HORIZONS Conference Center

Pete has been the president of HORIZONS since we opened our doors in 1996. Under his direction, HORIZONS built its reputation as the region’s top destination for distinguished events – through our industry expertise, creativity, flawless attention to detail and superb hospitality.

As the architect of the Art of Hospitality, which is infused in every aspect of how we do business, Pete models humility, honesty, empathy and a dedication to providing our guests with a personalized event experience that exceeds their highest expectations. His leadership and example form the cornerstone of our company’s success.

Kiron absolutely loves her job and it shows. Since joining HORIZONS in 2003, Kiron’s genuine passion and enthusiasm for each and every event she plans shine through her work – from her trademark meticulous detail to the thoughtful, personal touches that make each guest feel truly special. No matter the occasion, Kiron is at least one step ahead, managing every aspect of corporate and social events calmly and skillfully, earning numerous accolades from her clients and even lifelong friendships with many of them.

The following testimonial speaks volumes: "Kiron, you are a Godsend! How can we ever repay you for the time and sacrifices you made in order to make our day a dream come true? You went above and beyond our expectations, helping me in any way you could to give me ease of mind throughout the entire process. Thank you for the endless memories you have created for us!"

Meet Charlie – Director of Business Operations for over 15 years! Hospitality comes naturally to Charlie, the always-smiling face of HORIZONS, finding great joy in being part of bringing people’s events to life and seeing the awe and delight on the faces of our clients and their guests.

While providing the Art of Hospitality, Charlie oversees the entire scope of the HORIZONS organization, leveraging decades of diverse business experience and an entrepreneurial spirit to make sure our operation runs like clockwork, for impeccable execution when it’s “go time” for events of all sizes and levels of complexity.

Meet Bob – our Director of Food and Beverage! Bob has been providing our Art of Hospitality for over 20 years, first joining as an Assistant Banquet Manager, working his way through the ranks before settling into his current role as Director of Food and Beverage.

While providing the Art of Hospitality, Bob is responsible for overseeing all operations related to food and beverage as well as coordinating details between departments before each event– from setup and service to food, bar, décor and even housekeeping! Bob brings his signature humor, humility and old-school work ethic – along with many fresh ideas – to each event.

Meet Valarie – Our Upbeat Newest Event Coordinator! When asked what the Art of Hospitality means to her, Valarie replied, “Art is an expression of creativity and hospitality is the act of welcoming someone like family. The Art of Hospitality means helping you feel at home throughout the entire experience. The result is an event that feels genuine, welcoming and truly your own. My role is to support you every step of the way.”

Valarie helps guests bring their event ideas to life in a seamless, stress-free way. She guides them through the booking and planning process to ensure their vision comes to life.

Meet Chef Mike – our sous chef of almost 30 years! Chef Mike’s passion for inventive cooking and bold flavors comes through in each meal he prepares, and his creative and palate-pleasing presentations are legendary, earning the highest praise from our clients.

While providing the Art of Hospitality, Chef Mike enjoys exploring innovative techniques and unexpected ingredients to serve up the memorable cuisine our clients have come to expect from HORIZONS for occasions of all types and sizes.

Meet Rick – our Audio-Visual Manager who joined the HORIZONS family in 2010! To Rick, the Art of Hospitality means building relationships with our clientele by getting to know them by name and knowing their faces when they come in the door, whether they're here for their event or for another event.

Rick provides our guests with state-of-the-art audio-visual and digital solutions for their events, meetings and presentations. His extensive knowledge enables him and his team to recommend the right blend of audio-visual solutions to ensure the experience is top-notch for any event.

Meet Mandy – our creative and cheerful Floral Design & Décor Manager! To Mandy, the Art of Hospitality means “presenting professionalism, authenticity, compassion, honesty and creativity like you’ve never experienced, leaving a lasting positive impression with all we serve.” Mandy has worked in floral design for 26 years, 10 of which she had her own small business.

While providing the Art of Hospitality, Mandy creates floral design and décor proposals for all our events based on our client’s vision for their event. After getting feedback from the client on the proposal, Mandy then uses her talents to make the proposal come to life. From extravagant to minimalist and everything in between, she can create it!

Meet Mark – a HORIZONS banquet manager since October 2022! When asked what the Art of Hospitality meant to him, Mark replied: “The Art of Hospitality is a refined process to provide guests with authentic hospitality. It is remembering that we are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen. It’s saying sir and ma’am and it’s being personable and professional while delivering authentic personalized service. We are professional, prompt and polite. I enjoy the philosophy behind the Art of Hospitality. I want to provide authentic hospitality and make a connection. I like bringing personalized service into play at every event.”

While providing the Art of Hospitality to our guests, Mark’s role as a banquet manager is to oversee operations for the entire event, from set up to when the last guest walks out the door at the end of the night.

Meet Karen – our longest tenured staff member! Karen has been with HORIZONS for 28 years, starting as a server in 1996 and advancing to Banquet Manager in 2019. What does the Art of Hospitality mean to Karen? It’s all about building connections by recognizing familiar faces, remembering names (even when they are at events other than their own) and always going the extra mile to exceed expectations.

As a manager, Karen plays a vital role in creating seamless, memorable experiences for our guests. Her responsibilities include overseeing event spaces, managing offsite functions, and guiding servers to ensure every event is both successful and enjoyable.

Meet George – banquet manager and head of concessions at the Temple Theatre! To him, the Art of Hospitality means going above and beyond by staying one step ahead and addressing guests by name.

While providing the Art of Hospitality, George also serves as a liaison between HORIZONS and the TempleArts organization, as HORIZONS is the exclusive caterer for the Temple Theatre.

Meet Holly – one of our composed and meticulous banquet managers! When asked what the Art of Hospitality means to her, she replied, “balancing high standards with class and exuberance”.

While providing the Art of Hospitality, Holly is responsible for leading our talented staff to provide memorable and meaningful events for our guests in a fun yet professional way.