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December Member Spotlight Shannon Nylander, CPCE

Posted by jboone on Dec. 1, 2014  /     0

December Member Spotlight Shannon Nylander, CPCE

Please welcome 1 of 2 of our December Member Spotlight's .... Shannon Nylander with St. Petersburg Yacht Club!

HOW DO I GET SPOTLIGHTED? ... If you are interested in being spotlighted, be sure to attend meetings! We draw for a member spotlight each month!

Shannon Nylander, CPCE

I have been the Director of Catering at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club since 2000 and a member of NACE since 2003. The Yacht Club has been around since 1909. This is the first private club I have ever worked at and the biggest challenge is trying to introduce new things and ideas to a club and a membership that is so steeped in tradition and not changing. I do love a good challenge though.

I am originally from Denver, Colorado and am one of five girls, the middle one. My entire family still resides in Colorado, which is where I was before moving to Florida. People always ask why would I move from Colorado to Florida, and the answer is simple......there is a beach. I am definitely a beach girl and love spending free time there. I did go to the mountains when I was in Colorado; however you definitely had to plan it out and have the time. I do make it a point to go to Denver once a year, so I don’t miss not being there. Here, I live five minutes from the beach and can work a 10 hour day and still be able to go enjoy the beach at the end of the day. Quality of life is wonderful here.

I went to Johnson & Wales University and received a degree in Baking & Pastry Arts and also my Bachelors Degree in Foodservice Management. My first job out of College was as the Director of Catering at the Citadel Military School in Charleston, South Carolina. I was with them for two years when I landed the Pastry Chef position at the Westin Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Pastry was my first passion and I did this for several years, until the self realization that I was much better with people
than holed up in a kitchen. I then put my business suit back on and got back to the sales side of things, where I have been ever since. I did get my CPCE certification this year as well, which I highly recommend doing to all of my counterparts. Not only do you get the certification, but the wealth of knowledge that you gain through the process of studying is invaluable.

My partner Melissa Boulineau (General Manager at the Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge) and I are celebrating our 5th Anniversary in December. We have also welcomed the addition of our son Peyton Riley to our family, who was born October 10th. The adoption will be final by the end of the year, and we couldn’t be any happier than we are right now.

Shannon Nylander, CPCE
Director of Catering
St. Petersburg Yacht Club
[email protected]
www.spyc.org
727-892-6882

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October 2014 Member Spotlight

Posted by jboone on Oct. 9, 2014  /     0

OCTOBER 2014 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Please welcome our October 2014 Member Spotlight ... Mike Lamando with Amici's Catered Cuisine.

HOW DO I GET SPOTLIGHTED? ... If you are interested in being spotlighted, be sure to attend meetings! We draw for a member spotlight each month!

Mike Lamando

Amici’s Catered Cuisine is an off premise catering company that provides high quality creative cuisine, elegant food presentations, and attentive service resulting in happy clients and a steady overall growth in business for over 30 years.

Amici’s was originally opened in Palm Harbor in 1983 as a meat market, deli and catering business in a 900 square foot space and was named “Amici Prime Meats”. The retail business was phased out after 14 years but created a solid foundation for the smooth transition into a full scale catering business due to the development of customer trust and loyalty. In 1997 Amici’s moved to Oldsmar, in the middle of the tri-county Tampa Bay area, where their focus was strictly on growing the catering company.

Amici’s Catered Cuisine recently expanded into a 10,000 square foot building purchased to improve efficiency, enable future growth and to better serve their clients.

Owner Michael Lamando, a graduate of Florida State University, has a degree in Hotel and Restaurant management. He has been a member of NACE since 1998. Michael’s passion for food and service developed at an early age having grown up in New York in an Italian/Irish home. Michael emphasizes a family atmosphere in the workplace and surrounds himself with the best staff in the hospitality industry. Many employees have been working at Amici’s for over 15 years. Even though the majority of his time is spent on continually improving his business, he always finds time to give back to the community. Over the years, he has contributed to a variety of fund raisers and charities. On November 16, 2014, Amici’s is honored to be donating their catering services for “Mission I Do” at Old McMickey’s farm in Odessa. “Mission I Do” is a 25K Dream Wedding Gift for a wounded veteran and his bride to be.

Amici’s Catered Cuisine is a preferred award winning caterer at over 100 banquet and reception halls in the Tampa Bay area. They specialize in wedding receptions, casual business meetings, fully staffed corporate events, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Quinceaneras , cocktail parties, grand openings, company picnics, birthdays, anniversaries, fundraisers, holiday parties, luaus, seminars, medical lunches, graduations, proms, yacht parties, school and church functions, etc.

