The time is now! Let's get together.

Welcome to a New Year of opportunity for collaboration and connection!

We have launched partner, member, and investor development for my newest venture - the Flagship property of KASAMA Retreat Hotels! Our Video.

KASAMA Retreat Hotels are the first “purpose-built” Private Retreat Hotels with a Public Voice.  We bring people together to meet the vital need for personal transformation and community.  We design and curate the property as in integral part of any journey, celebration, event or retreat.  And we reimagine and elevated guest experiences with our rockstar in-house experience team.   

KASAMA has an innovative business offering within a multi-billion-dollar market. We are creating scalable retreat hotel communities designed for impact and connection. Our site map is above, learn more from our Presentation Deck, visit the KASAMA website where you can contact us to get involved, sign up for emails and updates.

KASAMA Retreat Hotels is being built for the peer group of lifetime learners, creatives, thought leaders and innovators to come together for game-changer experiences.  Our members and guests come together to connect within, with each other, and collaborate with our hearts and minds in service to humanity.  

This year, we are also launching  The KO Project, our media company, that will create and curate content to elevate humanity and foster community connection.

It’s time for us to be grateful for the abundance in our lives, celebrate the sacred, continue to learn and grow, and spend time innovating for the human community.  

At KASAMA Retreat Hotels – We are Better Together.

New Horizons

So excited to announce my new adventures! 

For the last few years, many friends have seen me transform our Spicewood ranch property into what now will become KASAMA Retreat Hotels.  We are taking on the hotel/travel/experience industry with the first (of 4) Beta “purpose-driven” Retreat Hotels.

KASAMA Retreat Hotels is being built for the lifetime learners, influencers, thought leaders and emerging company bad-asses to come together for game-changer experiences at your own, highly-curated, private property.  We are creating hotel communities for impact and connection.  At the same time, we have launched CO retreats, an experience design company, to work with our clients. I am serving the companies as Intentional Hotelier and Chief Experience Designer. 

Happy in the entrepreneurial mix, ideating, honing my story, putting together my pitch decks, doing informational interviews and gathering partners and friends.

And, I continue to mentor and connect people/resources to support success. 

With love,
Shari

Big Wrap Up

It has been a long transition from 2020 to 2021.  Key events include: 

• February 17, 2020: we merged RWR Legal with Michael Best, and dealt with the integration process (and life) during COVID. 

• April 2020: the Austin Offices consolidated into what is now the Austin office of Michael Best.

• May 31, 2021: I graduated from a 30-year legal career, satisfied and honored to have served my clients and professional well. My husband and partner, Rick Ressler remains the Managing Partner for Michael Best, Austin, and is excited about developing his practice and the firm.

Seeing the list, it almost looks easy.  Oh wait, I left off that this was accomplished during the COVID pandemic.

I am very grateful for the entrepreneurial journey of RWR Legal and the companies that launched out of the firm, including SKU which is celebrating 10 years and now a leading, national CPG accelerator.

Looking forward to what’s next!

2020: A Year of Change, Challenges, and Opportunities

As 2020 proves itself to be a year of change, challenges and opportunities, the RWR Legal team has been working on an exciting transition.

I am proud to announce that after 23 years of serving entrepreneurs and building ecosystems, RWR Legal has recently joined forces with Michael Best and Friedrich LLC. We are now a part of a national law firm with more than 300 attorneys nationwide.

In addition to greatly expanding our legal resources, our office will continue to connect high-growth clients with the talent, mentoring, and resources required for success. We will also be key contributors to Venture Best, a venture capital focused, ancillary business of Michael Best.

Myself, Rick Ressler, and Stephen Aguilar are thrilled to be a part of the Michael Best team.This group of highly-skilled practitioners brings decades of industry leading experience to the table, and the expanded resources our clients will receive as a result will have an immediate benefit.
.
In 2012, I founded Incubation Station, now known as the SKU Accelerator (“SKU”), the first accelerator program for high-growth CPG companies. Since its inception, SKU has graduated more than 60 companies, and over 80 percent of participants are still in business today. We are grateful to help build diversified industries and a robust start-up ecosystem, and combining forces with Michael Best will enable us to amplify our impact.

Now operating as Michael Best Austin, our capabilities span several key industries in the region, including the technology, healthcare, and CPG sectors. In addition, our office will expand into Michael Best’s existing national platform in the cannabis, agribusiness, food and beverage, beauty product, and regulatory realms.

We want out Austin community to know that we stand strong with you, and with our expanded resources, are here to help however we can.

2019: Focused Forward!

2019 is an exciting year!

RWR Legal is seasoned, with wonderful clients and friends. 

SKU is expanding its reach to enable more people to engage and benefit from SKU, and the greater Austin CPG community.

I have formalized my consulting practice into SAVVY - designed to help people achieve success through ecosystem development.  SAVVY launches during SXSW. 

Finally, we expect to be breaking ground soon on our unique “retreat hotel” concept.  We will open our first property in Spicewood, TX, 45 minutes from downtown Austin, in 2019. We will offer unique, inspiring, private retreat ranch properties with programming designed for collaboration and connection.  Available for select weddings, and forward-thinking corporate and group retreats, including speaker driven events.  We are providing a unique “place and space” for inspired doers to engage and learn from each other.  

Looking forward to seeing everyone as I am out and about in Austin.  After a quieter period, it will be wonderful to reconnect.

