The Team
The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel knows that service is that key factor that transforms the average meeting to a successful event. That is why every member of our highly regarded staff was carefully chosen in order to satisfy the most discriminating guest. From the initial phone call or email, through the planning and execution of your event, until the final satisfied attendee checks out of the hotel, the Sheraton New Orleans team is working with you. With our team behind you, even the most complex event will go off without a hitch.
GROUP SALES
The Group Sales team at the Sheraton New Orleans is your first point of contact with the hotel when you begin the process of planning an event. From this very moment, until your event is handed off to the Convention Services staff, you'll have the advantage of the team's experience, professionalism, attention to detail and friendliness.
Casie Anderson / Sales Manager Casie was born and raised in Belle Chasse, LA and attended St. Mary's Dominican High School. She then received Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism Administration from the University of New Orleans in May 2006. She began her hotel career as a Front Office agent here at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel and has been in the Sales & Marketing Department since February 2006. She is currently handling small- midsized groups from the DC & West Coasts markets. Contact Casie at casie.anderson@sheraton.com or 504-595-6211
Charlene Berard / Senior Sales Manager A native New Orleanian, Charlene attended St. Mary's Dominican High School and received B.S. degree in Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism from the University of New Orleans in May 1988. She began her hotel career as a Front Office/Reservations agent at the Sheraton on the Lake in Metairie, Louisiana and, after three years, transferred to the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in the Sales & Marketing Department in April 1990, as a Small Meetings Manager. She has been with the hotel for the last 16 years and is currently handling the DC group market. Contact Charlene at charlene.berard@sheraton.com or 504-595-5535
Margo Choquette / Senior Sales Manager Originally from Rhode Island, Margo moved to New Orleans to start her career in hotel sales shortly after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a BS in Hotel Administration. She has worked at several hotels within the New Orleans market, but her longest tenure has been 10 years with the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Contact Margo at margo.choquette@sheraton.com or 504-595-6260
Kathan Dearman / Sales Manager A native of Hattiesburg, MS, Kathan received a B.A. and M.A. in French from the University of Mississippi. She has worked in the sales department at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel for nine years. She currently handles the DC group market. Contact Kathan at kathan.dearman@sheraton.com or 504-595-5529
Angele du Passage / Senior Sales Manager A native of New Orleans Angele graduated from the University of New Orleans with a B.S. degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism. She received her CMP certification in 1999. Angele has been with the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel since 1990 and is currently a Senior Sales Manager. She lives in Mandeville, Louisiana with her husband Chris and two boys, Jacques and Emerson. Contact Angele at angele.dupassage@sheraton.com or 504-592-5605
Brett Forshag / Director of Sales A native New Orleanian and a graduate of LSU and Jesuit High School, Brett is married (Mary) with three children, Trent (13), Morgan (11) and Brooke (8). He is in his 14th year of hotel sales at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel where he serves in the capacity of Director of Sales (10 years). He previously worked in hotel sales (7 years) at the Fairmont Hotel New Orleans. Brett has an extensive background in the local baseball community where he played at LSU and is active in coaching youth sports. He also serves on the Foundation Board of Christian Brothers School in New Orleans and on the President's Executive Committee of Jesuit High School in New Orleans. Contact Brett at brett.forshag@sheraton.com or 504-595-5594
Ashley McCoy / Sales Manager A native of New Orleans, Ashley graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.A. in Communication. She started her career at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in 1986 and where she is currently a National Account Manager. Contact Ashley at ashley.mccoy@sheraton.com or 504-592-5629
