Calia Brencsons-Van Dyk’s life has taken her from the Midwest to the East Coast and to Paris, Provence, South Africa, Las Vegas, the San Francisco Bay Area, and New York City. From a family of food lovers and artists, it was natural that Calia would find herself drawn to creative and culinary adventures. Having spent much of her childhood in the south of France, followed by later travels and studies, she speaks French, German, and Danish, and is certified in all three. Her minor in Theatre at Mills College won out over her International Relations major and steered Calia from her intention to pursue law and toward the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the world of the theatre, where she worked as an actor, writer, and public relations manager. She later spent time in England and France, sponsored by the International Theatre Institute completing a translation of the letters of Catherine the Great to Voltaire. Upon her return to the US, Calia was the Entertainment Chair for the Clinton-Gore campaign in Massachusetts, while working for McKinsey & Company,  after which she found her way back to New York City to work for the French Petroleum Institute. Her professional endeavors since her return include work in the theatre as well as ten years at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, where she worked on productions ranging from The Martha Stewart Show and Emeril’s Table to Whatever, Martha! and Mad Hungry and received a Daytime Emmy award along with two James Beard Awards. Calia is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Caliativity Productions, specializing in live events, documentaries, and multimedia presentations and the Chief Creative Officer for Many Road productions.  Calia lives in New York City with her husband and son.