Founder & Coach, Sage City Coach

Diana Rowe is Founder & Coach at Sage City Coach. People spark her curiosity, and she loves connecting the pieces of who they are: personal values, bold ambitions, defining qualities, habitual behaviors, and underlying potential. Diana pairs over 15 years of corporate leadership experience with passion for life and leadership coaching.

Diana created the Sage City Dinner Series to craft experiences that satisfy the heartfelt conversations we all crave. In a fast-paced world occupied with busy schedules, high-pressure careers, and competing priorities, it’s not uncommon to feel like something is missing. This is a space to show up, get curious, and be vulnerable. Fill your cup with with new perspective, connections, and tangible practices to create positive momentum in your life.

Leader, Mentor, and Coach across corporate and non-profit organizations

Mary Ellen Gustainis brings a rich blend of leadership, service, and lived wisdom to the table.

She spent more than three decades in the chemicals industry at both DuPont and BASF in roles ranging from Manufacturing Engineer to Shift Supervisor, to Sales to Six Sigma General Management. Mary Ellen retired in 2022 after holding multiple Business Director roles. Her career reflects a rare breadth of experience—working on the front lines and in the executive suite, always with a focus on people, process, and purpose.

Following corporate retirement, Mary Ellen has devoted her business and organizational expertise to supporting nonprofit and faith-based organizations. She has served on boards for Catholic Charities in two states, Belmont Abbey College, and is currently the President of the Board of Directors for MiraVia – an organization that offers residential, material, and emotional support for pregnant women and their children.

A lifelong mentor, she is energized by conversations with early-career professionals and often says she learns just as much as she gives. Above all, she treasures her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother—and recharges by knitting, cooking, hiking, and cheering on NHL hockey.

Owner & Head Chef, the Artisan’s Palate

Owner and Head Chef Christa Csoka brings over 30 years of experience and a deep passion for food, hospitality, and community. A top graduate of the French Culinary Institute, she trained under renowned Master Chefs including Jacques Pépin, Daniel Boulud, Jacques Torres, Alain Sailhac, and André Soltner. Her career includes time in the kitchens of Daniel in New York City, Tru and the Pump Room in Chicago, as well as culinary work in Austin and Charlotte—shaping her globally inspired approach to comfort food.

Christa’s classical French training, combined with modern influences, defines her creative style at The Artisan’s Palate, where she emphasizes fresh, local, and organic ingredients that reflect the spirit of the Charlotte community. A devoted foodie and wine enthusiast, she is continually inspired by meaningful flavors and shared experiences.

Her love for entertaining began early, growing up in a family where hosting and gathering were central. After moving to Charlotte in 2004, she began catering events and hosting themed dinners that brought people together—work that ultimately became the foundation for The Artisan’s Palate, a space where food, art, and community coexist with intention.