ECEP attracted its best turnout yet at its fifth annual Symposium in Napa Valley
By Sara Perez Webber
Photos by Jkapture Studios
When the leaders of Elite Catering + Event Professionals (ECEP) chose the location of the group’s recent annual meeting, they knew what would appeal to their audience. After all, what better place for a group of foodies to come together than a stunningly beautiful locale known for its fine wines and innovative culinary scene?
More attendees than ever convened at ECEP’s fifth annual Symposium, which took place March 9-13 at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, California. And while the picturesque surroundings and world-class dining added to the appeal, the 76 ECEP members and sponsors who attended also found sustenance in interesting discussions, dynamic speakers and plenty of bonding opportunities in the heart of wine country.
“We walked away from this conference feeling great about it,” says Adam Noyes, ECEP’s president and the CEO of Atlanta’s Proof of the Pudding. “Everybody was super engaged, learned a lot, had fun, shared best practices with their peers, built friendships and met new vendors. It was really worth the investment.”
Engaging Speakers
The Symposium’s highlights included a keynote address by chef, restaurateur and TV personality Richard Blais, who spoke about his early days in the industry, and shared lessons from both catering and restaurant experiences. “He was entertaining, engaging and relatable,” says Michael Stavros, ECEP’s immediate past president and vice president of business development at M Culinary Concepts in Phoenix, adding that Blais signed books for attendees and joined them for dinner at Ad Hoc, Thomas Keller’s family-style restaurant.
Another featured speaker, Christina Sims, sparked a spirited Q&A during her presentation on AI “and how it can be utilized by us in our daily business,” says Stavros. “The session she hosted later that day was really engaging and demonstrated before our eyes how to use certain things, like ChatGPT.”
ECEP Experts
In addition to outside speakers, attendees heard from experts from ECEP’s 15 catering company members. For example, John Crisafulli of San Diego’s Behind the Scenes Catering led a panel about the five-star customer experience featuring Blais, Ken Barrett-Sweet of Boston’s The Catered Affair and Jeffrey Jake, executive chef at Carneros Resort. Carizza Rose, director of marketing and creative at 24 Carrots Catering & Events in Orange County, California, led a general session on “Building a Brand That Speaks for Itself.”
At Rose’s presentation, “they set up a beverage station with every member’s logo displayed on a series of cups filled with their carrot juice mocktail as a physical demonstration of a branding exercise,” says Stavros. “Everybody was snapping photos and toasting each other with their own logo cups.”
ECEP’s various networking groups—principals and founders as well as leaders in sales, marketing, human resources, finance, operations and culinary—met in their own breakout sessions, including a newly formed group of next-generation leaders who are transitioning into top roles within their companies. “We’re creating forums for the open exchange of ideas, to have safe spaces for people to share their own experiences,” says Stavros.
In addition, attendees could enjoy culinary activations, such as a Meredith Marks Caviar tasting and a lesson in champagne-bottle sabering, and join in on group outings to such destinations as the Round Pond Estate winery.
Sponsor Participation
Something that sets the ECEP Symposium apart from other such conferences is the participation of the event’s sponsors, note Stavros and Noyes. More sponsors than ever attended this year’s Symposium, including companies such as CSM Cost Solutions, Sysco, UKG, Your Green 2 Go, Galley, VerTerra and Hub Engage.
“Having the sponsors there is a great way for us to get to know them and their products—not just during meetings during the day, but during lunches, dinners and breaks,” says Noyes. “We get to know them personally.”
ECEP’s leaders aim to foster a collaborative atmosphere at Symposium, which Stavros says is appreciated by members, sponsors and speakers alike. He points to a note he received from featured speaker Christina Sims, which read in part: “From the moment we arrived, my husband and I felt the genuine hospitality that defines ECEP. We were particularly taken by the kindness and openness of everyone. That speaks volumes about the culture you’ve curated and the kind of people you’ve brought together.”
All 2025 sponsors are expressing interest in next year’s Symposium, with more expected to join in. “We want our sponsor partners to feel this is different,” says Stavros. “We do not want a trade show where you’re trapped for eight hours a day, waiting for people to come back. We want you in the room, at the table, sharing ideas, engaging in discussion, bringing your expertise and your questions.”
Adds Noyes: “We are looking for more great folks to bring on this journey. The ROI will be really strong for them.”
Next Year’s Event
Although next year’s Symposium location hasn’t been announced, it will take place in spring 2026. ECEP’s leaders expect the invitation-only membership to have increased by then, as the group has received interest from four prospective members and hopes to add five or six in the upcoming year. Says Noyes: “We’re aiming for it to be the biggest one ever.”
For more information, visit ecep.online.
