Meet Our Team

Suzi Shands - Vice President of Sales

Name: Suzi Shands
Title: Vice President of Sales
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 1994
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Meeting new people with each new event and having the joy of being able to watch an event start with an idea and end in a wonderful completion for the client.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Catering an event in Las Vegas for 10,800 people. We lit the grills at 6:30am and grilled until 7:00pm that evening. Because I was on the grill the entire time, my eyes were so filled with smoke that I could not open them and had to get an escort to take me back to the hotel because I couldn't navigate through the casino.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Know what you want to accomplish for your event. Is this to celebrate someone special or is it a large celebration for a larger group? No question is too mundane, so please ask it! It is our joy to create a spectacular event for you and need to know what your definition of spectacular is.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Spend time with my family and entertain my friends.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I am a closet shopaholic and CAN NOT pass up a good infomercial. My husband thinks I am on the border of becoming a hoarder - I take that as a challenge!
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
I absolutely LOVE the Feta Kiss Tartlets and both the Gourmet Cupcakes and Brownie Pops!

Steve Palmer - Senior Event Consultant

Name: Steve Palmer
Title: Senior Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: Combined my company in 1995. I have 31 years of picnic catering experience. I can't be that old?
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Completing large events and seeing the smiles as guests are leaving. Receiving the thank you’s from event planners knowing we made them look great.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Serving 6000 people a fresh, grilled on site, menu in 1 hour and 40 minutes through 18 service lines...or serving 10,500 guests when the client expected 8,000. (We thought they might come.)
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Come with and idea of what you like but be open to suggestions from your consultant.
I prefer to sell with my ears, but I will suggest new and creative ideas for you.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I play in multiple tennis leagues in an attempt to stave off the hazards of quality control in my industry. I love boating in the summer and skiing in the winter. I enjoy experimenting at home with the BBQ grill, yes I take my work home with me!
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I am often invited to pot luck gatherings, Go figure!
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Can’t decide between Smoked Beef Brisket and Shredded Jamaican Jerk Chicken.

Teresa Foreman - Senior Event Consultant

Name: Teresa Foreman
Title: Senior Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 2001
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Most rewarding part of my job is working with a variety of clients, both corporate and social. Each event is detailed and unique. Never the same thing twice.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Two particular events come to mind – one was an extravagant Sweet 16 Party where the Nicollet Island Pavilion was converted to a New York Night Club complete with aerialists and the most phenomenal sculptured cake. The other was a memorial service. I did not know the person who was being remembered, but wished I had the opportunity to have met them. The event was simple and elegant.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Gather your thoughts first, then information. Ask questions and trust your sales consultant to work with you in bringing your event to life.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Love to be active outdoors in all seasons – camping, fishing, biking, hiking, snowshoeing
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I was a competitive race walker when I lived in Washington DC for the Potomac Valley Racers.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Balsamic Portobello Bite – a great flavor blend of hearty mushroom, parmesan and garlic slather.

Nicole Aronson - Event Consultant

Name: Nicole Aronson
Title: Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: May 2007
What do you enjoy most about your position?
The first thing that comes to mind is simply working on my events from start to finish. The whole process involves organizing of a great amount of detail. I feel I work in a very rewarding industry. All the hard work that goes into making an event successful pays off in the end. Watching my client’s expressions when they see the finished product is a priceless moment! I love the fact that no event is the same – each has its own personality.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
It is difficult to pin point a specific moment, but there are several events that come to mind. One in particular was a wedding that took place a day after the Republican National Convention left town in 2008. I had a blast working on this event and it was even named as a finalist for an ISES Star Award that year! Another favorite event I worked on was the large media party taking place on the Minneapolis riverfront to kick-off the RNC, just days before this wedding, where thousands of visitors and locals sampled our Minnesota-Grown themed menu, custom created specifically for this event.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Make every attempt to make each of your events unique even if you plan multiple similar events per year! Do not try to tackle more than you can handle and never hesitate to ask for assistance or recommendations from all your expert vendors!
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Spending family time with my husband and our son. I also enjoy pretty much any outdoor activity from horseback riding, boating, 4-wheeling and “digging” in my yard (I’m not the greatest gardener, but it’s one of my goals to learn!) in the summer to snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. I am a very active person which is why I think I love my job so much – I’m always on the “go”!
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I live on a small hobby farm an hour north of the cities and I enjoy trail riding my horses and competing in barrel race events!
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Peanut Chicken Wonton from our Apples Catering menu.

