Executive Pastry Chef

Born and raised locally in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Christina is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. She joined Ridgewells' pastry program in 2016, and has been an integral part of Ridgewells' pastry program during her six-year tenure - she was promoted to Executive Pastry Chef in January of 2022. She and her team have crafted some of our most delicious and creative desserts and pastries ever, and Christina has been a steadfast leader in the bakery. She is a regular attendee of L'ecole Valrhona in Brooklyn, NY, and prides herself on teaching others her craft.

Controller

If ever you have a question about Ridgewells, ask Mavis! She's been with the company for over 20 years and is a key leader in our accounting and financial department. Born in Accra, Ghana, she's been living in the DMV since just five years old - and thus knows all the best local spots for a great meal.

Director of Payroll

For nearly 10 years, the highly organized Certified Payroll Professional, Sharon Peterson, has been keeping our ducks in a row in the Ridgewells Payroll department. Born in Silver Spring, Maryland, Sharon tells us her superpower is organizing and packing, and if you need someone who is just exceptionally good at excel spreadsheets, she's your gal! With so many moving parts from the various divisions and sub-companies under the Ridgewells umbrella, not to mention the handful of weeks each year she packs up her entire operation to work onsite at the U.S. Open Golf Championship events, her organization skills have been a most valuable asset for nearly a decade.

Senior Event Designer

Senior Event Designer

Creative to the core—that’s Mary Margaret. With a dynamic background that includes a childhood of working in professional theater and an adult career at a North Carolina children’s museum, Mary Margaret’s love of entertaining started early. “I LOVE dinner parties,” she says. "I enjoy hosting parties and gatherings at home for friends and loved ones."

A self-proclaimed food lover from Ormond Beach, Florida, Mary Margaret is also part of a supper club that tries D.C.'s newest restaurants once a month. Her best meal memory, however, goes to a Sushi restaurant in San Francisco while on a trip with her younger sister. "We sat at the sushi counter for omakase and had no control over what the chef brought us. Every bite was better than the last. If I leaned anything from that experience, it's to let the chef do their thing! That experience also kicked off an annual tradition for my sister and me, and we now take a trip and try something new every year."

Senior Event Producer

A passionate cook, farmers’ market shopper and food photographer, Kim loves the creativity of coming up with innovative menus for her clients. Formerly a chemist for the U.S. Navy, Kim began her event production career working for Hanson Productions, LLC, a major-event planning company in the DC area. Kim is an avid runner and is always looking for the next exercise fad. She loves interesting food combinations, which is why Ridgewells’ grapefruit cupcakes are one of her go-to breakfast treats.

Senior Event Designer

Event Producer

Anthony joined Ridgewells in July of 2021 as an Event Producer. Originally from Bayonne, New Jersey, he's a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, and has a strong talent for event design and logistics - combined with a fearless attitude that he injects into every project. "A friend of mine once said that you have to just start before you feel ready or comfortable," Anthony says. "You'll only feel ready once you've had experience doing the thing that you're afraid of." Sage advice we wholeheartedly agree with!

A dog lover who always makes sure he's home in time to give his pup Zoey a full body massage before bed, Anthony's fondest memory of a meal took place in Paris, where he spent one perfect evening dining on a roasted rabbit in the Marais arrondissement. "It was by far the best thing I've ever tasted, and will always be a very special memory for me."

Event Designer

A lover of the outdoors - hiking, camping, and just being outside in general - Claire Hutner joined Ridgewells in 2019 as an Event Producer and worked her way up to become an Event Designer. She credits her mentors at Ridgewells for helping to drive her passion for catering and hospitality, and will never forget her first solo event when she was promoted. "Just being onsite and seeing all of that hard work come to fruition, seeing my client happy and knowing I helped to nurture that relationship... it was such a fun and gratifying experience." Claire has a keen eye for design and logistics, and having spent her early years in the company learning the ropes of catering from some of our top people, she has impeccable intuition when it comes to building the perfect menu.

Event Designer

Mackenzie called Randolph, New Jersey her hometown, and is a graduate of Marymount University's Fashion Merchandising program. She joined Ridgewells in the Summer of 2021, but has been a fan ever since we catered her wedding - a meal she says will go down as one of her all-time favorites. "We had an intimate seated dinner (catered by Ridgewells, of course!), and it was so magical to look around and see our closest family and friends lit by flickering candlelight, all talking, drinking, and enjoying a meal together. We spent a lot of time thinking about it in the lead up to the big day, and it's a very special memory for us."

Event Producer

Local gal Elizabeth was born and raised in Rockville, MD, and attended Mount Saint Mary's University. Prior to joining Ridgewells in 2019. she had already worked in the hospitality industry for three years, working in country clubs and at a large local event rentals company.

General Manager of Purple Tie by Ridgewells

Billie Jo has been with Ridgewells at our staffing company, Purple Tie, for more than five years. She's played an instrumental role in helping to grow the staffing area of our business, and can often be found onsite at large events coordinating sometimes hundreds of staff to help our Event teams execute a flawless party.

From Garden City, New York, she's a graduate of the George Washington University, and spends her free time embracing the live music scene in D.C., hiking, and hosting parties. Never one to miss out on the phenomenal local dining scene, she credits a meal at RJ Cooper's Rogue 24 as the meal responsible for cementing her love for hospitality and service. "It was a 24-course tasting menu, and everything was so incredibly inventive. The staff and service were impeccable, and you could tell everyone who worked there was proud of what they had accomplished with each meal. It really changed how I saw food."

Client Success Manager, Major Events

Born in Dallas, Texas and a graduate of the Hospitality Management program at the University of South Carolina, Carrie has spent the last four years at Ridgewells working in our contract accounts and Major Events. Carrie has a vivacious passion for art, travel, reading, and food - along with what she calls "an encyclopedic knowledge of true crime." When asked for this bio what her superpower is, she responds "I can recite the lyrics to every Turnpike Troubadours song." With her outgoing and fun personality, Carrie has made herself a valuable addition to our Major Events team, and credits her success to a willingness to work hard and climb the ladder. "I started my career in hospitality in 2016 with no prior experience, and have worked my way up to be where I am today."