Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leigh Cort. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Leigh thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The Hospitality Industry has nurtured me, educated me, comforted and healed me. But mostly, it has encouraged and challenged me to share its riches that nothing else could equal…FRIENDS and associates in the Womens Food Alliance!

Beginning the journey as Party Director at the NY C’s distinguished Trump Tower during the 1980s, producing and promoted galas for the international ‘Rich & Famous’ ~ I also became the ‘Party Doctor’ ~ writing and starring on TV for Nabisco & Lifetime TV. Then under the watchful eye of Vincent Sardi, I hosted the show-business crowd in Manhattan at Sardi’s Restaurant. A decade later, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island filled the ensuing years with special events for the international travel partygoers.

Although the Womens Food Alliance still hadn’t been created, during the next twenty years I ran my own food, travel & lifestyle public relations business. I hosted international media to visit my hospitality clients who owned and managed historic hotels, vintage bed & breakfast inns and many start-up restaurants along the East Coast…from St. Augustine Florida and Peachtree City, Georgia to Spring Lake, New Jersey.

In 2013, I recognized the meteoric growth of professional women achieving successes in the hospitality/food/beverage/events industry. It was TIME to launch the first www.WomensFoodAlliance.com in northeast Florida that has continued for a decade with our original Mission of:

The Womens Food Alliance cultivates and advances networking, education and collaboration for women in the culinary & hospitality industry ~ as we support, mentor, partner and lend a helping hand ~ remembering that it’s Friendship First!

With 150 members representing 18 varied categories of the hospitality industry, we have expanded to membership in Georgia and Louisiana.

Leigh, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Each month the Womens Food Alliance hosts an event that features at least ONE member in a variety of venues that our members own or manage ~ from event barns and restaurants to wineries, attractions, boats or waterfront mansions! Our lunches, dinners and other creative events showcase ‘members only’ which opens the door to our members and guests to support & recognize the diversity of hospitality careers that women shine in today!

When a new member joins WFA (Womens Food Alliance) I write their bio with photos and share with all of our members plus a growing data base of hospitality professionals and regional media. I utilize my media contacts to bring attention to the uniqueness of our members and put them into the spotlight.

Each year the Womens Food Alliance creates the ‘Blossom Award’ evening ~ recognizing LEGENDS and up-and-comers in the hospitality industry. It’s our opportunity to pay homage to many hard-working, creative and dedicated members.

The Womens Food Alliance encourages our members to get to know each other and attend as many events as possible ~ so that they can work together, share ideas, support and care about their fellow members. We are defined by the solid network of resources, contacts and women who might be launching new businesses or expanding! We are an important conduit for local and regional women to embrace their independence ~ everyone welcome under the Womens Food Alliance banner!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Launching the Womens Food Alliance in 2013 owes its early success to using a photo and story of our first eight members as our Advisory Council. I promoted the diversity of our Advisory Council and their unique careers that the incoming members could easily relate to. They included a restaurateur, food journalist, food photographer, restaurant chain director of marketing, wedding and event planner, hotelier, bed and breakfast chef, chocolatier and pastry chef. Their credibility inspired potential new members to believe that they could ‘fit in’ too!

At our first event, I chose a local historic hotel that women wanted to visit for an evening. The combination of history, style, excellent food and creative bar, AND a very WARM WELCOME brought us our first 60 members!

During the evening, each attendee received time to introduce themselves and talk about their business. This has remained our monthly event format for 10 years.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During my 30 year hospitality career, the first 10 years were in New York City creating celebrity and VIP events in famous venues. The following five years were at one of the most well-respected hotel companies in the world ~ The Ritz-Carlton. Throughout the ensuing 20 years, my public relations company connected me with the top travel / hospitality media including the New York Times, Southern Living, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNN, national TV programs, and hundreds more.

When 2019 and Covid arrived, it was time to re-think how it affected the travel industry immediately ~ so it was time to SHIFT into full-time involvement and management of my Womens Food Alliance. I did NOT ‘close the door’ on public relations. Now I use it carefully to promote our members.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.WomensFoodAlliance.com
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LeighCort