2018: REST AND PATH FORWARD

At the end of last year (and after 7 years) SKU is now fully managed by an able team - allowing time for me to step off into new projects. 

I took some time to reflect on what has been accomplished and what is ahead for my entrepreneurial journey. I decided to refocus on RWR Legal as a recognized community contributor and Legal Consultancy.  Our tagline of Success Ignited, Impact Made, is one I am proud of, and we realize that our work is not over.  We are in the process of our relaunch materials which will be revealed Fall 2018.  Additionally, we are building a retreat for exclusive/unique company offsites and intention-based events.

These projects will help create platforms to connect and celebrate success with our clients and friends.  More to come…

Looking towards 2018

Time has rushed by, focused on planning and executing 2018.

RWR Legal is moving right along, SKU is growing here in Austin and to a second location.  The EBA had some great programs and now looking at its expansion model.

Will be updating with announcements and very excited about things to come!

Cheers to 2016, 2017 is here!

Welcome to 2017, the year for emerging businesses.

·      We are happy to announce that as we begin our 21st year as a law firm, MWR Legal has changed its name to RWR Legal. Our staff and locations remain, as does our 100 percent commitment to excellent client service.

·      SKU is growing as we bring on exciting new Corporate Partnerships, and Launch SKU 5 as well as our CPG Industry Board. We will be having a SKU 5 Launch Party during SXSW and classes will begin March 21st! 

·      EBA is moving forward, as we invite other entrepreneurial attorneys and firms to help us grow, under the leadership of our Executive Director. EBA’s first CLE program, tailored towards entrepreneurial lawyers, is scheduled for April. Look out for an invitation soon!

This year is also about choosing where we focus our time and attention. 

Are we:

·      Staying steady in the midst of changing culture and economies?

·      Getting the mentorship we need and giving quality mentorship to people around us?

·      Being grateful and seeing the good, even when we are challenged to see the disrupted?

It is going to be a big year for everyone, and I am inviting you to keep steady and move forward with love, ease, peace, joy and grace. (Along with me, Gracie the wonder dog, and Rick!)

Throughout the year, I look forward to writing more about these subjects and more. Look forward to sharing!

Let’s all have a blessed year.

In gratitude to 2015 – Bring on 2016!

2015 has been a REAL big year for me, Rick and our businesses. 

It was really wonderful in many respects and really hard in others.  I am extremely grateful for all aspects. 

I have a prayer I say every day which includes the line, “I allow, forgive and celebrate all of my human experiences”.  To me, this means four things. One, I try not to resist anything in my life even if it feels hard. Two, I forgive myself for actions I take whether or not they appear to be perfect. Three, I forgive interactions that may seem unfair to me.  Finally, the ideal is to celebrate it all, trusting that everything in life is good and in the right order – whether I can see the reasons or not.

The intention is to begin and end each day with a peaceful mind and no regrets.  I don’t always get there.  But I do open myself up to each new day, take a mental inventory at end of day, and make amends to mentally “clear my slate” for the next day.  Admittedly, it helps to have friends (and professionals) who will help me sort out issues and acknowledge that once is often not enough to deal with past history, life lessons, and long-held beliefs and behaviors.  It is a life journey.

2016 holds tremendous promise, both personally and professionally. I am looking forward to see how all of our hard work and planning comes into fruition!

Highlights to include:

• MWR Legal is developing into the legal consultancy we dreamed of – thanks to all of the amazing people at the firm, our clients and our friends
• SKU is launching into a new phase - thanks to our incoming CEO Doreen Lorenzo, our re-energized Board, and our fantastic mentors, companies and community
• EBA is launching its CLE series, membership drive and new computer platform – thanks to Julene Franki, our Board and our supporters
• Shari.io will be developing as a community as I continue to write, speak, and participate in business and community functions, boards and committees.  To start, I will be hosting a Friday night group on “Living Authentically and Successfully”.  This is a mastermind group for people ready to set clear intentions and achieve their heart’s desires. If you know me personally, please email me if you are interested in attending as participation is by invitation only. 

Let’s all have a fabulous 2016 - start by being at peace and letting go of 2015, then set your intention for 2016!

Welcome to Shari.io

Why Shari.io?

The short answer is that I really needed ONE card and email address to feel like an integrated person again.  The longer answer is that I am taking steps to integrate my endeavors under one brand all based upon what I do to help myself and others Connect for Success.

The good news is that coming together in marriage with Rick about a year ago has opened my life up to expansion I could not have imagined. 

On a personal level, I have happily become the step-mom to two great kids – Karen and Eric, been welcomed with open arms into Rick’s family, and moved into our new home together in Barton Hills.  Nici, my adopted daughter in Germany has applied for medical school.  Amelia, who is family to Rick and me, has met the love of her life and has launched away from working with us to pursue her visions.

On a business level, so much has transpired.  My home of 17 years has been transformed into a retreat called Bella Creek, MWR Legal has acquired another law firm as part of a new growth plan, and Incubation Station has re-branded as SKU and hired its first executive CEO.  Now, at SXSW, I am excited to be co- launching the EBA -Entrepreneurial Law Bar Association to gather together thought leaders and community builders for attorneys dedicated to helping their clients achieve success.

Shari.io is about celebrating that life is wonderful and busy.

And I have a universal theme now and am looking forward to sharing with you how we can transform our lives through connection to ourselves, our friends, families, communities and businesses for a happier and more meaningful, authentic existence.

Be happy and move forward with love,

Shari