

It should go without saying that this is not about waging war against men. It’s about amplifying incredible female talent. It’s about understanding that we’re all in this together. So beauties, let’s #breakthebias and shop ‘til we drop!

MEET OUR PANELISTS:

Cassie Miles

Executive Director of the Great River Children’s Museum

Cassie is the executive director of the emerging Great River Children’s Museum in downtown St. Cloud. She and her team are working to build a space that will serve all of Central Minnesota’s kids and families by providing access to quality play experiences that spark children’s learning, strengthen families and build community connections! Cassie graduated from the Carlson School of Management with a B.S. in finance and a B.S. in entrepreneurial management. She went on to start her career as an interest rate risk analyst at Corus Bank in Chicago, Ill., and continued her career path by working with various investment companies, ultimately landing at a hedge fund based in NYC. Upon moving back to Minnesota, Cassie joined the Finance Committee and Board of GREAT Theatre and is in her 8th year as Board Chair. She credits GREAT Theatre and the community building spirit of that organization as the inspiration behind her shift from the private sector to the nonprofit sector (and states that the ROI in her new role is significantly higher than it was previously!) Cassie wishes to empower others and believes personal fulfillment comes from bettering the community and generating opportunities for future generations. In addition to her work, Cassie is always up for a good challenge, a chance to learn something new, taking in a play or musical performance, enjoying a glass of wine or beer with friends, and creating memories with her son and husband.

Adrienne Donnel

Co-Owner of The Sawatdee restaurant in downtown St. Cloud

Working in the service industry for the last 15 years, Adrienne Donnel took a leap into co-owning Sawatdee – Thai Restaurant in downtown St. Cloud with her wife, Annie Meyer. With her various awards in cocktail competitions and her years of experience in general management, she took her many skills to successfully continue bringing cultural food to the community along with a rebrand coming next month that will include adding Filipino food.

Adrienne is a business owner by day and entertainer by night, owning companies such as Nakita Kat Productions, bringing monthly burlesque shows featuring entertainers in both the Vendetta Vixens and Nakita’s Kittens burlesque troupes. As a mentor and teacher to various entertainers, Adrienne’s main goal for producing these shows is not only to support the art of entertainment and dance, but to also promote body positivity, safe and consensual sex, and a comfortability of being whoever you want to be no matter what gender you identify as or your sexual preference. She also co owns Cut To The Feeling – an entertainment event company mostly known for it’s quarterly-themed night EMO NITE.

Along with those companies, Adrienne also has a side hustle making resin works under Tabaxi’s Hoard and is a member of the core team of the Central MN Common Roots festival, booking the live music and entertainment.

Liz Fiedler

Owner of Sunny Mary Meadow + Author of When Flowers Bloom

Liz Fiedler is the owner of Sunny Mary Meadow, a cut flower farm north of St. Joe. In addition to being a flower farmer, she is also a three-time published author, has her doctorate degree, and works part time as a nurse practitioner. She is a widowed mom to two little girls. She doesn’t dip her toe into the shallow end of her passions, but has found both joy and success in cannonballing into the deep end of all of the things she loves to do.

Beauty + The Bias will be moderated by long-time AAFCM Leader and Owner of Greenline Marketing, Bridget Deutz.

VENDORS:

• Green Thumb, Etc. | House Plants, Decor, Gifts + more from St. Cloud, MN
• Orange Olives | Car Seat Covers, Burp Cloths, and other Baby Goods from Marshall, MN
• Umpteen Designs | Homemade clay earrings from Foley, MN.
• Little Red’s Bakery | Sweet Treats from Clearwater, MN
• Happie Hippie Designs | Clothing, purses, jewelry, and more from St. Cloud, MN
• Trendi Trays | Charcuterie Boards from Waite Park, MN
• Sunny Mary Meadow | Flower Subscriptions and books from St. Joseph, MN