Meet the keynote panelists of WALTER’s 10th annual WINnovation, an elegant and empowering evening celebrating women and innovation
by Addie Ladner

We are delighted to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of WINnovation! Originally conceived by WALTER staffers Liza Roberts and Jesma Reynolds in partnership Kari Stoltz and Virginia Parker of Bank of America, the first WINnovation, in September 2015, was billed as “an elegant dinner celebrating women and innovation“ and held at The Angus Barn Pavilion. The first event included six panelists who shared short “WIN Talks” outlining their experience with entrepreneurship and innovation.

Since 2016, the event has taken place over dinner at The Umstead Hotel & Spa. The evening has also expanded to include professional workshops and networking. But each year, the core of the event has remained the same: gathering women leaders in our community to share their stories. Over the past ten years, we’ve discussed just about every topic related to women in the workplace — from fueling ambition to finding balance, from overcoming failure to mentoring fresh talent, from navigating workplace politics to leading solo.

Read on to meet the speakers for WINnovation 2025 and find more details about the event here.

WINnovation 2025 Speakers

Sara Abernethy | Co-founder, Wye Hill Hospitality

Sara Abernethy is a restaurateur, wine expert and epicurean. She is co-founder of Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing in downtown Raleigh and Glasshouse Kitchen in Research Triangle Park and holds the prestigious Level 3 Award in Wines from the Wine Spirit Education & Trust. Prior to her career in hospitality, Abernethy worked in business development and sales for various companies including Cloud Giants, KELL Partners, Classy and Rosemont Media, with a concentration in Salesforce implementation and data migration. A trained opera singer, Abernethy also performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale.

Dallas Bonavita | Executive Director, Note in the Pocket

Dallas Bonavita is a founding board member and the first Executive Director of Note in the Pocket, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing clothing insecurity. She is passionate about enhancing the social, emotional, mental, physical and academic development of young people to end generational poverty. Her diverse professional experiences include roles as an activities director for beachfront hotels, a disability specialist, a real estate relocation consultant and co-creator/owner of Kids Gym, Inc., before dedicating time to being a full-time parent. Bonavita is a North Carolina native who moved to Raleigh in the early 1990s.

Pamela Cashwell | Secretary, NC DNCR

As the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Pamela Brewington Cashwell oversees nearly 2,400 employees and more than 100 locations across the state. Prior to DNCR, Cashwell served as secretary of the NC Department of Administration, worked at the NC Department of Public Safety and NC State Ethics Commission, and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia. Hailing from the Coharie and Lumbee tribes of North Carolina, Cashwell is the first American Indian woman to head a cabinet department in North Carolina.

Carly Jones | President & CEO, Artspace

Carly P. Jones is a cultural strategist, performing artist and president & CEO of Artspace, a visual arts nonprofit that combines accessible arts education, contemporary exhibitions, artist residencies and studio space to support creative careers and community connection. With a formal education in performing arts and arts administration, Jones has held leadership roles at arts organizations of all sizes and previously led statewide grantmaking and cultural preservation at the NC Arts Council. Jones serves on the boards of Arts North Carolina and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, championing the arts as civic infrastructure.

This article was originally published on July 14, 2025 on waltermagazine.com