Houston
Event Team
Bruce Allen
Head Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
-
Nakia Edwards
Head Leader
Lives in
- Fresno
Motto
- Live Free
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Brandi Gilds
Head Leader
Lives in
- Missouri City
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Wine
Profession
- IT Leader
Simone Green
Head Leader
Krystal Hackney
Head Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them FEEL!"
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Event Director
Kandyace Mayberry
Head Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Sports Industry
Ashley Mitchell
Head Leader
Lives in
- Magnolia
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Courtney Wesley
Head Leader
Lives in
- Missouri City
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Business Tech Sales
Danyelle Andrews
Group Leader
Lives in
- Humble
Motto
- Everyday is a Fashion Show and the world is your runway
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Educator
Marcella Blackman
Group Leader
Lives in
- Hosuton
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Latosha Blue
Group Leader
Lives in
- Manvel
Motto
- Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Healthcare Administration
Natasha Buckner
Group Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- Do good.
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Small Business Expert
Jannett Isaacs
Group Leader
Lives in
- Acworth
Motto
- Love Live Laugh
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Making the world a better place to be!
Robert Jenkins
Group Leader
Lives in
- Rosenberg
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Ashley Jones
Group Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
ASHLEY ODOM
Group Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Senior Director, Programs
Christine Thrash
Group Leader
Lives in
- Pearland
Motto
- Enjoy Life...it has an expiration date!
Hobbies
- Yoga
Profession
- Attorney
Leslie Williams
Group Leader
Lives in
- MISSOURI CITY
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
-
Sylethia Alexander
Table Leader
Lives in
- Humble
Motto
- Tigers
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Education
Alicia Alford
Table Leader
Lives in
- Spring
Motto
- Denial is a river in Egypt
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Credit Manager
Tieisha Allen
Table Leader
Lives in
- HOUSTON
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Dancing
Profession
-
Clarence Black
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
-
Eric Boyd
Table Leader
Lives in
- Katy
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Mira Crenshaw
Table Leader
Lives in
- Pearland
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Finance
Regina Crosson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- A mother cannot raise her son to be a man, but she can raise him to be the best version of himself
Hobbies
- Dancing
Profession
- Procurement specialist
Nekisha Durham
Table Leader
Lives in
- Cypress
Motto
- Happiness is a choice.
Hobbies
- Golf
Profession
- Education
Tiffany Dyson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Wine
Profession
- Workers' Compensation Manager
Doretha Edwards
Table Leader
Lives in
- MISSOURI CITY
Motto
- Be Well...
Hobbies
- Movies
Profession
-
Tracy Edwards
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Carlia Helm
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- Flavors without Borders
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Celebrity Chef
Monai Jackson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- School Counselor
DeAndrea James
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- You deserve to celebrate everything!
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Event Curator
Brigette Jenkins
Table Leader
Lives in
- Richmond
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Human Resources
Percy Ly Kabir
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Project manager
Crichelle Kirven
Table Leader
Lives in
- Missouri City
Motto
- Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Mione D Lewis
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- Living life like no one is watching!
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Events Coordinator/ Case Management
Crystal Little
Table Leader
Lives in
- Richmond
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Educational Diagnostician
Brooklyn Mann
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Wedding & Event Planner/Coordinator/Decorator
Rita Manuel-Byrd
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Healthcare Management
Shonta' Moore-Thomas
Table Leader
Lives in
- Richmond
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Environmental Engineer
Edward Morris
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything!
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Educator
Deedra Muse
Table Leader
Lives in
- Katy
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Dancing
Profession
- Senior Manager of Operations
Tamika O'Neal
Table Leader
Lives in
- Fresno
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Karen Pierson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Cypress
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Educator
Bernadette Plummer
Table Leader
Lives in
- Fulshear
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Reading
Profession
- Retired
Jocilyn Portuondo
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- Never compromise to be recognized
Hobbies
- Singing
Profession
- Accountant, CEO of Giaceline's Life Eatery, LLC.
Dana Rector
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Photography
Profession
-
Joanese Richardson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Lake Forest
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Keisha Robinson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Spring
Motto
- Be kind
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Project Manager
Tiffany Rogers
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
- "Whether in the limelight or in the shadows, I create my own light."
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
- Legal Analyst
Ursula Sneed
Table Leader
Lives in
- Missouri City
Motto
- Live, Laugh and Love
Hobbies
- Reading
Profession
- Travel Analyst
Monica Thompson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Katy
Motto
- The biggest room on Earth, is the room for improvement.