Joy Baker - Event Consultant

Name: Joy Baker
Title: Senior Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 1990
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Watching the growth of the company. When I was younger I remember thinking an event of 50 guests was a big deal and now we are doing events for thousands! It simply amazes me!
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Enjoy your day! Put someone else in charge as a contact person so you can feel free to relax and enjoy your guests. You have done so much planning and now it's your turn to have some fun!
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Spend time with my kids and my amazing husband. Play with my dogs and give as much as I can to various animal shelters in the area as well as work on fundraising for these important organizations that are very near and dear to my heart.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I sang in a band for five years until the age of 17. (That's when boys became my main hobby.) I refinish antique furnishings and collect unusual antique purses!
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Skewers on the Rocks Station. It's the best station by far offering freshly prepared food with so many choices, fabulous flavors and great value! What more can you ask for?

Lisa Brenna - Event Consultant

Name: Lisa Brenna
Title: Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 1998
Professional Involvements or Organizations
National Association of Catering Executives - 2nd VP of Programs and Board Member for the local Twin Cities Chapter since 2007
What do you enjoy most about your position?
My favorite part of the job is custom designing food and beverage menus and menu presentations. I love designing unforgettable food and beverage and treating it as a focal point of the event. Guests will remember the taste and smell of the food, but also how it was served and what it was served on.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Before you start the planning process, make a list of the things that are important to you for your event and put them in order of importance. This helps with making decisions on budgeting and who you will need to contact for what specific service!
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Camping, hiking, canoeing, cooking, gardening, downhill skiing
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Our Porcini Rubbed Beef Tenderloin topped with a red wine peppercorn reduction that we designed exclusively for the VanDusen Mansion and Event Center

Julie Teran - Event Consultant

Name: Julie Teran
Title: Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: October 2008
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I love to be at the events! Months of planning, weeks of preparations, crazy last-minute changes and behind-the-scenes mayhem all culminating in smiling guests, a beautiful room, delicious food and unobtrusive service. Love it!
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
One of my first large, full-service events was working with Cheryl Kranz to plan an “upscale” picnic! A local company was hosting an international event in their parking lot (yes, parking lot) under a tent for 300+ people. Cheryl coordinated beautiful linens and décor, the client brought in international entertainment, and we all jumped through hoops, and hoops, for the local inspectors. Grilling outdoors on one of the windiest days of the year, and keeping all of the beautiful desserts crisp-looking in the heat was a challenge for us, but went unnoticed by our client. By the end of the day, I was soaking wet and coated in parking lot dust from the sun and wind, and I was barefoot after my super-cute high heels gave me three blisters, but so pleased with myself for having helped to pull-off a successful and well-received event with an event planner about whom, up until then, I had only read articles about in industry mags!
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Read your Contracts and Proposals carefully! So many last-minute changes, and sometimes, heartache, could be avoided if documents were carefully reviewed. At an event I had done with another company, we were at a local park for a wedding reception. The fact that the bride had gotten her cake through a local bakery and would be providing the necessary wares and cutting it herself was very clearly written on the proposal. After dinner, the head table remained seated. After about 15 minutes I approached the bride and asked if she needed anything. She said they were just waiting for the cake to be served! We had no cake knife, extra forks or dessert plates. The bride was in tears over the misunderstanding. We “punted” and cut it with a dinner knife and served in on bev-naps, and in the end it was only a small hiccup in her day – but could have been avoided if she had read her paperwork carefully.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I love to play board games, card games, and outdoors with my husband and our two kids; garden (even though I have a “black” thumb); scrapbook; and do Sudoku and crossword puzzles.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
PFS Herb Roasted Chicken!

Elizabeth Hinke - Event Consultant

Name: Elizabeth Hinke
Title: Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: August of 2010
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Working closely with my clients. They inspire me, motivate me and drive me to make every event, every day more unique and fun! I also love the ability to be able to meet so many wonderful industry partners.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
I was at an event and a colleague mentioned that there was a monkey outside. Well, of course I wanted to meet this monkey! I went out into the parking lot where the owner mentioned that the monkey was a little agitated because of the cold so we should not approach him, he will approach us. The monkey climbed on my friends arms and nestled in her neck tenderly. Then, he came over into me WHAM!! As fast as you can say monkey, the monkey went crazy! Initially, I was shocked that my hair had gotten messed up by a monkey, but after going inside I was informed that I was bleeding. I looked in the mirror and sure enough the monkey actually bit my ear! But no worries, the event was a great success and I do not have rabies. I won't be holding any monkeys for a while though.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
The most successful meetings are a direct result to how prepared both myself and the client is. It's really helpful if the client has a list of questions, deal breakers or just need to know items. I will be able to get those answers to you then or soon after if need be to make the next stage in the planning process more efficient.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I live close to Lake Calhoun so I love walking around the lake on a nice day and enjoying the beautiful scenery. When I am with my family I enjoy playing board and card games with them. I was taught at a very young age the order of poker and to always “press” or double up on a bet.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I can list the American presidents in order in under a minute.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Sauteed Apple-tinis... It's like apple pie in a martini glass!

