The People Who Make Us Extraordinary

From your first phone call, Park Avenue Catering is at your service. The depth of experience of the Park Avenue staff is exceptional. Each member of our team brings their passion for service and years of experience to the table with every event they produce. Service is one of the most important factors in creating a memorable occasion. It inspires and nurtures your guests, and creates a day you won’t soon forget. It is this high level of personal service that distinguishes Park Avenue Catering from the rest. Our staff are all in-house trained and provide a gracious experience full of warmth and hospitality for you and your guests. We have standards that cannot be met by outside staffing agencies, so we don’t use them. Every Park Avenue Catering employee expresses a personal investment in themselves, our company, and you. This is our definition of service.

Our Partners & Leaders

Bruce Riezenman

our Founder & CEO

Over his 40+ year career, Bruce has been one of California Wine Country’s most sought-after chefs, and a coveted speaker on the subject of Food & Wine Pairing.

Riezenman has taught, cooked & consulted in Italy, Hong Kong, Thailand, throughout Canada and the US for many of the most important food groups & organizations. Chef Riezenman has presented at the Boston Wine Expo and has been a guest chef three times at the prestigious James Beard House in NYC.

Bruce’s career began at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. Originally from New York City, Chef Riezenman was Chef/Owner of five successful restaurants in New York & California.

Bruce is now our CEO & Founder, sharing his years of experience and insights from a stellar 30+ year catering career. We are thrilled to have his support & his mentorship as we move forward with new and creative ideas for the company.

Contact Bruce

Chef Ari Weiswasser

Partner, Executive Chef

Ari Weiswasser, a Food & Wine People’s Best New Chef 2015, spent his formative culinary years in numerous fine-dining establishments in New York City and Philadelphia, mastering the fundamentals of elevated cuisine and service before moving to California and deciding to do things differently.

Glen Ellen Star—which he operates with his wife, Erinn Benziger-Weiswasser, in the Wine Country town of Glen Ellen, CA— opened in May 2012 and utilizes his acutely honed culinary expertise in an inviting, rustic farmhouse-style environment.

Weiswasser spent two years at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry in Yountville before opening Glen Ellen Star down the street from his wife’s family’s biodynamic property, planting gardens that provide much of the kitchen’s produce.

Contact Ari

Dianne Martin

Partner, Director of Sales & Business Development

Since 2001

Dianne grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and started her career in the hotel industry planning corporate & social events. She found the perfect home for combining her passion for food, wine and event planning with Park Avenue Catering. Dianne currently manages corporate accounts, winery events, business development and leads an outstanding team of event specialists.

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Josue Villalobos

Partner, Operations Manager & Lead Chef

Since 1998

Josue was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador. Josue learned the catering business from the ground up, beginning his career with us as a dishwasher and working through several positions before taking the helm as our Operations Manager. As a result, Josue is a most valuable resource when orchestrating the many moving parts of each event and brings a calm focus as lead chef for our largest events.

Meet the Team

Fran Piotrkowski

Office Manager
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Since 1996
Fran and Bruce met in 1986 when Fran owned and operated Piotrkowski Smoked Poultry. According to Bruce, it was the best smoked duck and chicken on the market! Fran has an affinity for gardening, which ties in beautifully with her ability to create amazing farm-to-table menus.
Sharon Misaka-Van Giesen

Wedding Designer & Fundraiser Expert
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Since 1998
Sharon launched her event-planning career in 1995 at Current Affairs in Hawaii as the Special Events Coordinator for an event of 10,000 (featured in Special Events Magazine). Her other experiences, including retail, hotel and restaurant management enable Sharon to offer her wealth of knowledge for clients and colleagues alike.
Janine Baines

Corporate, Social & Wedding Specialist
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Since 2003
Janine was a catering manager in her native South Africa. After making the move stateside, Janine joined Park Avenue Catering, bringing with her a fantastic combination of commitment, charisma and comprehensive attention to detail.
Justine De Alba

Business Development & Wedding Specialist
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Since 2011
Justine was born and raised in San Francisco where she spent more than 20 years in the restaurant industry- largely focused on special events and management. In 2008, she and her family made the move to the wine country where she became a part of the Park Avenue team. Justine dedicates herself to providing her clients with positivity and professionalism.
Anthony Levy

Wedding Specialist
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Since 2013
Anthony brings more than 20 years of experience in special events. Born and raised in England, Anthony has never taken for granted the bounty of fresh, local ingredients we are so lucky to enjoy in Sonoma County and relishes sharing this influence with his clients.
Caitlin Doherty

