You know the kind... where everything they touch turns into a work of art?

Nancy A. Goodman, President
Her infectious laughter announces to the world her love of music, theatre, and of life itself. Nancy's delight of chocolate truffles and a sip of champagne are only outweighed by messy pottery classes with daughter Ahmei, the golden apple of her eye. She has discovered the perfect cure for any malady is an afternoon at the beach reading Vince Flynn underneath a wide brimmed hat.

Joël Thévoz, CEO
A visionary, Joel is a creative and disciplined renaissance man. Swiss born and raised, he spent his teenage years in the sunshine of Costa Rica and Mexico. Joel is comfortable behind the camera's lens, swinging a nine iron, and scuba diving. Well read, he enjoys time with good books: discovering new travel adventures to partake in, exotic culinaria that Main Event Caterers can explore, as well as alternative medicines and health practices. A true family man, he takes pleasure in cooking for his wife, their daughter, as well as his parents Didi and Marcel.

Taylor Locraft, Director of Sales
With an appetite for danger, Taylor leaps out of airplanes, rafts white waters, and swings high on the trapeze (really!).  Logically this led her to become a successful catering professional.  Her motto: "The more life endangering, the better!"  Her more relaxing hobbies are drag racing with her step-dad and turkey shooting with her mom.  A native Annapolitan, she plays intense dominoes with her Grandaddy while Nanny cheers them on.

Peggy McGuire, Event Designer
Although a Midwesterner by birth, Peggy now considers herself a Washingtonian since perusing a career in food services for the last 25 years here. A true Cardinal's fan at heart, she still roots for the Nats. Fanatic about poker with pâté, she also enjoys needlework and antiquing. Her favorite meal? A slow paced evening that is shared with family and friends with a splash of wine.

Michelle Fishman, Event Designer
Born and raised in Rockville, Maryland, Michelle has a true love for the area and all it has to offer. She has come a long way from planning her family's milestones and school social functions, as she now coordinates events at all the top venues in the city and beyond! Though she has a great passion for social occasions and weddings, Michelle's creativity and vast experience is vital to corporate event's as well. While excellent cuisine and extravagant parties play a large role in Michelle's life, her friends and family come first and foremost (and then of course, shopping!).

Spencer McCormack, Event Designer
A Texan native, Spencer learned to walk at the age of seven months, and since then has walked all over Texas, Los Angeles, Manhattan and the Amalfi Coast. He once ate fourteen scoops of ice cream and was awarded a shirt emblazoned with "I Ate The Kitchen Sink at Chezzie's Ice Cream Parlor." Visiting Vegas at the age of 21, he lost his shirt, luckily not the ice cream shirt. His brushes with greatness include meeting the stars of Terms of Endearment while it was filmed at his Aunt's home, and meeting Julia Robert's on the eve of her winning the Academy Award for her role in Erin Brockovich. He touched her statuette. A fan of potent flavors, Spencer cannot pass up beautiful black truffles, sinful salt + vinegar chips and exceedingly stinky cheese!

Daniela Salazar-Araujo, Event Designer

A native Virginian and a graduate of George Mason University, Daniela truly has learned the business from the ground up.  To get her foot in the Main Event door, she took a job with us as a part-time receptionist and part-time bookkeeper.  To say she has paid her dues is an understatement.  Luckily her degree in Accounting with a minor in Event Planning & Management really gave her a leg up.  She is now an old hat at planning superb events and specializes in Quinceaneras.

Andrea Falletti, Event Designer

One half of an identical set of twins, Andrea was born and raised in Chantilly, Virginia.  She is a graduate of Virginia Tech (yes, she is a true Hokie fan) and also studied abroad in stunning Lugano, Switzerland.  Her summers are spent aboard the family boat "See Ya" and during the winters she and her family frequent the slopes in Park City, Utah.  Having many years' experience in event design, Andrea knows the secrets to creating distinct ambience and visual interest for each event using colorful linens and creative accents.

Rachael Slockett, Event Designer

Rachael has been an active part of both the corporate and social events industry for the past six years, but she's been throwing parties, celebrations and get-togethers for friends and family for most of her life. A JMU alum, her love for food, music, and special occasions, coupled with creativity and organization led her to Main Event. Born and raised in New Jersey, Rachael can never pass up a day down the shore, a Yankees game, or backyard BBQ.

Katie McElroy, Event Designer

After ten years of nursing, Katie decided to follow her true love and go back to school to become a pastry chef. Ambitiously, she came to Main Event’s as an intern and immediately won the team over with her skills and passion. Her biggest and most important role in her life is being a mother to her two boys, Dylan and Aidan. She loves to read, has a huge passion for wine, and is addicted to coffee.  

Kara Marshall, Event Designer

Her heart, home, and roots may be from the New England states, but moving to DC has Kara very excited to experience the spring weather that does not exist in her home region. She is a huge Patriots and animal fan; she is missing her two very large and loveable collies back home. She worked for a Clambake Caterer for 8 summers in Maine-which she claims was “wicked good chowdah”! Her family also owned a tent and event rental company. Her love and passion for different cuisines has now led her to the world of catering and events. She loves Italian, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, and Thai foods, the spicier the better-don’t be surprised if she is carrying cayenne pepper in her purse!

Meg Warker, Assistant Event Designer

After working three years for the government, Meg decided to follow her passion for food and event planning and come work in the world of catering. She currently writes a food blog and loves cooking for friends and family. She aspires to be an event designer with a vast knowledge of all things culinary with an eye for vintage decor. She was born in New Bern, North Carolina and graduated from Longwood University with a degree in Communications. She is also a beaming bride to be, planning the biggest event of her life next June!

