Los Angeles
Event Team
Monica Castaneda
Host
Lives in
- Miami
Motto
- "The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud"
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Event & Festival Curator
Elana Leaf
Host
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Josellyne Del Rosario
Host
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Mariandrea Robelo
Head Leader
Lives in
- orlando
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Tawanna Craig
Group Leader
Lives in
- Downey
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Maile Fulton
Group Leader
Lives in
- Sherman Oaks
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Tiffany Gardner
Group Leader
Lives in
- Pasadena
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Eating
Profession
- Communications Manager
Keisha Holmes
Group Leader
Lives in
- Los Angeles
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Walter Hsiung
Group Leader
Lives in
- Los Angeles
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Elizabeth Pusey
Group Leader
Lives in
- Laguna Niguel
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Vanessa Schulz
Group Leader
Lives in
- Arcadia
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Jeffrey Soliman
Group Leader
Lives in
- Arleta
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Eating
Profession
-
Arvella Toomer
Group Leader
Lives in
- Inglewood
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Leilani Ayson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Panorama City
Motto
- Don’t Worry, Do everything you can within your power and be Happy
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Educator
KiKi Cornelle
Table Leader
Lives in
- Lomita
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Sara Dave
Table Leader
Lives in
- Huntington Beach
Motto
- Live Happy
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Education
Stacia Goodloe
Table Leader
Lives in
- Culver City
Motto
- In case of emergency, pop cork!
Hobbies
- Making delicious things, throwing fabulous parties
Profession
- Property Management
Jenna Guzman
Table Leader
Lives in
- Van Nuys
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
ROBYN HUDSPETH
Table Leader
Lives in
- Chino Hills
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Table Leader
Table Leader
Lives in
- Memphis
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Dawn Lewis
Table Leader
Lives in
- Los Angeles
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Lenee Richards
Table Leader
Lives in
- Los Angeles
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Latoya Rush
Table Leader
Lives in
- North Hollywood
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Kelli Shaw
Table Leader
Lives in
- LOS ANGELES
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- DESTINATION EVENTS/ TRAVEL DIRECTOR
Chandra Smallwood
Table Leader
Lives in
- Inglewood
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Mikini Williams
Table Leader
Lives in
- Washington
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Program Manager for USDA
Jeannine Wynder-Robinson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Altadena
Motto
- Never give up never surrender
Hobbies
- Traveling and scrapbooking
Profession
- Customer Service
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
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
Project 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.”
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.
Axelle Pierresteguy
IT Support & Project Manager
Axelle is a dynamic and youthful employee who has brought fresh and innovative ideas to the success of Le Diner en Blanc over the past few years. With a forward-thinking mindset and a talent for finding creative solutions, Axelle brings a vibrant energy to her work. She has always had a passion for the arts, including music, dance, theater, and filmmaking. Once she realized she could combine her love for the arts with her skills in managing and creating, she knew that the event-planning world was the perfect fit for her.
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.
