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Event Managers and Assistants
At Frog Commissary, the event manager is the primary interface with the client. The event manager’s job begins with helping to define the client objectives and fashion a proposal that meets the client’s creative and financial requirements. Our event manager’s job extends to managing the actual delivery of the event in concert with Frog Commissary's culinary and service leadership. The event manager makes the promises and then makes sure we deliver on those promises.
With their assistants, event managers form teams who work together through every step of the planning and execution of an event. If success is found in the details, it is the job of the assistant to provide the administrative support and make sure all of the details are covered.
Marsha Stepan-Nelson – Event Manager
Marsha's grandmother owned and operated restaurants in Chicago and Montana and provided Marsha with a love of food and the understanding of the hard work it takes to make hospitality happen. (Both Marsha's daughter and son have been cooking since they were old enough to get up on a chair. Marsha's daughter is working on both growing and preparing natural foods while living in Montana.) Prior to joining us, Marsha operated her own catering business. She understands the bottom line of taking care of customers. She has worked as an administrator in the Education School at Penn and as a counselor. She went to college at Washington State in Rochester, N.Y. and at the University of Pennsylvania from which she received a Masters in Psychology. Marsha has lived on both coasts and points in between, and utilizes that exposure to many American cooking styles in her menu planning. She approaches events with a particular focus on decoration and food styling and has helped us immeasurably in adding to our "styling" inventory.
Mstepan-nelson@frogcommissary.com
Barbara Ennis – Marsha’s Assistant
Barbara served as Don Falconio’s assistant for a number of years. It was from Don that Barbara came to understand the combination of professionalism and personal commitment that goes into every event.
Bdauber@frogcommissary.com
Suzanne Driscoll – Event Manager
A sculptor and teacher, Suzanne has a BFA from the University of Hartford and an MFA from Tyler School of Art. Suzanne got into business by making wedding cakes from her home. She worked nights baking challah in a Kosher bakery, opened a gourmet-to-go shop and, most importantly, worked for three years as a chef in our kitchen and at events. Suzanne rose through our ranks to become a Senior Event Chef before taking on the role of Event Manager, a position that she has held since 1994.
Sdriscoll@frogcommissary.com
Jody Reese – Suzanne’s Assistant
Jody is among the longest tenured members of the Frog Commissary family. She began her career as a server at The Commissary cafeteria. While she began a family of her own, Jody worked as a catering waiter and eventually became a key event supervisor. Several years ago Jody “came in from the cold” and today brings several decades of Frog Commissary experience to her job as Suzanne’s assistant.
Jreese@frogcommissary.com
Sharon Howery – Event Manager
Like many of us in this industry, Sharon's road to catering was indirect. Sharon was working on a Ph.D. in American History at Rutgers when a friend enticed her to play the front of the house role to her friend's chef role in a restaurant/jazz club venture in Philadelphia's Art Museum area. After a sincere and best effort, they closed their restaurant's doors with Sharon a bit older, wiser, a bit poorer - but with a newly discovered love of food and hospitality. Though she had worked as a researcher and archivist, when the opportunity came to join Frog Commissary as an Event Manager Assistant, she took the job and got hooked. For five years Sharon worked as Don Falconio's assistant at Frog Commissary and there was no better way to learn this business than assisting Don - probably the most experienced and respected catering account executive in the region’s history. Sharon has a son and daughter and lives in South Jersey. Sharon's experience, passion to get it right for you, and thoroughness will serve you well.
Showery@frogcommissary.com
