2026 Schedule

Founder of Ditched the Drink

Liberate Yourself from Alcohol and Insource Your Bliss

Heather Lowe is a sober life coach, speaker, community builder, podcast host, yoga nidra facilitator, and founder of Ditched the Drink — a transformational platform supporting

high-achieving women in reevaluating their relationship with alcohol and embracing alcohol-free living.

A certified professional life and recovery coach, Heather blends lived experience with evidence-based tools to guide individuals and organizations toward sustainable health and well-being. After years in corporate partnership, she recognized the toll alcohol was taking on her

health, productivity, and sense of purpose. Choosing to ditch the drink became a pivotal turning point — inspiring her to create a supportive space where other women could find clarity, confidence, and joy. Heather supports clients worldwide through 1:1 coaching, digital programs, community membership, corporate training, and speaking engagements. Her work has been recognized with multiple industry honors, and she has been featured in national media and invited to speak at conferences across the U.S. At her core, Heather is a compassionate guide, energetic cheerleader, and devoted mom who

believes deeply in empowerment, compassion, connection, and what becomes possible when women choose themselves.

Resiliency in the Job World

21 years of sobriety

A Wisconsin native, Green Bay East High and UW-Madison business school graduate, Caleb started his professional career in Minneapolis in 2007 in commercial real estate finance. 

After a decade in banking, feeling a strong pull back to his hometown area and a desire to be of greater professional service to his neighbors than corporate work allowed, he moved back to Northeast Wisconsin to become the second-ever Executive Director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation in November 2016. In March 2018, he declared his candidacy for a vacant State Senate seat, winning a special election in June 2018. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development in January 2019 and unanimously confirmed in January 2020. In September 2020, at the request of Governor Evers, he resigned from that position amid an historic backlog of unpaid unemployment insurance claims.

Caleb is an avid hunter, reader, runner, gardener,  

and lives in the Orchard Ridge neighborhood of Madison with his wife, Emily, their two corgis, Blue and Edie, and four chickens.. 

Author - Brick by Brick: Libby Wipperfurth's Journey to Recovery & Renewal

Getting Sober

Libby spent much of her early life feeling as though she didn’t belong, a struggle that led her through a difficult journey with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and self-harm. After reaching a turning point nearly a decade ago, she committed to completely rebuilding her life from the ground up. Today, Libby is thriving in her early 40s—celebrating ten years of sobriety and freedom from the control of mental health struggles.

In her recovery, Libby became a student of the human experience, seeking to understand the "why" behind her pain. This led to the creation of her "Brick Theory"—the belief that every experience is a brick that builds us into who we are. By identifying the cracked bricks in her own foundation, she was able to repair and rebuild herself. Central to this transformation was a dedicated journaling practice that rewired her brain for positivity. Libby now shares her story and her unique journaling method to empower others to live happier, more fulfilling lives through simple, daily action.

Dealing with Grief & the Loss of a Child

Ken is a soon-to-be graduate of Nursing School with a

Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Prior to that I was an elementary teacher for

28 years for various school districts and grade levels. I plan to speak with you

about mental health, loss, and the effect of suicide on myself, my family, a

community. I do not claim to have all the answers but what I share will be from

the heart and the result of first-hand knowledge.

Journalist

Loss of a sibling 

Leah is a former morning anchor at the CBS affiliate in Madison, WI, on News 3 Now. In October 2019, she received the devastating news that her younger brother, Levi, had died in a car crash—and faced the heartbreaking task of sharing that news with her parents. In the aftermath, Leah poured herself into planning Levi’s funeral while quietly suppressing her own grief. Through therapy and fitness training, she began working through her loss and healing. By sharing her story, Leah hopes to help others navigating grief and unimaginable loss. 