Ken Newman / Senior Sales Manager Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Ken attended Michigan State University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. Immediately after graduation, Hilton Hotels Corporation hired him to be a Management Trainee Professional at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. After 8 months, Ken was promoted to Convention Sales Manager handling the Midwest Market. After 3 years he decided to take a similar position at the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau also handling the Midwest Market. In 1999, after two years with the CVB, he decided to accept a position of Senior Sales Manager at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel handling the West Coast Market. Ken is married (Heather) and has two boys (Kaine, 11 and Kameron, 9), and they currently reside in Covington, LA. Contact Ken at ken.newman@sheraton.com or 504-595-5522
Ingrid Palomo-d'Aquin / Leisure Travel Sales Manager Originally from Guatemala City, Ingrid graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Guatemala City, moved to New Orleans in 1980 and graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration. She has been in the hotel industry for the past 20 years; 6 years in hotel sales at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and 9 years at Marriott Hotels of New Orleans. She currently resides in Kenner, Louisiana with her husband Jody and three children, Joseph (18), Sarah (16) and Phillip (14). Contact Ingrid at ingrid.d'aquin@sheraton.com or 504-595-5538
Derrick Rogers / Sales Manager A native of the New Orleans area (Harvey, LA), Derrick attended Archbishop Shaw High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Manship School of Mass Communications at Louisiana State University in 2003. Upon graduating from LSU, Derrick worked as a Marketing Assistant in the Florida State University Athletic Department. While at FSU he received a Master of Science Degree in Sport Administration. Derrick completed a brief internship with the PGA TOUR before returning home to New Orleans to begin working at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Derrick will receive his M.B.A. from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University in May 2010. Contact Derrick at derrick.rogers@sheraton.com or 504-595-6223
Erika Taylor / Sales Manager A native of Kansas, Erika attended Fort Hays State University where she earned a B.A. in Marketing and B.S. in Spanish. After studying Hospitality and Tourism in Madrid, Spain, she began her career in 2008 at the Sheraton Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. She started as a Front Office Agent and soon relocated to New Orleans and joined the team as the Sales and Marketing Coordinator. Now a Small Meetings Sales Manager, she can be reached at erika.taylor@sheraton.com or 504-595-5572.
CATERING & CONVENTION SERVICES
Our Convention Services team works hand-in-hand with the meeting planner from before the event until after the last attendee has left. The team is well trained in providing the expert guidance and support that will ensure the success of your event and a positive experience for you and your attendees.
Marguerite DeAngel / Director of Catering Marguerite is a native New Orleanian with over 15 years experience in hotel catering. Marguerite joined the Starwood family in 2004 after working for Marriott Hotels in both New Orleans and Nashville, TN. She has held her position as Director Catering since 2005. Marguerite is a Certified Meeting Professional and a member of the National Association of Catering Executives. Contact Marguerite at marguerite.deangel@sheraton.com or 504-595-5586
Jeanna Baldwin / Convention Services Manager After eight Years with Le Meridien New Orleans in Convention Services, three years as Director of Convention Services, Jeanna joined Starwood in 2001 as Director of Catering and Convention Services at the W New Orleans. She moved to the Sheraton New Orleans in January of 2005. Jeanna is a member of NACE and MPI and Certified as Meeting Professional. Contact Jeanna at jeanna.baldwin@sheraton.com or 504-595-595-5583
Melissa Bonneé / Catering Sales Manager A native of New Orleans, Melissa has been with Starwood Hotels and Resorts for 10 years. During this time she's held the positions of Receptionist, Sales Administrative Assistant, Convention Services Administrative Assistant, Banquet Coordinator, Catering Coordinator and Catering Sales Manager. Melissa is a current member of the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) and Young Leadership Council (YLC). Contact Melissa at melissa.bonnee@sheraton.com or 504-595-6267
Jill Durrett / Convention Services Manager A native of New Orleans, Jill graduated from the Louisiana State University with a degree in Business Administration in 2004. She continued her education and received her Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. Jill started her career in hospitality in 2004 as a Catering Manager for Wyndham International Hotels. In 2006, she joined the Starwood Team as a Convention Service Manager for Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. In 2008, Jill was nominated Convention Services Manager of the Year for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. More recently Jill was awarded Convention Services Manager of the 2nd Quarter for the Southeast Division of Starwood. In addition to her duties has a Convention Services Manager, Jill is also a Property Service Culture Trainer for the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Contact Jill at jill.durrett@sheraton.com or 504-595-6272
