“Fostering Family Connections” #157

Families come in many forms. Regardless of how they are created, they have a significant impact on our later lives. Today, we speak with Christina Baker Kline, best-selling author of the Orphan Train, and business woman Catherine York. Their family experiences have greatly influenced their work and personal evolution. We hope you enjoy our conversations with Christina and Catherine.

Guests

Christina Baker Kline, novelist, nonfiction writer and editor

Christina Baker Kline

Christina Baker Kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. She wrote the #1 New York Times bestseller, Orphan Train, as well as Bird in HandThe Way Life Should BeDesire Lines, and Sweet Water. Christina lives with her family in Montclair, New Jersey, and spends summers on Mount Desert Island.  

Catherine York, co-founder of The Gilded Nut Snack Co.

Catherine York

Catherine York is the co-founder of The Gilded Nut Snack Co. (www.gildednut.com), where she directs growth strategy and investment. An accomplished executive and entrepreneur, Catherine has over 20 years of broad management and strategic experience, including market development, mergers and acquisitions, performance turnarounds, and the sale of her own successful online auction business. Prior to co-founding The Gilded Nut Snack Co. in 2013, Catherine worked at SunEdison, a global solar energy company, as Vice President in charge of Mergers and Acquisitions. She also ran P&Ls in the Caribbean and Latin America for both SunEdison and a Washington, D.C.-based telecommunications company. As a member of Maine Angels, Catherine invests in early stage companies in New England. Her portfolio focuses on healthy and innovative food and renewable energy companies. Catherine’s career started in public affairs, and to this day she still finds herself working with elected leaders and stakeholders on issues she cares about, including healthy, sustainable foodservice and production, and renewable energy. She is evangelical about healthy food and wholesome ingredients. A self-proclaimed ingredient czar, Catherine shuns preservatives, flavor additives, binding agents, food colorings, and other synthetic ingredients in food – one reason why only all natural ingredients make their way into Gilded Nut’s healthy snacks. Catherine attended the American University.