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Industry Leaders

A Toast to Collaboration

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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 … [Read more...] about A Toast to Collaboration

Advocating for Change

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Thanks to ECEP’s efforts, caterers are taking their place at the government table By Liese Gardner Change and upheaval can be powerful catalysts for action. This was precisely the case for the founding members of Elite Catering + Event Professionals (ECEP) as they faced the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, which brought a devastating ripple effect to their … [Read more...] about Advocating for Change

Personalizing the Big Day

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Creating weddings that capture a couple’s personalities is what it’s all about for event planner Brian Worley By Sara Perez Webber Like many event professionals, Brian Worley had no idea that what started as a side hustle would evolve into a passion and a career. The creative director and owner of B. Worley Productions in Atlanta, Worley was working at a Banana … [Read more...] about Personalizing the Big Day

Collective Wisdom for Catering Excellence

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Five takeaways from ECEP symposiums to help you grow your business By Liese Gardner At the annual symposium for Elite Catering + Event Professionals (ECEP), top catering business owners come together with thought leaders to exchange ideas and best practices. From HR and operations to culinary, kitchen, sales and finance, the event is a dynamic gathering of collective … [Read more...] about Collective Wisdom for Catering Excellence

Meet Maneet

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CFE chats with celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan By Sara Perez Webber At the Florida Restaurant Show in Orlando in November, Chef Maneet Chauhan shared this advice to attendees who gathered to watch her prepare Tandoori Shrimp & Grits: “Be as authentic as possible.” It’s a maxim Chauhan has clearly followed herself as she’s charted a meteoric rise in the culinary … [Read more...] about Meet Maneet

Olympic-Sized Lessons

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An interview with John Crisafulli of Behind the Scenes Catering, who's catered for 13 Olympic Games John Crisafulli—ECEP founding member, and president and CEO of Behind the Scenes (BTS) Catering in San Diego—has produced food at 13 Olympic Games. He’s seen it all, from Covid restrictions to frustrating red tape to perhaps the most exciting challenge—preparing a culinary … [Read more...] about Olympic-Sized Lessons

A Tale of Two Kitchens

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How top caterers on the East and West coasts realized the need to gut the past to make room for the future (not to mention cold blasters) By Liese Gardner Picture this…you’re envisioning the future of your business over the next five years. It’s brimming with exciting possibilities—increased client satisfaction, large-scale events, a cohesive team, fruitful brand … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Kitchens

The Power of Community

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Caterer members of ECEP share best practices to help each other succeed By Liese Gardner In 1937, author Napoleon Hill coined the term “master mind” in his influential book Think and Grow Rich, which has sold more than 20 million copies. “Success does not come without the cooperation of others,” said Hill—a concept that has motivated generations of business leaders to … [Read more...] about The Power of Community

A Charming Tale

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Pauline Parry, the award-winning founder and CEO of Good Gracious! Events, shares recipes and memories in My Culinary Love Story By Sara Perez Webber Award-winning caterer Pauline Parry made good use of the downtime brought on by the Covid pandemic—she wrote a book. Los Angeles-based Parry was inspired to pen a memoir after visiting her family in England. “My nephew … [Read more...] about A Charming Tale