Jeff McClure - Event Consultant

Name: Jeff McClure
Title: Event Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 2010
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Working on my chef skills with our wonderful chefs, trying not to irritate them with the hundreds of questions or requests I have for them.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Delta Corporate Event in Atlanta
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Set the plate appropriately with your event consultant; it is much easier to pair down a menu or event then add something close to the event date. Shoot for the stars initially and see where it takes you.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Play quite a bit of volleyball, bike continue working on my graduate degree and spending time with my family and friends.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I read a book a week and attend some sort of concert every week.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Normans Beef Brisket with his hot BBQ sauce and Pot Roast from our PFS menu

Julie DeStasio - Sales Consultant

Name: Julie DeStasio
Title: Sales Consultant
Joined the Mintahoe Team: Began working with Professional Foodservice 32 years ago this August
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Working with clients to plan menus for their meetings.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Spending time with my family.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I can list the American presidents in order in under a minute.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Can’t choose just one! Yankee Pot Roast or Cream of Chicken Wild Rice Soup from Professional Foodservice.

Erika LaDousa - Event Coordinator

Name: Erika LaDousa
Title: Event Coordinator
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 2010
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Actually seeing everything come together the day of the event! To see what comes together after all your hard work and stress is really an amazing moment...and so is seeing the bride and groom as they take in everything they’ve been working towards for so long.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
After three failed attempts at making brussel sprouts look appealing for a bride, the actual day of the wedding our chef plated up the most stunning brussel sprouts I’ve ever laid eyes on!
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Try to relax a bit...yes, it’s all in the details but sometimes you have to step back and think about what truly is important so you do not become consumed.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Spend time with my wonderful family, snowboard in the winter, run in the summer and head to our cabin in Wisconsin whenever I can!
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I’m a band geek at heart and have played classical piano since I was 5 years old. (I really should be better in that case.)
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Peanut Chicken Wontons

Lynn Rivera - Sales and Marketing Administrator

Name: Lynn Rivera
Title: Sales and Marketing Administrator
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 1998
What do you enjoy most about your position?
It’s been wonderful to be part of a company as it has successfully grown year after year. Whether it’s corporate events, picnics or weddings, the ever-changing atmosphere is fun and something I have always enjoyed.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
The grand opening of the SPAM museum in Austin, MN. A memorable, turnkey event which brought together politicians, rock stars and television “Moms” and thousands of visitors from all over the world. We were one of the exclusive providers that contributed to offering creative “fun” spam food and snacks for thousands of guests. The menu ran the gamut from spam Polynesian yum-yum stir fry to creamy mac and spam! It was truly a spectacular event that was capped off with a rocking performance by Joe Walsh of The Eagles.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Start planning as far as possible in advance. This will make it less stressful for you. Also, focus on your guests and your budget. Think about what’s going to make it fun, exciting and memorable. Leave the details to us.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Spending quality time with family and friends, working out, weekend biking trips, gardening and community human services.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I enjoy playing blue-style harmonica and whistling duets with my Papa.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
That’s a tough one...I think our empanadas are yummylicious!

Ron Bigley - Vice President of Operations

*Coming Soon*

Keith Hanson - Director of Catering Operations

Name: Keith Hanson
Title: Director of Catering Operations
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 1999
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I believe the most rewarding part of my position at Mintahoe is to be the problem solver. From making sure that all things are in the right place at all times for all events, to determining how much beer to send to an off site wedding reception 45 minutes from our commissary/warehouse presents a myriad of challenges. And, on a Saturday afternoon in June, July or August when we are running up to 12 events from Excelsior MN to Somerset WI, there can be numerous “bumps in the road” that need to be smoothed out. Meeting those challenges and knowing the last guest has gone through the buffet line and the final guest has consumed his or her last beer without running out is the reward I find the most satisfying.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Know your guests! Event Consultants can only be as good as the information they are provided throughout the planning process. The broader the spectrum of guests the harder it is to please the cross section of diversity that may present itself at an event. Demographic information can be an immense asset when determining types of food, service styles, quantities and beverage likes and dislikes.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I enjoy my casual and leisure time away from work mostly at home working around my yard and enjoying time in my back yard on my deck. Away from home, I enjoy traveling out of the country, especially Latin America, and attending live performances by my favorite recording artists.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Grilled Portobellos served on toasted crostini with garlic slather! I’ve even made them at home and served them at my own “catered” events!

