"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away - Pablo Picasso"
Living in New England, I was moved by the historical relevance and how each generation contributed to the growth and transformation of the area. Surrounded by different nationalities, religions, and ethnicities, I found a passion for the origin of traditions and how these influenced the milestones of a person's life. Every cultural element, from the music to the food, was exhilarating and inspired me to be involved in the process. When I was invited to be a junior groomsman at age 10 I knew that I loved planning events!
With a love of history and traditions, I found a niche in hospitality and events, where there were always opportunities to create new benchmarks inspired by cultural influences. In order to support this, I began my quest for knowledge of the building blocks including menu and theme development, food and beverage planning, event production, and current trends. During the past twenty years, I have worked in restaurants, hotels, and university settings to gain a broad range of experiences in all facets of events. And, as I value education, I have continued this tradition by teaching at the university level and am currently teaching wedding coordination and design, as well as other courses in hospitality education - inspiring new professionals within the special events industry.
Professional Affiliations
NACE (National Association of Catering and Events) - Las Vegas Board of Directors 2008 - 2018, National Education Committee 2011- present
International School of Hospitality
Las Vegas Hospitality Association
GLCCNV
Education / Certifications
Bachelor of Science – Hotel Restaurant Management
CHE (Certified Hospitality Educator)
CPCE (Certified Professional Catering Executive)
CGSP (Certified Guest Services Professional)
CMP (Certified Meeting Planner)
Awards
Catering & Conference Services Professional (NACE) - 2019
Wedding Professional of the Year – Wedding Professionals of Las Vegas - 2009
National Nomination Educational Program of the Year - National Association Catering and Events
National Placement for Event Design –National Association of College and University Food Services
Nominated for Member of the Year - National Association Catering and Events
Nominated for George Zell Spirit of NACE - National Association of Catering and Events