Wedding Specialist
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Since 2015
Caitlin, a Sonoma County native, is the newest member of our incredible wedding catering team! After graduating from Sonoma State University in 2015, she joined the Park Avenue team and quickly moved up the ranks. She has worked as an event captain for 3+ years and has gained an extensive knowledge of our company. Caitlin is eager to share her expertise on a variety of venues, her meticulous attention to detail and her overall fun personality with wedding clients.
John Diba

Corporate Specialist
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Since 2022
John, a Sonoma and Napa County native is part of the corporate team. With a degree in Hospitality and Beverage Management from UNLV and 12+ years experience in Napa Valley’s food and wine industry. He is welcomed addition to Park Avenue Catering.
Kelly Jo Sanchez

Event Production Co-Coordinator, Social Media & Marketing
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Since 2013
Kelly Jo joined the Park Avenue Catering team in 2013 and quickly became one of our most valued on-site captains. Managing weddings, social and corporate event catering on-site gave her insight & experience to take on the huge task of coordinating our team’s rental needs. She is the master of logistics in and out of the office.
CC Rodriguez

Rental Admin Assistant
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Since 2024
CC is a Sonoma County transplant who transitioned from a dedicated pastry chef of 12 years to a full-time parent in 2019. After her children reached school age, she explored the wine industry and discovered a passion for wine production. This journey led her to Park Avenue, where she combines her love for good food, great company, and the beautiful landscapes of Sonoma County, all while embracing her enthusiasm for organization, open communication and fostering a fun work environment.
Hugo McCarthy

Sales Assistant
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Hugo is a proud Sonoma County native with a deep-rooted passion for the hospitality industry in the vibrant Wine Country region. Having been a valued member of the Park Avenue team for some time, he has recently taken on the role of Sales Admin Assistant and continues to be one of our Event Captains, where he manages events with enthusiasm and dedication. Known for his strong work ethic, Hugo is eager to continue his professional growth and gain valuable experience. He is committed to playing an integral role in the evolution of Park Avenue Catering as the business landscape evolves.
Lauren Tolson

Staffing Director
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Since 2016
Lauren started working with Park Avenue Catering as a server in 2016. Her knowledge and expertise was quickly discovered by captains and she was offered a position in our staffing department in 2017. Lauren comes with much experience in dining management. She was the Assistant Manager of the Azusa Pacific University Dining Hall from 2012-2016, where she graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology. Her empathy, kindness, and overall love for people makes her the perfect person to take on the task of managing and training our staff onsite.
Layla Shapiro

Staffing Assistant
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Since 2023
Layla joined Park Avenue with a passion for hospitality, as well as a deep interest in the business and coordination aspect of the event industry. She began as a server in 2021, her positivity, attention to detail and warmth have been an asset onsite with client interaction. She was offered a position in the staffing department earlier this year and is excited to continue utilizing her experience and understanding of the company values both onsite and in office.
Freddy Sanchez

Kitchen Manager
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Freddy was born & raised in Sonoma County. He graduated from the SRJC culinary program, and has worked as a Head Chef in many local restaurants. He is one of our Lead Event Chefs, as well as our in-house Kitchen Manager. He works with local vendors to obtain the highest quality food & ingredients for our events and helps prioritize the reduction of food waste company-wide.
Alex Rossi

Sous Chef
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Alex is our global ambassador of sorts- he was born in Morocco, grew up in France, studied in Italy and explored the east coast of the US, before settling in Sonoma County. Along the way he learned that food was an essential ingredient to good living. Alex earned his culinary degree in Florida and survived ten brutal winters in New England, honing his skills and expanding his knowledge before making his way west. Alex joined our Park Avenue family in 2010 and brings a certain joie du vivre to our kitchen!
Kelly Barnett

Sous Chef
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Since 2017
The newest member of our chef team graduated from the Culinary Institute of America Greystone in 2014. Originally from Cincinnati Ohio, she was drawn to California by her love of great food and our fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. She loves to give traditional comfort food an infusion of style to create upscale approachable menu items.
Juan Acosta

Sous Chef
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Bio coming soon!
David Rapplin

Pastry Chef
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David brings over 30 years of pastry experience. From Boutique bakeries to corporate and celebrity events , his wide range of skills and attention to detail are a perfect addition to our team. Not to mention, his creations are beyond extraordinary.