For the Love of Parties, Events, and Hospitality
I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years, and I have to say—the hospitality world is not for everyone. You have to be built for it and truly love the role you choose. The long hours, early mornings, late nights, and the physical demands on your body make it a challenging career—sometimes on par with investment banking. Balancing a personal life, dating, or raising a family can be one of the toughest challenges, depending on which side of the business you work in.
I guess I’ve been in the hospitality business for as long as I can remember, even if I didn’t realize it at the time—always entertaining friends and hosting gatherings. I officially started my professional career at the same age most people do, right out of college.
My personal reputation quickly outshone the companies I worked for, thanks to my dedication not only to my craft but also to my clients. Listening carefully, offering thoughtful suggestions, and executing with precision and grace are the pillars of success in the hospitality business.
“It’s important to always learn from those who came before you.”
From there, you can either walk the straight path or seize the moment and make something your own. If possible, be someone people know to expect the unexpected. I transitioned from the catering world after many years due to the horrible pandemic. Achievements such as design/building two massive catering halls, large-scale production facilities and restaurants, and scaling the operations to peak performance capacity are the rewards money can’t buy. Executing over 100 events a year for the past 20 years has allowed me to build a deep knowledge base and a strong network within this field.
Fast forward to 2020, when the pandemic struck and shut down the entire industry. As many scrambled to utilize allowable options outside of catering halls and event venues, the need for event planning became a natural transition. Past and current clients called upon me to use my expertise to bring their special, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to fruition.
From then on, I moved away from the voluminous business model of catering halls and began working much more closely with my clients, focusing on creating amazing events they will remember for the rest of their lives. What separates me from others in our field is my vast knowledge of building and running the actual spaces and events—hiring and training waitstaff, overseeing the culinary aspects, and managing the flow of the event. I truly believe in bringing the right team together for each event—whether it’s a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, corporate gala, or more—to achieve the best result. Hire those who specialize in what you need for the event, and oversee them just like building a house. You must start with the foundation before constructing the house, and then ultimately add the details—the furniture and fixtures.
I pour my heart and soul into every event I have the honor of producing for a client—or friend. Hell, I’ve produced weddings and mitzvahs for half of the Roslyn area throughout my career. And for this special edition, I want to wish everyone a happy Valentine’s Day.