Michael is a single father and has two children, Tianna, 9, and Michael, 5 and they live in Dunedin. He enjoys coaching his son’s T Ball team and is an All Pro Dads captain at their school in Palm Harbor.

To learn more about Amici’s Catered Cuisine please give them a call at 813-855-1100 or 727-447-1600 or visit their website at www.amiciscatering.com.

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September 2014 Member Spotlight Neil Shannon Photography

Posted by jboone on Sep. 3, 2014  /     0

September 2014 Member Spotlight is...

Neil Shannon Photography


If you are interested in becoming a spotlight, be sure to attend meetings! We draw for a member spotlight each month!

Neil Shannon Photography is a full-time wedding and event photography studio serving the South-West Florida area and beyond since 1996. Owners, Neil and Shannon Patel combined their talents in 2001 to create one fun company! They met as photographers in 2000. Their style is best described as Dynamic, Crazy-Fun Photojournalism, with a mix of Faux-Journalism!

Studio-Venue Philosophy: 
‘Ask not what your Venue can do for you, but what you can do for your venue’. Neil Shannon Photography will work with the venue to keep the event timeline flowing smoothly and on track.

Neil V. Patel is the Lead Photo Artist and Visionary of Neil Shannon Photography. Educated in Industrial Psychology and Marketing, Neil developed a unique method of using hand gestures to quickly move people around and position them in their most flattering poses ever. This allows him to work very fast, stay within the timelines allocated by the venue and get every photo requested by the client. 

Neil’s slight accent and occasional mispronunciation of words entices people to chuckle and laugh, which is Neil’s true intention to get more natural, fun poses! 
Humor is the key to a fun life, and so it is with wedding photography. Wedding and festive events are meant to be fun. Using humor and occasional silliness, Neil will entice guests to relax, be themselves and totally let loose! With occasional fauxto-bombs, Neil will crank up the fun level!

Dressed in all black, Neil moves very fast, sneaking up on people, dodging and peeking around folks for the best shots. A groomsman recently dubbed him as ‘The Ninja Photographer’. He takes that as a compliment. 

Shannon graduated from USF in 1995. She is the studio manager and talented album designer. As an efficient studio manager, she facilitates the day to day operations utilizing Pictage and ShootQ. Contracts, client relations and followups are her domain. 

Shannon works with the bride and groom in a very patient and understanding way to help design an album unique to their tastes. 

Neil Shannon Photography also utilize two associate photographers for larger weddings, that assist Neil in his creative vision and methods on the wedding day. An elegant collection of professional hand crafted designer albums, archival prints, canvases and much more are offered by the studio!

On a personal note, Neil and Shannon have been married for 13 years and recently moved to their new custom home studio in Wesley Chapel FL. They have four beautiful daughters. Alicia, 22, resides in Germany and is studying business and the German language. Jessica,18, attends UCF, studying character animation. Anna,12, plays the snare drum in concert band and the base drum in marching band. Chanel, 7, enjoys dressing up as a little lady. 

To learn more about Neil Shannon Photography, and see how they can help you with your needs as a venue/vendor/bride, contact Neil or Shannon Patel at
813.996-1872, [email protected]www.neilshannonphotography.com
To see more photos of specific venues and events, please contact Shannon at [email protected]m

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August 2014 Member Spotlight - Michelle Renee!

Posted by jboone on Aug. 12, 2014  /     0

August 2014 Member Spotlight - Michelle Renee

Our August 2014 Member Spotlight is Michelle Renee! 

If you are interested in becoming a spotlight, be sure to attend meetings! We draw for a member spotlight each month!

Michele Renee The Studio is an on location hair and makeup company for special events. Recently, they have added on site nail services, spray tan, eyelash extensions, and massage services to complete the stress free day. All these exciting services can be enjoyed in the convenience of your home or hotel room.
In addition to hair and makeup services, the talented team takes huge pride in being able to give back to the community. Whether it is doing hair and makeup for The Children’s Cancer Center Prom, collecting food for Thanksgiving on behalf of Metropolitan Ministries or raising money for bore wells in India, The Michele Renee team gives 100 percent of their talent and is eager to make life more beautiful from the inside out!
Michele Renee The Studio’s main office is located at 4121 West Waters Avenue in Tampa, Florida 33614. They also have remote offices in Gainesville and Orlando and service from Jacksonville to Naples. Michele Renee The Studio has a full time office staff looking forward to answer any of your questions! 813.531.7770 MicheleReneeTheStudio.Com

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July 2014 Member Spotlight!

Posted by jboone on Jul. 17, 2014  /     0

July 2014 Member Spotlight!