Cheryl Bennett, General Manager
A bonafied country girl, Cheryl is an avid animal lover... just ask Wilbur, her radiant and humble pet pig. Her waterfront cottage is an oasis where the lapping waves and fragrant pine trees allow her to soar. For 25 years, Cheryl has excelled at sales and business management. Not surprisingly, she is well skilled with power tools.

Jenny Fessler, Director of Staffing
The omnipotent and gregarious Jenny recruits, interviews, trains, schedules, and maintains a roster of nearly 450 independent contractors who prove themselves to be of the caliber that Main Event Caterers insists upon. This hand-picked army of skilled individuals fulfills the roles of butlers, bartenders, on-site chefs, and drivers. An enthusiast of nature, she is a long term volunteer with Casey Trees and is the first and foremost cheerleader of our own Green Initiatives. When the sun rests upon her face, a smile beams back, be it hiking, sailing, or frolicking seaside with her vast circle of friends.

Lauren Cooper, Staffing Coordinator

Born and raised in Ohio, Lauren made her big move to the big apple to study Russian, poetry, and dance at Sarah Lawrence College. After living in Manhattan for several years, she made yet another big move to Russia, where she taught English to native Russians! She loves running, biking, swimming, yoga, ballet, and fresh fruit, particularly apples. She also enjoys spending time with her dog, Patrick Henry. She formerly managed an artisan ice cream shop and is just short of owning 500 vinyl records!

Mike Feinberg, Executive Chef
Originally hailing from New York, Mike settled in Northern Virginia after graduating in 1980 with an intricate knowledge of hotel and restaurant management. Since that time he has worked side by side with the top catering chefs in the Washington region. He has excelled in 'creating delicious' for gatherings of 10 to 3000 guests. He holds his family close as they are his inspiration and he finds a time for meditation while quietly fishing.

John Dooher, Executive Sous Chef

Arthur Gant, Sous Chef
Art is a graduate of the noted Culinary Arts Institute of America. His strong and envied career in some of the finest hotels and catering companies brings him great satisfaction and respect. He boasts that he is remarkably happy to have finally found the best company here at Main Event, "By far the best in the Washington Metropolitan Area, every item we produce in the kitchen is truly the best that it can be." He and his beloved wife Rosie enjoy breeding Akitas, and are looking forward to a restful retirement. As if we could bear to see him go!

Mark Merritt, Saucier

A graduate of Johnson & Wales and degrees in Culinary Art, Food Service Management, and Event Management, Mark is a remarkable addition to our team. Free-spirited at heart, he loves to ski at 10,000 feet and enjoys mountain biking in the great outdoors. Mark has proudly served congressional appointments with the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee and the House Education & Workforce Committee. And somehow he still finds time to enjoy his terrific family, a great network of friends and his Bengal cat named Squiggy Boneless.

Sam Alnahhas, Pastry Chef

Scott Hoffner, Corporate Chef
First in his class at the Western Culinary Institure in Portland, Oregan, Scott has honed his craft at Mille Fleurs in San Diego, and in Las Vegas at Aureole at Mandalay Bay, Rio Hotel & Casino, and The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.  He and his wife have one four-legged child, a cat named Savannah.

Javier Fernandez, Kitchen Support
Javier's high standards and quick actions ensure that everything he touches reflects his remarkably deft hands.

Dellynn Periandri, Beverage & Warehouse

Working in the catering world since 1984, Dellynn has experience from working the event floors all the way to mixing delicious drinks and managing the kitchen staff. She started off as a mixologist in the metropolitan and eventually ended as the assistant to the executive chef and the lead kitchen coordinator for 12 years! Her strong organization skills and her vast and endless knowledge of catering has led her to managing our warehouse and concocting our delicious and creative drinks. On her spare time, she is a dedicated mother and is involved in the PTA for Arlington County. Her creativity doesn’t just end at food—she is also a remarkable jeweler!

Roberto Zuleta, Warehouse Manager
An affable individual, who oversees and maintains the care and storage of the thousands of items that are imperative to any event, Roberto is as detail oriented as he is personable. It is his awesome responsibility to be three places at once at all times and to pay strict attention to so many intricate details it would make a lesser man’s head spin. He is the father of three rapidly growing sons, who keep both he and his wife amused and amazed everyday.

Marcello Marquez, Warehouse Support

& Jack of all Trades
Asking where our stash of Caribbean conch shells, flashy firecracker candles, or jaunty jack o'lanterns might be produces a knowing smile from Marcello. The master of all he surveys, his knowledge of our holdings is a vast as our warehouse... and that's rather big! In addition, Marcello meticulously maintains the heavy equipment in Main Event Caterers' laundry and dish washing facilities. Even more, Marcello tears down walls, builds shelves, paints pipes, creates room, destroys untidiness, and mends anything be it big or small.

Yolanda Diaz, Warehouse Support
Unarguably the youngest and prettiest member of the warehouse team, with her radiant eyes, Yolanda searches and destroys all imperfections she encounters. Her laughter alone makes our crystal sparkle and our silver gleam more that any others.

Sarah Cornejo, Graphics Associate / Client Liaison

A graduate from Marymount University, Sarah received her Bachelor’s in Graphic Design and Fine Arts. She is currently exploring the theme of combining Pop Art and Portraiture. Her talents have enabled her to participate in several Eco-awareness and Eating Right advertising campaigns. Her future goals include backpacking through South America and expanding her artistic talents in London or Spain.

Brittany Salazar, Office Wizard

An aspiring event designer herself, Brittany is the youngest in the Main Event family. She is currently working on finishing her degree in event management and marketing. Along with juggling school and a full time job, Brittany loves being with her family, closest friends, and of course if you're in this industry, food! Her passion, determination, and creativity allow her to balance all these factors in her life and she hopes to be a successful international event planner in the future.