Birmingham
Event Team
Jasmine Allen
Host
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Lynnette Favors
Host
Lives in
- Atlanta
Motto
- “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.”
Hobbies
- Travel
Profession
- Portfolio/Program Manager, PMP, AGILE Practitioner (Yes)
Kre Johnson
Head Leader
Lives in
- Trussville
Motto
- Excellence is the standard not the exception!
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Physician/ Business Ownwer
Lavon Beard
Group Leader
Lives in
- Hoover
Motto
- YOLO
Hobbies
- Photography
Profession
- Physical Therapist
Wendy Brantley
Group Leader
Lives in
- Chelsea
Motto
- “We love because it’s the only true adventure” – Nikki Giovanni
Hobbies
- Art, Traveling, and Festivals
Profession
- Community Engagement
Lynnette FAVORS
Group Leader
Lives in
- Atlanta
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Tarona Guy
Group Leader
Lives in
- Grand Rapids
Motto
- "Travel until you can't"
Hobbies
- Travel & Foodie Lifestyle
Profession
- Living Life
Arlene Henderson
Group Leader
Lives in
- Alabaster
Motto
- Live Life To The Fullest!
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Administrative Assistant I
Alfreda Johnson
Group Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
- I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou
Hobbies
- Traveling, Jazz, Culinary Arts
Profession
- Government,Accountant,Wedding Planner
Katrina Nelson
Group Leader
Lives in
- BIRMINGHAM
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Senior IT Consultant
Nicole Wright
Group Leader
Lives in
- Gwinnett
Motto
- It’s not about having time, it’s about making time.
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Owner of Art N Soul Escapes Travel
Candis Austin
Table Leader
Lives in
- Trussville
Motto
- No Pressure, No Diamonds
Hobbies
- Shopping, Flipping Homes, Traveling
Profession
- Realtor The BEST in Jefferson County. Period !
Christine Baker
Table Leader
Lives in
- RIVERDALE
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Alisha Bennett
Table Leader
Lives in
- McCalla
Motto
- "She believed she could, so she did"
Hobbies
- Gardening
Profession
- Physician, Author, Blogger, Motivational Speaker
Yashiba Blanchard
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
- "To Much Is Given Much Is Required"
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Attorney
Whitney Brantley
Table Leader
Lives in
- Chelsea
Motto
- “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
Hobbies
- ALL things travel, fashion and events!
Profession
- Ops Manager by Day/ Event Planner and Stylist by LIFE
OTERRAL BROWN
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
- "Do not desire to fit in. Desire to oblige ourselves to lead"
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Engineering
Kim Croom
Table Leader
Lives in
- Gardendale
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Grace Dugger
Table Leader
Lives in
- Hoover
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Meesha Emmett
Table Leader
Lives in
- CALERA
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Communications Director
LaShelle French Barmore
Table Leader
Lives in
- TRUSSVILLE
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Board Certified Family Medicine Physician and Diabetologist
Latara Gray
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
- Salon/Boutique owner/Author/Business Coach
Kandace Hamilton
Table Leader
Lives in
- Montevallo
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Khesa Harrell
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
- Kindness is not Blindness
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Manager of Benefits Administration
LaShawn Hill
Table Leader
Lives in
- Alabaster
Motto
- “ Life is a journey enjoy the path you have chosen “
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Natural Hair salon owner for over 25years
Amber/Russell Hooks
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Brooke Horn
Table Leader
Lives in
- Trussville
Motto
- Life is too short to be anything but LIVED!
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Federal Government Employee
Jay Johnson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Trussville
Motto
- It is what it is!
Hobbies
-
Profession
- College Admission Consultant
Natalie McLaughlin
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Music
Profession
- content creator/small business
Jasalyn Meriwether
Table Leader
Lives in
- McCalla
Motto
- Trust the Author & Walk it Out!
Hobbies
- Photography
Profession
- Sr. Level Engineering Mgr
Che Perry
Table Leader
Lives in
- HOOVER
Motto
- iLiveiLoveiLaugh#FaithHopeLove#SurvivedByFaith
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Business Unit Analyst & Small Business Owner
Maranda Pruitt
Table Leader
Lives in
- Centerpoint
Motto
- It’s hard to be what you can’t imagine!
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Healthcare Management
Sharon Rhone
Table Leader
Lives in
- Pleasant Grove
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Office Clerk
Deon Scott
Table Leader
Lives in
- Gardendale
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Larry Sims
Table Leader
Lives in
- Center Point
Motto
- Live Out Loud
Hobbies
- Music & Food
Profession
- Financial Services
Ryan Sims
Table Leader
Lives in
- Helena
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- GIS Analyst
Damien Smith
Table Leader
Lives in
- Union City
Motto
- Be, Do, Have
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Christie Taylor
Table Leader
Lives in
- Hoover
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Roshanique Taylor Marbury
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
- ''Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations''.
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Pharmacy Technician Compounding Specialist & The Owner Of Angels At Your Services Home Health Care.
San Thompson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Maylene
Motto
- November 14th
Hobbies
- Dancing
Profession
- Fitness
Demita Walton
Table Leader
Lives in
- Birmingham
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Demeka Whisnant
Table Leader
Lives in
- Helena
Motto
- Helping others is our greatest reward
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Kimberly Womack
Table Leader
Lives in
- Pinson
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Realtor
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.”
Elizabeth Carbonell
Event Operations Strategist
As Production Manager, Elizabeth oversees all aspects of the production and coordination of the Diner en Blanc events hosted by Diner en Blanc International. Her 10-year background in event managing for an international design non-profit organization, and her previous work in the fashion industry, allowed her to travel around the world and learn from incredible people. In her free time, Liz has an active and vegan lifestyle. She enjoys going out to restaurants, trying new cocktails, working out and cooking.
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.
Batin Can Balkan
IT Project Manager
As the IT Project Manager at Diner en Blanc International, Batin applies his skills in innovative IT solutions to enhance unique event experiences and connect with incredible hosts globally. Le Diner en Blanc is a cultural platform where technology meets tradition, allowing one to see firsthand how cities around the world bring their unique flair to their event. Each day offers new opportunities to merge his IT expertise with a passion for creating memorable moments.
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.