Renewal Summit Highlights 2022
Anne Akers and I were delighted that our fifth Renewal Summit was a glorious live event connecting fabulous women at the beautiful Scandinavia House in NYC and panels that enlightened, educated and entertained us. Here are a few highlights of the day and a shout out to our wonderful sponsors and exhibitors. We will have videos of the full panels shortly and will be posting them.
Watch the Video Highlights
The Five Panels
The event kicked off with a lively conversation with on changing the perceptions of aging moderating by Cheryl Benton, and featuring Maris Croswell, Senior Brand Director at P&G; Erica Fite, co-founder Fancy NYC; Barbara Shipley, Chief Brand Officer, AARP. Panel two was all about finding happiness, moderated by Kim Selby, Intuitive Sparkle Coach, Dr. Robi Ludwig, Psychotherapist, and Leslie Gold, radio host, and podcast host of “A Life’s Story. Wendy Lewis, aesthetics consultant moderated our panel with Beauty, Health and Wellness Gurus, Karen Ballou, founder Immunocologie, Dr. Bryan Forley, plastic surgeon, and Kim Ross, nutritionist. Navigating Menopause and Beyond was moderated by Barbara Hannah Grufferman, author, speaker, editor The Menopause Cheat Sheet, and included Stacy London, co-host “What Not to Wear” and CEO of State of Menopause, Dr. Tara Allmen, midlife women’s health expert, and Dr. Hugh Melnick, endocrinologist. And our last panel of the day was Incredible Healing Foods and Drinks, moderated by Valerie Smaldone, 5x Billboard Award winner, theater, food and entertainment, enthusiast, actress, film producer. Panel featured Pamela Morgan, cookbook author and caterer, Warren Bobrow, a cannabis alchemist, and Barbara Sibley, chef and owner La Palapa.
Congratulations to Alice Aspen March for receiving The Three Tomatoes & Glow Woman of Purpose Award.
Anne Akers and Cheryl Benton were delighted to present our first ever “Woman of Purpose” award to Alice Aspen March for her inspirational role as a Tomato who is not defined by age or labels – but all about living life at any age, and as a GLOW “Woman of Purpose” who projects the inner and outer glow that comes from living a fully integrated life of purpose, service, and humanity.
A mother, grandmother, great grandmother, brilliant, iconic and a pioneer in improving the human condition through her prowess in film broadcast and print and a lifetime interest in the role ATTENTION plays in the raising of our children and adults. She is an author, coach, and motivational speaker for her book, THE ATTENTION FACTOR.
Here are a few highlights of her impressive career and life:
She saved “Mr. Rogers” by lobbying to keep Mr. Rogers on Public Broadcasting as a member of the LA Broadcast and Film Commission. She was appointed to the White House conference on the Family and the Commission on Future Funding of Public Broadcasting in CA. She was praised in the Congressional Record. She is the recipient of an International Year of the Child Award and most recently Broadcaster of the Year for her radio show, “the Attention factor. She created and produced the Emmy award winning film, LATCH KEY KIDS with Christopher Reeves.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Exhibitors
PREMIERE SPONSOR Hair Biology
P&G’s Hair Biology is a haircare brand designed and dedicated to addressing the specific needs of aging strands by focusing on the biological changes that cause mature hair concerns. Hair Biology, available exclusively in-stores and online at Target, offers four distinct lines, – Silver & Glowing, Soft & Hydrated, Full & Vibrant, Vivid & Protected and Styling Products – to address specific changes that occur with aging hair. Various products are made with key ingredients such as caffeine, biotin, argan oil to alleviate daily hair frustrations while also supporting strong, healthy hair growth with continued use. Whether looking to get grey hair that gleams, bring back silky texture, instantly thicken thinning hair, or tame wayward frizzies and flyaways, Hair Biology product offerings bring hair dreams to life and encourage you to show your age.
Immunocologie is a natural luxury skincare line. Our foundations rooted in one woman’s personal journey. Following a diagnosis of cancer, and with over 30 years of experience in the skincare industry, Karen Ballou understood that the skin is the first line of the body’s immunological defense – and wanted to create a skincare offering as luxurious as it is healthy, natural and effective. Our products uniquely focus on the source of the skin’s performance and wellbeing, giving you the best quality product and with the skin results you deserve.
VNV is a curated fashion marketplace for women as they age. As we age, we get more clear on what we like and what looks good on us. Finding that effortlessly is often the challenge. VNV seeks to help women discover clothing – from a broad portfolio of established and emerging brands – that they love wearing. We pride ourselves on understanding the ways in which women’s preferences and bodies change as they age, and we strive to create a fashion experience that celebrates those preferences and celebrates you.
Exhibitors
The Three Tomatoes Book Publishing.
Women have stories to tell and our voices need to be heard. In early 2019, we launched The Three Tomatoes Publishing to help authors publish and market their books. Meet several of them in the exhibit area and learn more about their books.
Amy Kanarek designs and handcrafts elegant, beaded jewelry. She uses tiny glass seed beads, meticulously woven one into the other, to create stunning and unexpected statement necklaces, pendants, bracelets, earrings and rings, that range from exotic to classic, and that flow effortlessly from casual to special occasions.
Beautiful clothes for real women in glorious colors and fabrics. Gabrielle’s NYC boutique is located at 1034A Lexington Ave. (bet 73 &74th streets).
A natural approach to achieving an ageless facial appearance through its unique Face Enhancing Fitness Program. The program consists of personalized face exercise coaching and natural and organic skincare products that lift, tone, and brighten your skin. Bellantz® founder/CEO, Dr. Naeemah Ruffin, is a champion for reversing premature facial aging non-invasively.
A non-profit that provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, first responders and their families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, employment, prevention of homelessness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources. The emphasis is to help heal their hidden wounds through: Eliminating Veteran homelessness; teaching Transcendental Meditation; Community-Based Holistic Wellness programs; Companion Dog Assistance.
Sutton Place Physical and Aquatic Therapy
Sutton Place Physical and Aquatic Therapy offers unparalleled excellence in pelvic health, aquatic and rehabilitative care. Based in Midtown East, our patients find experienced professionals who are passionate about their work, a state-of-the-art facility offering treatment programs in our clinic and pool and a supportive environment that encourages rapid progress.
This is a unique program for full body skeletal strength conditioning. In a 10 minute session, just 1x per week you are personally guided by one of our certified session coaches; You will see live bio-feedback on our machines showing you your progress in real time! Clients using OsteoStrong see rapid results ranging from increasing energy, strength, power and balance to reduction of joint/back pain to clients even reversing their osteoporosis and Type II diabetes.
Stress is Gone was founded in 2008 to help people release stress, anxiety and trauma through coaching, meditation and self-care tools. Author and founder Brett Cotter has taught his signature method in Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, schools, non-profits, military bases, and communities in need. His program brings people from feeling overwhelmed with anxiety to empowered by a renewed sense of calmness, clarity and confidence with a passion to re-engage in life.
Handbags and Jewelry.
Stacy Kessler’s line of sustainable vegan handbags are curated for the everyday woman to be fashionable, functional and accessible.
Bonnie Jennifer creates jewelry from the mind, body, and soul. Crowned as the Queen of Gold Balls, she was one of the first to bring back the gold beaded jewelry craze.
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