Anna Jarrett / Catering and Convention Services Manager Originally from Shreveport, LA, Anna graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Hospitality Management in 2004 and moved to Nashville, TN. While in Nashville, she worked as a Conference Coordinator, Executive Meetings Manager and Catering Manager at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center for three years, and as a Catering Manager at the Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center for two years. Anna moved to New Orleans in July of 2009 to begin her career with Starwood as a Catering and Convention Services Manager at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Anna is a member of NACE and Young Leadership Council of New Orleans. Contact Anna at anna.jarrett@sheraton.com or 504-595-5534
Martin Keeney / Director of Catering & Convention Services A native of Essington, Pennsylvania, Martin graduated with a B.S. in Hotel Management from Pennsylvania State University. He started his hotel career at the Westin Bellevue Stratford in Philadelphia and came to the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel as Director of Catering in 2000. After a post-Katrina relocation to Chicago where he held the position of Director of Catering at the Westin Michigan Avenue Martin returned to the Sheraton New Orleans in 2008 as Manager of Space Optimization before assuming the role of Director of Catering / Convention Services in 2009. Contact Martin at martin.keeney@sheraton.com or 504-595-5532
Steve Mondi / Convention Services Manager Originally from Boston, MA, attended the University of Massachusetts and moved to New Orleans in November of 1978. Steve helped open the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in October of 1982, and has been here ever since. He has held the positions of Restaurant Manager, Beverage Manager, Room Service Manager, Banquet Manager, Conference Center Service Manger, Fitness Center Manager and current position as Convention Services Manger. Contact Steve at steve.mondi@sheraton.com or 504-595-5520
Marcela Moresco, CMP/Convention Services Manager A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, attended the University of Buenos Aires and moved to New Orleans in 1987. Since her arrival into the city Marcela always worked in the hospitality industry. Ten years with Le Meridien New Orleans, four years with the Intercontinental Hotel, four years with the Hilton Riverside. Marcela joined Starwood in October of 2006 as a Convention Services Manager. Contact Marcela at marcela.moresco@sheraton.com or 504-595-6274
Shawne Savoie/Convention Services Manager A native of New Orleans, Shawne became a member of the Sheraton New Orleans Team in 1985 and held the position of Catering/Convention Services Assistant, Executive Assistant, Front Office Manager on Duty, Room Service Manager, and Banquet Manager. In 1999, Shawne departed the Sheraton and became a co-owner of Chateau du Louisiane Bed and Breakfast in the New Orleans Garden District. In 1997, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in English Literature and a minor in Philosophy. In 2000, Shawne held the position of Senior Event Manager for the New Orleans Marriott Hotel for four years. Shawne received her CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) in 2001 and to the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in the fall of 2004 where she currently works as a Convention Services Manager. Contact Shawne at shawne.savoie@sheraton.com or 504-595-5547
Timika Spurlock / Convention Services Manager A native of New Orleans, Timika connected with the Sheraton New Orleans in 1994 where, throughout her journey, she has held the positions of Convention Services Assistant, Banquet Coordinator and Executive Conference Center Manager. She began her career as a Convention Services Manager in 2000. In 2005 she obtained her CMP Designation and later that year relocated to Dallas as a result of Hurricane Katrina. During her time in Dallas Timika worked as a Meeting Planner & Conference Manager for the SANS Institute. She returned home to the Sheraton New Orleans as a Convention Services Manager in 2007. Contact Timika at timika.spurlock@sheraton.com or 504-592-5632.
EXECUTIVE MEETING SPECIALISTS
It's easier to relax when you have a seasoned meeting specialist working with you every step of the way - right on the meeting floor. Your Executive Meeting Specialist offers the highest level of personalized service, taking care of every request in the timeliest, most efficient manner.