Speed Rack, the global nonprofit which has raised over $1 million dollars for breast cancer research and created a network of thousands of women in the global bartending community across eight countries, is pleased to announce its programming for Women’s History Month this March. Initiatives fall under three categories (I) The Launch of Speed Rack Advisory Squad (II) Panels and Live Discussions in Partnership with BRANCA USA
and (III) Speed Rack Academy Classes in Partnership with Focus on Health.
This month, Speed Rack officially launches its mentorship program, Speed Rack Advisory Squad, a global initiative for women, by women, designed to equip the next generation of bartending and spirits professionals with the tools they need to meet and exceed personal
career goals while shattering glass ceilings in their wake. Speed Rack Advisory Squad will run in six-month increments, fostering meaningful one-on-one relationships between women and the leading industry experts that will serve as their mentors. Priority has been given to placing BIPOC mentees in the program in an effort to fight the barrier that race has played in career advancement in the beverage industry; more than half of the first cohort of mentees self-identify as BIPOC.
“This initiative has been one of our most meaningful undertakings in Speed Rack’s 10 years of operating,” shared Ivy Mix, Co-Founder of Speed Rack and Co-Owner of Leyenda. “We’ve received hundreds of applications from women who want to support each other from across the globe — it’s exceeded our wildest hopes for this program and we’re looking forward to seeing how this group bands together to ignite change after an unprecedented year.”
In partnership with BRANCA USA, Speed Rack is presenting “SHE PERSISTED” WOMEN’S
(HER)STORY, a series of panels and Instagram Live conversations , tackling key issues affecting women today. They will offer complimentary and open to the public, digital seminars, panels and live discussions from female industry leaders, centered around
women’s history, career transitions and development, and the economics of the industry, namely achieving financial wellness and growth. Those who wish may donate funds to these classes, all of which will directly benefit Speed Rack affiliated breast cancer
charities. The robust programming includes:
Panels
Meaningful Mentorship with Laura Green, 3/1 at 2pm EST
Two Feet In, One Foot Out with Yolanda Baez, Lydia Mcluen, and Yael Vengroff, 3/15 at 2pm EST
Owning It: A Real Discussion About Bar and Restaurant Ownership with Natalie Friehon and Ivy Mix, 3/16 at 1pm EST
Invested: How to Approach Funding at Every Stage of Your Business and Securing Access to Capital with Samantha Katz, Alexis Beechan, Bridget Firtile, Michele K. Perry, and Jordan Salcito, 3/24 at 5pm EST
Women Behind Bars with Lynnette Marrero, Tiffanie Barriere, Misty Kalkofen, Meaghan Dorman, and Kitty Amann, 3/25 at 1pm EST
Shifting Gears: How to Drive Your Career Trajectory with Laura Moses, 3/29 at 1pm EST
Sip and Social: Building Business Through Relationships moderated by Andrea Meriwether and featuring Mimi Evans, Christina Sheffey, Ana Cabrera Marquez, and Keyata Mincey Parker, 3/30 at 5pm EST
The Financial Gym: Your Future and Finances The Financial Gym team will discuss finance for freelancers and gig economies for hospitality professionals. 3/17 at 1pm EST
Instagram Live Discussions
Stimulus Checks, Taxes and IRA’s, Oh My! with Cameron Neveu and Naomi Levy via Eventbrite livestream followed by a Q&A led by Speed Rack and Focus on Health, 3/3 at 1pm EST
Side Hustles with Cameron Neveu and Naomi Levy via Eventbrite livestream followed by a Q&A led by Speed Rack and Focus on Health, 3/5 at 1pm EST via Eventbrite
Fridays are for Finances with Makeda Gebre, Speed Rack Alum turned Financial Advisor
3/5 at 2:30pm EST – Financial Literacy 101
3/12 at 2:30pm EST – The Rule of 72
3/19 at 2:30pm EST – The Power of Interest
3/26 at 2:30pm EST – Continued Education
Changing the Mindset: A seminar discussing the importance of paying ourselves
first with Makeda Gebre and Special Guest, 3/20 at 1pm EST
Mondays are for Making Moves with the women of Branca USA
3/8 at 4:30pm EST – Human Resources
3/15 at 4:30pm EST – Distributors
3/22 at 4:30pm EST – Sales
3/29 at 4:30pm EST – Suppliers
Fiscally Fit, Ask a Trainer: All month financial questions will be collected from Speed Rack followers which will be answered in a longer IG session, date and time to be announced, March 10, 1pm EST
“We are incredibly grateful to our partners, Fernet Branca and Focus on Health, who are helping us provide resources, tools and education at a time when women need it most,” said Lynnette Marrero, Co-Founder of Speed Rack and Bar Director of Llama Inn. “The pandemic has disproportionately affected women.
In December, women lost a total of 156,000 jobs, and of the net 9.8 million jobs lost since February, women have accounted for 55% of them. In the leisure and hospitality sector, 498,000 jobs were lost in December, with women accounting for 56.6% of these losses, despite making up 53.1% of the industry’s workforce, according to NWLC. Our hope is that programming like this will help prepare women for the future.”
“Speed Rack has an incredible history of supporting female bartenders and other industry workers and providing them the opportunities and resources to climb ahead in this industry,” said Edoardo Branca, sixth generation Branca family member and Managing Director, Branca USA. “As our nation celebrates Women’s History Month, we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with an organization that is focusing on helping women continue to shatter the glass ceiling.”
Additionally, Speed Rack is pleased to continue its ongoing partnership with Focus
on Health for its Speed Rack Academy programming. Focus On Health, co-founded by Lauren Paylor and Alex Jump, focuses on advocating for the health and wellness of the food and beverage sector. Launched in 2020, Speed Rack Academy is the education-based arm of the organization which spotlights the past competitors via donation-based Zoom classes for a cause. The two organizations are teaming up with past Speed Rack competitors who will lead curated classes as follows:
Andrea Tateosian speaking on Women and Ownership, 3/6 at 5pm EST
Mary Palac hosting Pull Up A Chair (Creating Equitable Spaces), 3/10 at 6pm EST
Shirley Brooks addressing Motherhood, Work & Identity, 3/19 at 7pm EST
Amie Ward discussing how to Know Your Rights + Feel Empowered, 3/27 at 6pm EST
Caer Ferguson talking about Career Change, 3/31 at 6pm EST
All Speed Rack Academy classes are free to attend but those who can donate are encouraged to do so as all proceeds will directly benefit affiliated breast cancer charities. Focus on Health has partnered with Maison Ferrand to make this initiative possible. To
view the full schedule of classes and register to attend please visit www.fohealth.org/speed-rack-academy.
