Our 2023 Gala Sponsors
We are so grateful to our dedicated group of Feed Your Mind sponsors! Their support helps make Feed Your Mind a reality.
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please contact Tamara Golden, Director of Development at tamara@pilotlightchefs.org for more information!
Our 2023 Honoree – Ken Fredrickson
We are humbled and grateful to announce our first Feed Your Mind Gala Honoree, Ken Fredrickson, who has generously supported Pilot Light for many years. A member of the International Court of Master Sommeliers, Ken Fredrickson is an entrepreneur who resides in Chicago, IL. He attained the Master Sommelier Diploma while working with world-renowned chefs Charlie Trotter (Charlie Trotter’s– Chicago) and Wolfgang Puck (Spago, Chinois).
Fredrickson is a founding partner in High Road Spirits, a national importer focusing on the sales, marketing, and management of artisan spirit brands. With an emphasis on Japanese whisky the company also represents spirits of Mexico, Haiti, Italy, India, France and Ireland with distribution in 46 States.
Fredrickson’s adventurous spirit and passion for food and drink have led to extensive international travel. His willingness to try anything has taken him from competitive Ironman triathlons to desert off-road and track motorcycle racing. Ken still holds the Ironman record as the largest individual Ironman Foundation fundraiser worldwide, surpassing $57,000 in donations in a single race.
Sharing his adventures, Fredrickson has been a host lecturer for Taste of Vail and has served as a guest speaker at the Texas Sommelier Conference, Jackson Hole Wine Auction, Telluride Wine Festival, Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival, Caribbean Food and Wine Festival and the American Distillers Institute Conference. Most recently, he was a featured speaker at The Welcome Conference dedicated to Hospitality professionals and he is the featured wine personality in 2023 at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Ken released his first book Wine: A Beginner’s Guide in January 2020. Ken and his family focus their charitable efforts in two areas which resonate strongly with them: Advanced research into bipolar and mood-related illness through the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and Pilot Light, which promotes sustainable food systems and educator leadership through Food Education in schools nationwide.