Meet the Catered Events Team
Culinary Culture
Event Planning
Weddings
Trish Vogel | VP of Event Sales | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2002
Favorite Blue Plate event: St. Ignatius Gloriam Event in 2021 – We simultaneously catered/executed 20 different full-service events throughout the Chicagoland area.
Favorite Blue Plate dish: It’s a toss-up between the Gazpacho Shooter and our Beef Tartare on a Toasted Brioche.
Fun Fact: I was born in sunny St. Petersburg, FL, but I prefer to ski and apres ski on a sunny day in the snowy mountains.
Heidi Brock | Sales Director
Been with Blue Plate since: 2000
Favorite Blue Plate event: Allstate. 3,000 people at MP with Elton John as a performer. It was crazy with all the logistics but so fun!
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Blackened Shrimp on Grits or I can eat our petite tender with our horseradish sauce for EVERY meal.
Fun Fact: This is my first job out of college. Not many people can say that!
Elinor Harton | Sales Director | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2009
Favorite Blue Plate event: 2014 Museum of Contemporary Art Gala celebrating the opening of the David Bowie exhibit.
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Ahi Tuna with Grilled Pineapple Salsa.
Missy Wright Scroggins | Sales Director | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2011
Favorite Blue Plate event: Private Dinner for President Barack Obama, NFL Draft, The Marathon every year!
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Free Form Maki forever!
Fun Fact: Will travel for snacks…. 5 Continents, 30 Countries, and counting.
Rachel Razowsky | Senior Sales Consultant | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2016
Favorite Blue Plate event: The annual Houndstooth Ball for One Tail at a Time Animal Rescue.
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Blackened Shrimp on a Cheddar Grits Cake
Stephanie Baber | Sales Consultant | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2017
Favorite Blue Plate event: St. Jude Dream Chicago in Millennium Park, NFL Kickoff 2019, The Chicago Marathon.
Favorite Blue Plate dish: The Nashville Hot Chicken Slider has an absolute hold on me.
Fun Fact: I’m ordained and have officiated a few wedding ceremonies for close friends.
Leah Farrell | Sales Consultant | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2018
Favorite Blue Plate event: Diner en Blanc.
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Build Your Own Mashed Potato Bar.
Fun Fact: I like cats.
Colleen Hensler | Sales Consultant
Been with Blue Plate since: 2021
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Sweet Pea Ravioli
Alexis Kniaz | Sales Consultant | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2022
Favorite Blue Plate event: A Superhero-Themed Gala- our super staff wore capes!
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Steakhouse Skewers.
Fun Fact: I spent 2 years as a Professional Matchmaker during the Pandemic!
Helen Pole | Sales Consultant | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2011
Favorite Blue Plate event: Too many to count! I absolutely love working on events at the Field Museum.
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Cacio e Pepe Ravioli or Black Truffle Mac & Cheese!
Fun Fact: I grew up on a ranch in Colorado and rode horses in the junior rodeo.
Liv Boyd | Senior Event Producer | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2021
Favorite Blue Plate event: Upscale Concessions for 3750 guests at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island!
Favorite Blue Plate dish: The Lobster Salad Potato Latke hors d’oeuvre.
Fun Fact: I have a food Instagram where I share what I eat every day (in and outside of Blue Plate)! @livspalate
Darcie Dostal | Event Producer | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2018
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Has to be the Tuna Poke Bite!! But our risotto is a close second…
Fun Fact: I started at Blue Plate as a server, working our events in the field. 5 years later, I am blessed to be on the sales team!!!
Isabella Gonzales | Event Producer | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2022
Favorite Blue Plate event: St. Jude Dream Chicago in Millennium Park, The Chicago Marathon, and Weddings!
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Nothing beats a Mini Carne Asada Taco/Classic Marg combo.
Fun Fact: I’m on a lifelong journey to bake the perfect almond croissant!
Shayna Gutin | Event Producer | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2022
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Mini Carrot Cake Cupcakes.
Fun Fact: I volunteer for Animal Aid USA, a non-profit that rescues an average of 200 dogs per month!
Shay Papachristou | Event Producer | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2015
Favorite Blue Plate event: The NFL Draft
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Garlic Spinach Ricotta Tortellini with White Truffle Cream Sauce
Matt Pogorzelski | Event Producer | he/him/his
Been with Blue Plate since: 2021
Favorite Blue Plate event: St. Jude Dream Chicago in Millennium Park, and A Holiday Party where Ludacris was a surprise musical guest.
Favorite Blue Plate dish: BBQ Duck Tostada and Seared Filet with Rosemary Mustard Demi.
Fun Fact: I was on an MTV Reality Show.
Mischa Romero | Event Producer | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2018
Favorite Blue Plate event: 2020 Bleacher Report NBA All-Star Party. B/R brought the first-of-its-kind, dual-level “crystal basketball court” to life with live basketball games, and Quavo from The Migos performed. It was dope!
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Addicted to the freeform maki with lots of sweet chili sauce to dip them in! I’m also a sucker for the bountiful charcuterie.
Fun Fact: I started a podcast during Covid with a fellow Blue Plate employee, who is now one of my best friends! Such great people are a part of the BP family.
Jessica Baxter | Event Coordinator | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2022
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Chicken Bulgogi Taco.
Fun Fact: I lived on an island in the West Indies for six months!
Lexi James | Event Coordinator | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2022
Favorite Blue Plate event: Horizons for Youth, anything at the Old Post Office, and Tastings — Love getting to meet our clients and share a meal with them!
Favorite Blue Plate dish: The Smoked Lion’s Mane Sandwich.
Caleigh McCormick | Event Coordinator | she/her/hers
Been with Blue Plate since: 2022
Favorite Blue Plate event: One Tale at a Time. A fundraiser for dogs in need. What’s not to love about it?
Favorite Blue Plate dish: Salted Caramel Truffle Cone.