the team
Wendy Pashman
Global Nomad/Grande Dame
Wendy Pashman, Owner and Founder of Entertaining Company, turned her passion for living boldly through celebration into her full time occupation when she began her own catering company in 1989.
A self-described wanderer, Wendy spends her time collecting and cataloguing worldly inspirations like precious keepsakes. Passionate about all things lush and colorful, Wendy’s thirst for culture informs her reputation as “The Idea Caterer,” as she crafts vibrant celebrations that are one-of-a-kind; showcasing delicious, always-changing menus, lush décor and fantastical settings.
Wendy and her ever-supportive husband, Michael, have two daughters, Remy and Anna and a rescue-dog named Patty Cakes.
Julie Fitzgerald
General Manager/Executive Assistant and “Office Glue” (Scissors and Rock, too)
The always-busy Julie is constantly in search of the 48-hour day, but would settle for the 6-day workweek. She is the one who cheerfully dots every “i” and crosses every “t” when we aren’t even looking and we are convinced she has more than two hands. Julie has been with Entertaining Company since the very early days and is as responsible for who we are today as Wendy is! She knows every side of the business, from sales to operations to logistics and she can even recognize our client's voices on the phone before they introduce themselves. As such, she is officially the "voice" of Entertaining Company!
In short, we would all be lost without her. While we know that this little write up is making you wish she worked for you. She’s all ours, so hands off!
Norma Maloney
VP of Marketing & Business Development/Rainmaker Extraordinaire
We felt like we won the lottery when Norma joined us in 2010. After being the Vice President of Lettuce Entertain You’s Special Event Division for 15 years, Norma is wise, fun and the gal that you want to walk into the party with because she knows everyone in the room. She’s a pro at turning dreams into a reality – and that benefits our treasured clients as well as our fearless leader, Wendy.
Denise Robinette
Senior Consultant/Make-It-Happen Gal
Denise has been in the hospitality industry for 20-plus years and is our maven of all things entertaining. If you see a blond blur dash by when you visit the Entertaining Company offices, it’s probably Denise. She’s a busy gal who produces more than 600 events per year. That’s nearly 2 events per day for those of you who are fuzzy on math.
Rachel Schwanz
Sales Consultant/Modern-Day Holly Golightly
Rachel is a force of nature who does it all in four-inch stilettos. She spends all day dreaming up fantastic events, thrilling her clients and making everyone around her feel special. When the day is through, she dashes out to the latest hot spot and confirms the latest trends on the social scene. (The latter is evidenced by her nearly monthly call-out on one of the city’s social pages.) In short, she is fabulous.
Molly Fennell
Sales Consultant/Blonde Ambition
Molly is confident, focused, well-poised and as quick as a whip when it comes to remembering every event detail. She’s the type of gal who will remember that you mentioned how much you love blueberries from Maine during your tasting 10 months ago, and will send out a surprise blueberry sorbet course at your wedding that will bring tears to your eyes. In a good way. Recently married herself, Molly is mastering the art of being a domestic goddess a la Nigela Lawson, testing recipes on her grateful husband and pampering her dog Ginger.
Kenneth Woodman
Sales Consultant/Superhero
Kenneth is keen on design and can’t help but give his affairs a little touch of the theatrical. He’s all about the big un-veil. Perhaps his interior design background has a little something to do with that. Kenneth’s signature is the fact that he always dashes off a little something extra – a little Bang! Wham! Pow! From textiles to props to design elements that create a setting where the food can really take advantage of its starring role and be noticed – just like Kenneth himself.
Rachel Geinosky
Sales Consultant/Resident Sally Albright
Rachel (yes, we have two!) is all about harnessing every last detail. “I just like things the way I like them,” she says with a slow, charming smile. Luckily for her clients, Rachel’s commitment to perfection is their big win. Rachel has been in catering sales for years, serving up grand, lush events that dazzled. Now, she is city-bound and is sprinkling her fairy-dust on our clients at Entertaining Company.
Amanda Wurzbach
Business Development/Double Agent
Amanda leads a double life. When she isn’t running her hospitality marketing agency, Total Dish Marketing, she is Entertaining Company-bound….chasing down new business leads and sharing Entertaining Company’s message of BOLD, VIBRANT, CUSTOMIZED catering with the world. It’s for the greater good, really.
Joede Berman
Modern Jewish Celebrations Sales Consultant/Full-Time Mensch
Joede makes it all look easy. And by saying that, we mean that she really does do it all. Joede has been the spearhead of our Modern Jewish Celebrations arm and oversees all outreach to the Jewish community. She knows more than can be imagined about Jewish rites and rituals, has been the driving force behind Modern Jewish Celebrations' addition to ethical Kosher catering to the menu, and is always on hand to ensure that we always are celebrating with meaning. (In short, that we are keeping our ketubah and our kuegel straight.)
Geeta Krishnamurthi
Modern Indian Celebrations Sales Consultant/Our Very Own Passport to India
Born and raised in New Delhi, India – but living today in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood – Geeta is Modern Indian Celebrations, personified. She is a blend of the urban and modern with the enchantment and tradition of the old world. We love the sparkle in her eye, her insights into Indian culture and celebrations and that she rocks a sari like no one else in the office.
Shawn Doolin
Executive Chef/Magician
Shawn is our amazing Executive Chef and has been wooing Entertaining Company’s clients with his irresistible culinary creations for more than 15 years. In his spare time he is a dedicated yogi, which explains how he can contort himself into so many positions behind the stoves. We love everything that Shawn does, and that has nothing to do with the fact that he brings fresh-from-the-oven cookies to us at our desks from time to time. We swear.
James DeMarte
Sous Chef/Right Hand
If you’re walking through our kitchens and come upon James, you might think that he and Chef Shawn were separated at birth...they look that similar! He is upbeat, charming, and his kind and affable nature adds an overall effervescence to the kitchen. And, in his free time, he makes us all jealous with his stories of the 10 years he spent in Italy living, working and eating.
Andie Hammill
Operations, Warehouse and Beverage Manager/Wanderlust-ful
Andie is the very definition of Entertaining Company: worldly. She came to us from McCormick Place – by way of Portland, Oregon, France, Italy, Ireland and…Laos. (Wow!) She really has seen it all. We love her stories, but are thrilled that she is staying put in Chicago. With Entertaining Company, Andie is one of our behind-the-scenes gals who thinks through every last logistical issue and sets everyone up for success. Moreover, as beverage manager, she is charged with tasting and selecting all of the libations offered at Entertaining Company. Luckily for us, Andie shares.
Michael Collins
Operations Manager/Office Perfectionist and Emily Post
Michael oversees the front-of-the-house staff, including scheduling and training. He is the one who makes sure that every event is produced exactly as it was planned. And, when a swarm of Entertaining Company waiters come streaming out of the kitchen, perfectly pressed with smiles and trays overflowing with food, we think to ourselves, “Oh, Michael! You’ve done it again!”
Marissa Paulsgrove
Manager of Finance and Accounting/Just-The-Facts Ma’am
Marissa, Entertaining Company's resident numbers expert.. She is on-point every day and keeps everyone in the office in line – and on line-item. We feel for Marissa as she spends every day keeping all of the “creative types” focused, but no one on earth could do it with more charm or grace. Marissa has her Master's in Accounting from UIC and is currently studying for the CPA Exam. We’re totally impressed.
