Board Candidates

Katie Fleury

Director of Sales
Ridgewells Catering
Bethesda, Maryland

Katie began her career in the restaurant industry before joining Chicago's Blue Plate Catering as an Event Producer at the age of 23. She spent the next ten years growing with the company to eventually become one of its top sales people, executing over $3 million in annual event sales. Katie was instrumental in cultivating and managing several major clients for Blue Plate, including Nordstrom, The NFL, and KPMG.  In 2014, Katie earned her Certified Meeting Planner certification from the Convention Industry Council, and remains involved in several CMP networks. She is also involved with several other hospitality and catering organizations, including MPI, ILEA, and the ICA, and has been a featured speaker for her expertise.  Katie joined Ridgewells in 2016 as a Senior Event Designer, before stepping into the role as Director of Sales in January, 2018. She brings her deep level of knowledge and experience, along with a love of the catering industry, to lead the Ridgewells sales team.

April Lambatos

Co-Owner
Footers Catering
Denver, Colorado

April is the Co-Owner of Footers Catering, a second-generation Denver based event-catering company that was founded in 1981 by her father-in-law, Jimmy Lambatos.  In January 2010, April partnered with her husband, Anthony, to purchase the business with the goal of growing the business while creating a great place to work. In 2012 she led the charge to move the company from it's home of over 20 years to a facility twice the size, over 13,000 sq/ft.  April has also been instrumental in implementing the systems and processes that are necessary to sustain growth and has experienced great success in keeping employees in an industry notorious for high levels of turnover.  In the past, April worked as the Director of Catering for Paradise Bakery & Cafe, overseeing 11 catering locations in the Denver Front Range and earning a national record breaking sales award in 2007.  April graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors degree in Finance. During her college career she spent a year working at Walt Disney World Resorts learning hospitality from the number one leader in the industry. This was an invaluable learning experience that April has used to help make Footers Catering one of the top caterers in Denver.  A notable accomplishment is that April was honored as a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 in 2017.

Renee Miner

VP/Chief Event Designer
Empyrean Events and Catering
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Renee Miner, CERP, is the Chief Event Designer at Empyrean Events and Catering, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana with a satellite office in Indianapolis.  She has nearly 15 years of experience in the Special Events Industry. Co-Founder of Empyrean Events and Catering and its sister companies, Empyrean Designs and Empyrean Cafe, Renee is dedicated to cultivating creativity in every way. The 2018 award winner of the Carson Ray Spirit of ILEA Award, Renee has led the Empyrean team to over twenty local and national awards honoring excellence in catering, mixology, and event design.  She draws inspiration from every facet of her life: her team, community, and her rambunctious daughter.  She is passionate about and excited to see the growth of the Special Events Industry, and is thrilled to have an impact by sharing her experiences and inspiring others. She stresses that Special Event professionals should not just think outside the box, but reinvent the box.

Sarah Nett

Executive Event Producer
Creative Hands Cuisine
Mesa, Arizona

Born and raised in the Valley of the Sun, Sarah Nett has always had a passion for life. Growing up as a competitive dancer, the drive to be the best and improve what could be perfected has always been instilled in her. Little did she know this drive would push her to eventually operate one of Phoenix's premier catering companies by the age of 25. Sarah has been with Creative Hands Cuisine since 2011 as the Executive Event Producer. It has been a long journey, but there is always more to learn, especially since she has hopes to take over the business when the current owners, Chef Doug and Camille Brochu retire. After winning two general scholarships to attend the Catersource Conference, in 2017 Sarah was gifted with the Mary Crafts/Culinary Crafts scholarship, or in her own words, The Big One. Sarah was able to work alongside Mary and learn how she raised her one-woman business into the massive company it is today; truly an inspiration that drives Sarah's goal to achieve the same.  In her personal life, Sarah takes joy in traveling and spending quality time with friends and loved ones. She has 1 dog, Annie, who is the best dog ever for a young, single female! And did we mention Harry Potter? That's something everyone who knows Sarah correlates with her and the signature pop of color on her lip!

Jamie Quickert

Director of Catering and Events
Culinaire
Detroit, Michigan

From a busser at a local restaurant to a Corporate Director for a national catering company, Jamie has built her career on a simple concept: Be kinder and work harder than those around you. She stands on the principle that a cheerful attitude is contagious, first impressions last forever, and hard work inspires others. Because of this, she is a natural leader.   Jamie was voted 2017 Twin Cities Wedding and Event Professional to watch, and she shows no signs of slowing down. She has become a nationally known leader in the hospitality industry and has spoken at conferences and seminars around the country. Her previous portfolio of exclusive venues includds 3 golf courses,4 museums, 1 coliseum at the state fairgrounds, 1 civic center arena, and 9 zoos. She has lead her sales and events team in several high profile events and galas around the country and has won several local and national awards for catering.   Jamie is an influencer in the making with 5000 Facebook Friends and followers, 2500 LinkedIn Connections, 1500 Followers on Pinterest, and 4500 Followers on Instagram (and growing!)

Syd Sexton

General Manager
Catering by Design
Denver, Colorado

Syd Sexton brings an extensive background in hotel and catering management. She spent 13 years with the Hyatt Corporation as Director of Catering and Conference Services where she participated on the corporate team to launch Hyatt's off premise division, Regency Caterers. She eventually opened her own Denver catering company, Alex Brooks Fine Catering which she operated successfully for 15 years. She sold to business partners when she returned to the hotel industry and joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company as the Colorado Area Director of Catering and Events. Syd's wealth of business acumen, along with her people management expertise, made her the perfect fit to guide the team at Catering by Design. She has been in the role of General Manager for two and ½ years. Syd holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. She moved to Denver in 1987, is a past president of the Denver ILEA chapter, and has been an active community member and volunteer with many organizations, including, but not limited to the Kempe foundation, American Liver foundation, American Transplant foundation, and First Descents.

Greg Shapiro

Executive Chef and Owner
Tastebuds Custom Catering, Inc.
Naples, Florida

Greg Shapiro is the executive chef and owner of Tastebuds Custom Catering.  As a mentee in the kitchen, Chef Greg Shapiro has experienced just about every responsibility at one time or another before evolving into the talented chef and passion driven business owner he is today. Chef Greg owned a small restaurant before discovering that his true passion was for catering, thus setting his sights and focus on Tastebuds Custom Catering, which launched in 2008 and has been innovating and creating experiential catering events since.  Now, Chef Greg is the mentor. A proud member of the International Caterers Association Culinary Council, Chef Shapiro continuously attends and teaches seminars and courses each year.  He enjoys traveling to both domestic and international locales, seeking out the best food, whether from a fine dining restaurant or a casual street cart.  This is how he sparks his creativity and keeps his passion for food and hospitality alive.  His company mantra is 'we are only as good as our last event'.  It has become the focus of his company to leave guests raving about the food and experience, and wanting more.  Under Chef Shapiro's direction, his catering company recently received one of the highest industry honors of ACE Award (Achievement in Catering and Events) Winner for the Eastern United States region.  Additionally, he is an active member of the National Association of Wedding Professionals, the ICA & the Bonita Chamber of Commerce.