Author - Echoes of Stark Park

Navigating Uncertainty & Chaos in Milwaukee

Freddie Owens is a former Division I basketball player, coach, and motivational storyteller whose journey from the playgrounds of Milwaukee to the world stage embodies the power of resilience, growth, and legacy. A standout at Washington High School and the University of Wisconsin, Owens’ career spanned from NCAA tournaments to professional play overseas before he transitioned into coaching and mentorship.

Beyond the scoreboard, Freddie’s mission is to inspire others through lessons learned on and off the court about perseverance, purpose, and the echoes we leave behind. “Echoes of Stark Park” is his debut memoir, blending personal history, community roots, and universal life lessons that extend far beyond basketball. He continues to lead, teach, and motivate the next generation with the same passion that first took shape on the cracked courts of Milwaukee’s north side.

Life-long Educator

Sobriety & fitness

As a life-long educator, Elizabeth brings her passion for enriching life through learning to an alcohol-free lifestyle.  With 7+ years of sobriety, Elizabeth seeks to celebrate and support others on the path to a healthier, happier life. She has a wealth of experience as a teacher, a mentor, a mom, a widow, a wife, a grandmother, and a retiree. She is a long-time member of the Ditched the Drink community of impassioned women. 

Elizabeth lives outside Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband. Their loving family (four children, their partners, and 5 grandchildren) occupies much of her time and is a source of joy and fulfilment. Activities that nourish her soul are fitness, reading, and all things French! 

Alcohol-Free Advocate of

Clarity Zero-Proof Living

Kate Danaj is an alcohol-free lifestyle advocate and founder of Clarity Zero-Proof Living, where she curates elevated alcohol-free experiences and conversations that help people feel confident and connected in an alcohol-optional world. Through curated tastings, workshops, and meaningful events, Kate co-creates spaces where choosing not to drink is met with sophistication, inclusion, and genuine community.

Her work is rooted in lived experience. After navigating profound personal loss, single motherhood, and seasons of reinvention, Kate began examining the habits and narratives that keep women stuck in depletion. What she discovered was not a need for more willpower, but for better options and deeper connection. Today, she partners with leading alcohol-free brands and wellness leaders to expand access to elevated alternatives while championing honest conversations about mental health, resilience, and self-trust. Kate’s approach blends warmth, candor, and practical insight, reminding women that clarity is not about restriction. It is about choosing what truly supports your well-being.

 Certified Professional Coach & Founder of

Ground Nurture Glow

Jen Roesler (pronounced Race-ler)  is the founder of Ground Nurture Glow, a coaching practice dedicated to helping overwhelmed moms find their joy again. Jen works with women who love their families and are grateful for all that’s good in their lives—yet still find themselves exhausted, depleted, and berating themselves, "What is WRONG with me??!” Through one-on-one coaching, group programs, and unique time-away retreats, she helps moms move from survival mode into lives that are vibrantly healthy and joyful. Her refreshing approach champions “radical self-nurturing” with a mantra of “Pleasure, not penance!”

Jen's path to coaching came from her own season of struggle. After transitioning from a busy freelance career to full-time motherhood, she found herself struggling and relying on unhealthy coping tools—until working with a Life Coach changed everything. Now, her mission is to help other moms get GROUNDED in peace; radically NURTURE themselves; and GLOW with renewed energy. She is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and a Certified Professional Recovery Coach (CPRC) through the International Association of Professional Coaches, (IAPC/IAPRC), as well as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). Connect with her at www.groundnurtureglow.com. 

Small business owner, 

Husband, Father

Alcohol & Anxiety

My name is Jim Marks and I am 44 years old. I am married with three children. I have a 14-year-old daughter and 13 and 11 year-old sons. I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks for most of my life. It came to a head about six years ago, when I was hospitalized in the Meriter Psych ward and then a second time about a year later. After I got out the second time, I decided I needed to get sober. I suffered from alcoholism and drug abuse for many years. I’ve been sober now for over four years and have only suffered a few minor panic attacks since then. When I was asked to be on this panel, I jumped at the opportunity because I would love to help other people that are in my situation.