Our July 2014 Member Spotlight is Diana Tamayo, owner of Café Ala Carte Tampa Bay/Orlando and The Gelato Carte. Hopefully you’ve been able to enjoy these services at various NACE meetings over the past 7 years! A NACE member since 2008, Diana has served as Hospitality Chair, Membership Chair, and Board Treasurer from 2010 to 2012. 

Café Ala Carte is a mobile, gourmet espresso, latte and cappuccino bar that is a welcome sight at any event! Whether a private celebration or corporate event, services always include delivery, a professional barista to serve made-to-order specialty coffees (hot or over ice), gourmet teas and hot chocolate, glassware or designer disposable cups, 7 nonalcoholic flavorings and assorted sweeteners, including sugar swizzle sticks and whipped cream. Packages can also include an assortment of liqueurs to add to specialty coffees or signature hot toddies. Services can be provided for intimate groups or conventions as large as 6,000 guests. 

The Gelato Carte features a pristine cart and attendant to serve many varieties of delicious, artisan gelato and sorbet, with small carts serving up to 6 flavors and large carts serving up to 9 flavors at a time. Delivery, a server, cups, spoons and napkins are always included. 

When both Café Ala Carte and The Gelato Carte are provided at the same event, Affogato Desserts are served at no additional charge. Loved in Europe for decades, Affogato Desserts are made with a scoop of gelato and a shot of espresso poured over it. It is topped with whipped cream, if desired. 

These delicious and unique services are a treat to be enjoyed by guests of all ages – and will leave a lasting impression! Visit www.cafealacartetampabay.com orwww.thegelatocarte.com for more information and photos of recent events. For quotes and availability, please call 813-514-0783 or email [email protected]

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Member Spotlight January 2014

Posted by jboone on Jan. 22, 2014  /     0

January 2014 Member Spotlight! Jordan Prosser

Jordan Prosser January 2014 Member Spotlight
Taken at Botanica International Design Studio
Click Here to view more pics
Here we go again! Our January Member Spotlight is Jordan Prosser of Botanica International Design and Décor Studio!

You may be asking yourself ... How can I become featured as a Tampa Bay NACE Member Spotlight? It's easy as 1,2 3! 
#1 You must attend meetings!
#2 Find Jeff Boone and drop your card in the Member Spotlight Box
#3 You must be the Lucky Winner and a member of Tampa Bay NACE Chapter.

If you win and you are not a current member ... we will give you an opportunity to join the club!

We will pull for February's Member Spotlight this month on January 21st, 2014 at the meeting ... Be there! or be square!

Here is Tampa Bay Nace's January 2014 Member Spotlight:

Jordan Prosser w/ Botanica International Design and Décor Studio

Botanica International Design and Décor Studio first opened its doors 25 years ago in January 1989 as “Botanica International Florist Inc.,” a full-service floral shop on Bay to Bay Blvd, in South Tampa. Owned by Ian and Fiona Prosser, they started out to create a flower shop with the distinctive European designs that Ian had been taught at Horticultural College in Scotland, before moving to Tampa in 1985.
Introducing clean cut, European styles to Tampa, Botanica developed an award-winning name for itself as a cutting edge company that would create unique arrangements, creative plants and unique gifts in its retail shop. Ian’s collaborations and plaudits over the last 40 years from respected industry organizations across the U.S. and internationally buoys a demand for the Botanica brand that continues to this day.
Over the years Botanica continued to grow and expand its business within the wedding and event décor industry. That’s when, in 2007, Botanica removed the “retail” portion of their business model to focus solely on its true passion: weddings, events and celebration décor. To support this business model, Botanica expanded its consultation services into the Orlando market, and elevated staff to focus on client service and industry relationship development.
Within a few years, Botanica grew its service offerings for weddings, events and celebrations to much more than just floral, as they expanded their Lighting, Draping, Furniture and Accessories offerings. This move allowed Botanica to truly position itself as an “all-inclusive” décor brand. 
It was at this point that in order to support the success of this ever-expanding business model, Botanica brought on Jordan Prosser in late 2011. Jordan‘s role, Flower Buyer and Product Manager, is to manage all of the studio’s floral and décor products, while assisting Ian in larger purchases to stay ahead of the latest event trends – from color palates to furniture styles to the “it” floral of today.
He became a member of NACE less than a year ago and a few months later he joined the meetings committee. Jordan’s passion for vendor relationship cultivation, product management and event logistics helped spur the next big move for the Botanica Design Studio in January 2012 – into their current location on West Cypress Street. The 8,300 sq. ft. space allows for offices, client consultation, product demonstration, additional support vehicles and for storage of the expansive event décor services offered under the Botanica brand.
This month Botanica will celebrate its 25th year in the Floral/Event Industry Tampa, and we would like to thank the many, many friends and colleagues that have made it such a wonderful journey. Here’s to 25 more!

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