At first glance, Marksboro Mills may look like a traditional grain mill. But for Founder Ruthie Perretti, it represents something far more experimental–a real-world case study in rebuilding regional food systems—and in shaping a career guided less by certainty and more by curiosity.

On Tuesday, January 20, a new season of Skeptics will begin with Ms. Perretti’s inaugural visit to the hilltop. A former designer for Ralph Lauren and now successful leader within the agricultural space, she will share how her professional journey evolved from fashion and creative direction into food and agriculture, tracing a path shaped by asking questions, taking risks and stepping well outside her comfort zone. 

“I started my career at Ralph Lauren in a small role and eventually became a senior leader in design, learning the importance of initiative and deep understanding along the way,” shared Ms. Perretti in a pre-event interview. “My work has since moved across industries—from branding and hospitality to real estate and agriculture. For students who feel uncertain, I’d encourage openness: Follow what interests you, seek out people you respect and be willing to do the unglamorous work that builds real skill.”

Students who attend the presentation will get to see how Ms. Perretti’s acclaimed Marksboro Mills serves as a lens for exploring the restoration of local infrastructure—and how meaningful work often emerges from unexpected turns rather than carefully laid plans.

“What I find most gratifying is seeing ideas take shape in the real world—especially when they support community, creativity and long-term thinking. My career hasn’t followed one industry, but one approach: learning systems, recognizing talent and building teams that can carry ideas forward.” 

She hopes students learn that careers don’t always come with clear titles. “What matters more,” she says, “is seeing possibility, doing the work to make it real, and staying accountable to the people and places affected by what you build.”
All are welcome to hear Ms. Perretti  speak in the forum of the Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

History of Skeptics
 
The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.