Tim Bloom - Director of Facilities

*Coming Soon*

Rob Damiani - Operations Manager

Name: Rob Damiani
Title: Professional Foodservice Operations Assistant Manager
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 2001
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Working with people
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Being a part of the large-scale picnics for Delta
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Spend time with my wife and two kids
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I love sports
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Wild Rice Soup

Tracy Rabenberg - Executive Chef

*Coming Soon*

Janet Lopez - Pastry Chef

Name: Janet Lopez
Title: Pastry Chef
Joined the Mintahoe Team: Started in 1995 with Perfect Host Catering
What do you enjoy most about your position?
After setting up a wedding cake, everyone says it’s beautiful and hearing people wanted seconds on dessert!
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Being part of and making food for two Presidential events - one for President Bush and one for President Obama.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Gardening, Walking my dog
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I went to the University of Iowa for two years and worked at the College of Pharmacy inspecting vials of morphine and other drugs.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Carrot Cake

Michelle Damiani - Kitchen Manager

Name: Michelle Damiani
Title: Kitchen Manager
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 1993
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Finding new recipes to use and getting to working in our setting.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Meeting my husband (and now co-worker) at his first interview
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Work with your Consultant. Don’t be scared to ask about a different variety on products
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I grew up in a very small community in Washington state
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Pork Carnitas

Jim McMerty - President

Name: Jim McMerty
Title: President
Joined the Mintahoe Team: Shortly after the wheel was invented.
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Nothing beats working with our clients and our staff at our events, doing everything we can to make the events successful. At the large events, sometimes with more than 10,000 guests, the grill area is mine. It is fun to see the young turks trying to keep up.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Be open. Share with us your plans. Tell us what you are trying to accomplish and the budget you have available to achieve your goals. We function wonderfully as your partner. We really do know what we are doing.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I have been told that my answer to this question is creating great speculative interest within our crew. It is rumored that there are bets being made as to whether or not I can even answer this question. When someone wants to reach me at ten a.m. on a Sunday morning, they call my desk phone rather than my cell phone. Does this give them a right to think that I do not have anything “favorite” outside of work? They are wrong. I love my time with my family. No one has more endearing grandchildren than Buppa has.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
Do I hear more guffaws? Come on, give me a break! At work, I am the business person. At large events, I take over the grill area. None of that is hidden. What I really enjoy is to get into one of our large kitchens on an afternoon when everyone else is gone and create some wonderful food of my own choosing, following whatever recipe I adapt to whatever fits my mood. Doing this at our kitchens rather than at home has advantages. Any type of equipment I could ever want is at hand and I don’t have to do the dishes.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
I am proud of the quality of what we do. We create tremendous amounts of wonderful food for thousands of clients on a busy weekend. Our largest event this year is for 24,000 people and our smallest is for five people. Whatever someone wants, we pretty much can do it. But my favorite activity is grilling for the largest events that we have. Enjoying one of our wonderful hamburgers after spending eight hours creating excellent picnic food for several thousand people is my menu favorite. Could it be that the satisfaction I am feeling at that moment contributes to my choice?

Angie Hanson - Marketing Manager

Name: Angie Hanson
Title: Marketing Manager
Joined the Mintahoe Team: 2008
What do you enjoy most about your position?
I love that my job is an even balance of being creative as well as analytical. I like thinking with both sides of my brain, feeling challenged and keeping busy! Taste testing menu items isn’t bad either...
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
The first time I drove a gigantic catering truck was pretty memorable. Luckily I lived to tell about it!
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I love to golf and visit my family in Duluth.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I play rugby!
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
Mac & Cheese Station w/ Buffalo Chicken. The thought of it just made my mouth water!

Linda Royce - Business & Accounting Manager

Name: Linda Royce
Title: Business & Accounting Manager
Joined the Mintahoe Team: October 2006
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Figuring out how to make computer applications meet the needs of our business.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Integrating all of our computer and computer software applications when Twin City Catering and Mintáhoe became one. It was a huge undertaking and took several phases.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
Make sure that your expectations for your event are realistic and relation to your budget (of course I had to say something about money).
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Walk, jog, bike, Bible study. I am also a huge sports fan.
Fun fact/hidden talent:
I’ve been to Africa twice – once to Liberia and another time to Uganda.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
PFS corn bread! Yum!

Shawn McMerty - Finance and Business Operations

Name: Shawn McMerty
Title: Finance and Business Operations
What do you enjoy most about your position?
Watching our more complex and challenging events come together.
What is one of your most memorable Mintáhoe moments?
Helping to grill for over 10,000 people on one of our events.
The advice I would offer potential clients is...
If you are not sure exactly what you want for your event give the event consultant an idea of what you are looking for and rely on the talent, skill, and experience Mintahoe brings to help make your event one to remember.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I enjoy spending time at the lakes and parks around Minneapolis. Some of my favorite spots include Lake Harriet (the rose gardens and the trolley are always fun), the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens, and the Minneapolis Farmers Market.
Favorite item from Mintahoe’s menu collection:
My favorite item is the Italian marinated chicken from the picnic menu.