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Educator
Bronson Villarreal
Table Leader
Lives in
- Houston
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Natashia Williams
Table Leader
Lives in
- Humble
Motto
- Time is Free, but it's Priceless
Hobbies
- Gardening
Profession
- A Renaissance Woman
Elise Wilson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Richmond
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Event planner
International team
Sandy Safi
Chief Executive Officer
Having started her career onstage in the performing arts, Sandy's love of the entertainment sector brought her to work in special events in 15 countries over the years. She has developed and managed large-scale concerts in Dubai, worked in the Opera world at prestigious locations such as the Los Angeles Opera, the Casino de Paris, and Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, and finally started her adventure with Diner en Blanc in 2011, when she applied her network and her experience to facilitate the first American Diner en Blanc in New York. She co-founded Diner en Blanc International in 2012, and then became the sole owner of the Diner en Blanc trademark and company in 2022. Above all, Sandy seeks to encourage creativity and connect culinary communities around the world.
Chantal Blanchard
Public Relations Specialist
As a publicist in the world of entertainment, Chantal was fortunate enough to travel the world for many years with Cirque du Soleil. Those amazing years on the road gave her the opportunity to somewhat satisfy her thirst for everything that is lifestyle i.e. food, wine, cocktails, fashion, urban life, architecture, design, etc. As Chantal would say “this career path and passion for all that is good in life predestined her to join the team of Diner en Blanc International.
Lucia Sacco
Accounting & HR
Lucia brings over 2 decades of administrative and accounting experience to Diner en Blanc International. She has worked in the event planning industry since 2007 whereby she occupied the position of Accounting Director and Office Manager. “I feel blessed to be able to combine my organizational skills and passion for bringing events to life towards a career at Diner en Blanc International,” says Lucia. Her interpersonal skills are an asset when communicating with hosts and dealing with accounting specialists or government offices, all the while maintaining a high level of integrity.
Zina Acherir
Senior Project Manager
Zina is a passionate and creative professional with concrete organizational and planning skills. Her educational background in event management allows her to innovate, communicate and visually translate ideas and visions to memorable experiences. Zina enjoys networking, planning, and travelling. "Working at Diner en Blanc International allows me to practice my passion on a daily basis and gives me the opportunity to meet amazing hosts all around the world, which also gives me the advantage of learning about different cultures and how other cities manage events."
Jennifer Soto
Operations Manager
Jennifer’s experience in management in the education sector gives her the perfect balance of leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. She loves working with hosts around the world, helping them plan their events in an organized and timely manner, while showing empathy and understanding of each city’s differences and needs. “I feel privileged to work with the team of Diner En Blanc International and be surrounded by culture, diversity, food, music, and friendship.”
Liza Belikova
Sponsorship and Events Project Manager
Liza’s background in Arts Administration brings both structure and creative flow to event management. With experience in operations, hospitality, and large-scale event coordination, she enjoys creating seamless guest experiences and being part of the details that make every Dîner en Blanc evening feel elegant, welcoming, and memorable. In her free time, you can usually find her wandering through a museum, discovering a new restaurant, or planning her next trip.
Fiorella Arbanil
Client Relations & Business Development
With over two decades of service in customer relations and twelve years of sales experience, Fiorella brings a wealth of expertise to her current role in Client Relations and Business Development. It is her mission to identify and secure hosts to produce Le Diner en Blanc events in cities worldwide. With a bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, and social media management, she has cultivated a strong foundation for driving strategic growth and fostering enduring client partnerships, and she is committed to expanding the reach and impact of Diner en Blanc globally.
Judy Turk
Social Media Specialist
With a background in interior architecture and filmmaking, Judy brings four years of experience in content creation and video production to her role as Social Media Specialist. She develops engaging social media campaigns and visual content for Diner en Blanc Montreal and New York while also contributing to Diner en Blanc International's global advertising campaigns. Having lived in several countries and speaking multiple languages, she enjoys working in multicultural environments and creating content that resonates with diverse audiences. Judy is passionate about the arts, including painting, acting, singing, photography, fashion, and travel.
David Gallego
Full Stack Developer
David is a passionate software developer who brings creativity and dedication to every project. He believes that helping others meet their goals is how we drive innovation and create meaningful change. He also possesses the ability to adapt to different situations and offer a unique perspective which enriches discussions and fosters a culture of creative problem-solving.
