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She Built It® Podcast
Welcome to the She Built It® podcast. Join me as I talk to women who have successfully built it - a life and business that they love. We dive into the topic of “how” they built it and talk about everything from having the courage to make career leaps to the details of how to lead effectively, build teams, implement growth strategies, and infuse tech innovation. Magic happens when we focus on the part of ourselves and our business that brings us joy so let’s dive in.
She Built It® Podcast
Building Access and Community: The Story Behind Cookout at the Vineyard
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On She Built It®, Courtney Summers shares the story behind Cookout at the Vineyard, a three-day fundraising event in Northern California's Sonoma County she co-founded alongside Talia Suggs to support and elevate women of color in the hospitality, food, and beverage industries.
What started as a small gathering of under 60 people has grown into a 200-plus-person, three-day event now in its fourth year, 100% grant and donor funded, with all proceeds supporting The Veraison Project.
Courtney talks about how an apprenticeship program gave her access to an industry she once felt was invite-only, what it really takes to build an event from the ground up in the hospitality world, and why scaling with intention (not speed) has been the secret to Cookout at the Vineyard's growth. This conversation is about building something that gives back what was once given to you, and making sure the next generation doesn't have to figure it out alone.
Episode resources:
Tish Wiggins - Tish Around Town
Connect with us:
Cookout at the Vineyard Website
Cookout at the Vineyard Instagram
Cookout at the Vineyard Facebook
Evolution of the Cookout Weekend Experience - June 11th-13th, 2026 - Sonoma County
The Veraison Project Instagram
She Built It® CEO, Melanie Barr Instagram