EC Welcomes New Team Members this Summer!

At EC we are celebrating summer by welcoming two new members to our Operations team! We’re proud to announce we have expanded our team with a new Ops Manager and new Staffing Manager to ensure all of our upcoming events go smooth as butter. Welcome aboard, Sandra and Liliana!

Sandra Garcia, Operations Manager

Though Sandra was born in Chicago, she primarily grew up in Des Plaines, a Northwest suburb. A city-girl at heart, she’s back, and now lives in the scenic Lincoln Square area. She set quite the example for her siblings, as the oldest and only girl of four, studying both psychology and math at Dominican University. Since graduating, she has worked as a research assistant at the University of Chicago and, more recently, as the Catering and Events Director at Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah, a large synagogue on the North Shore. Add in her 10+ years as a banquet server at venues ranging from private residence and country clubs to Chicago museums and even Brookfield Zoo, and you find the perfect fit for us here at EC.

Outside of work, Sandra continues to express a passion and interest in travel and food and drink, the foundations of Entertaining Company. Though she studied abroad in Ireland while at Dominican, she’s more recently enjoyed traveling regionally, visiting Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan to learn about—and taste!—all the craft beer the Midwest has to offer.

Liliana Pakula, Staffing Manager

Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, Liliana was raised right here in the “crazy amazing” city of Chicago. Originally brought onto the EC team as a member of our kitchen staff at the bright, young age of 17, Liliana quickly transitioned to waitstaff. Six years later, her passion for Entertaining Company and for the special events industry propelled her to her current position in the office, managing all things “front  of house” staff. Inspired by her family, siblings and new husband—congrats!—Lilly is proud to know her staff inside and out, and vice versa.

Liliana’s Latina heritage also encourages her natural passion for dancing, to “anything at anytime!” Outside of work, Liliana fills her time with a number of eclectic hobbies, including knitting, reading and practicing Taekwondo, in which she’s a black belt. We’re so proud of her growth both within Entertaining Company and in her personal life, and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in her new role with us.

Congrats and welcome, Sandra and Liliana!