When I asked the students what they loved most about NACE, many of them shared how they admired the unity and support of its members, the commitment the members have for the organization, the opportunities to meet and work with some of the most creative talent of the hospitality industry, and how they valued the growth and development they received from NACE. It is a true honor to be a part of an organization that walks the talk of their mission and takes pride in their commitment to the goals they set.

The NACE University of Houston Student Chapter would like to thank Ashton Gardens Houston for the venue, wine, and two course dinner, Elegant Beginnings Inc. for donating the Sponsor Banner, Michael’s Cookie Jar for the CPCE cookies, MDI Video for videography services, DJU Productions for West Ballroom, Photo booth, Lounge, LED Cocktail Tables, Projectors, Screens, D. Jones Photography for providing photography for the event, LG Entertainment for DJ services, The Perfect Touch Linens for linen, centerpieces, and Chiavari Chairs,  The Ice Cream Party for the ice cream bar, Always Floral for the cocktail table centerpieces, and all of the NACE Houston Chapter members and the guests that came out to show their support to the students in one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.  

Wednesday night’s meeting will help us send even more students to the annual EXPERIENCE! 2012 Conference. At the conference the students receive great networking and educational experiences that will help them further their career in the hospitality industry.

Thank you NACE Houston for, “Shaping the future of the catering and event industry one student at a time.”

Brittany Talavera

NACE UH Student Chapter President

To view images from this meeting visit our website gallery or our Facebook page.

Wedding Trends Program & Exclusive VIP Reception with Sarah Hayood

Time: 5:45pm- 6:30pm

Tickets: NACE Members $150.00 

Non Members $200.00 

which includes:

Complimentary Book & Signing

Photo Op

Mix & Mingle with Sarah

Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres

Limited VIP Tickets Available

Additional info and register online now at the NACE Houston website

Every semester the NACE UH Student Chapter participates in the Hilton College’s largest recruiting fair. One of our biggest competitive advantages over other student organizations is the immense support of the professional chapter. Promoting all things NACE and the 2012 Experience! Conference New Orleans, the Mardi Gras themed booth was a major success! Amber Slovensky, NACE UH 2^nd VP of Membership, worked together with several NACE Houston professionals to create the best booth at the Organization Fair. Linens were provided by Elegant Beginnings Inc, while Party Props, Inc donated a Mardi Gras themed centerpiece, Michael’s Cookie Jar donated 100 Fleur-de-lis cookies to pass out to students, and DJU donated a photo booth. Every NACE UH current student member that stopped by the booth was able to jump in a take pictures, while prospective students who signed up to hear more about the NACE UH Student Chapter were able to jump in and take a photo for keepsake. We were able to add our website label to the backside of each photos as a marketing reminder to them to check out how to join NACE. The photo booth shots have already been making there way to Facebook with students promoting the chapter. It was a brilliant way to market the chapter to the students. It was also great to have some of the NACE Houston Chapter board members there to show their support promoting NACE at the booth. Thank you NACE Houston for helping us show just how great our chapters are and how wonderful it would be to join NACE. 

There are many ways to show your support for the growing talent of the student chapter. The next opportunity is as simple as attending the February Monthly meeting at Ashton Gardens on February 15, 2012 from 5:30pm- 9:00pm. All of the profits are put into the NACE UH Student Chapter Annual Experience! Conference Scholarship Fund.

If you enjoyed last years "NACE get a CLUE" study for the CPCE program, then you will enjoy this years CPCE Family Feud! 

Thank you!

Brittany Talavera

NACE UH Student Chapter

President

Save the Date for our 6th annual Wedding Trends. This year's event will be held at the Corinthian on April 18, 2012 and will feature Royal Wedding Planner, Sarah Haywood. More details to follow soon!

The Houston Chapter of NACE celebrated the holiday cheer and awards at the Houstonian Hotel on December 13, 2011. Only NACE Members may be nominated or submit nominations.  Votes were cast in person at the November meeting.  Congratulations to all of the nominees and award recipients.

"The Kudos Award"  Vera Cantrell, Party Cloths

"The Can't Live Without You"  Greg Dugat, Prestigious Event Rentals

"The Synergy Award" was awarded to  MDI Video, Elegant Beginnings and Bright Star Productions for the Foreman wedding

"The Networker of the Year Award" Krystal Peay, Elegant Beginnings

"The Hopkins Cougar Advocate Award" Adam Rineer, CPCE, CMP, Westin Galleria

"The Rising Star Award" Cherie Fontenot, Petroleum Club of Houston

"The Spirit of NACE Award" Carita Felbermayr, Bow Tie Servers

There were two recipients of "The Baumann/Reinheardt Award".  The winners were Jill Vidal, Elegant Beginnings and Jeremie Millwee, CPCE, Petroleum Club of Houston

To view all of the images from this event on our website click or to view them on Facebook 

Special thanks to our participating sponsors listed below:

The Houstonian Club and Spa - Venue 

The Perfect Touch - Linens 

Over The Top Linens - Linens 

Prestigious Event Rentals - Street Lamps 

D. Jones Photography - Photos 

Elegant Beginnings - Chairs 

MDI Video - Awards Presentations 

Brandit Bandits - Awards Creation

A Finer Event – Bowls for Family Style Service

Darryl & Co. - Centerpieces

Tech Ave - Specialty Drape 

Bright Star Productions - Ambiance and Outdoor Lighting

Impressive Events - Emcee and Music Provider 

E & J Gallo – Wines

Chateau Ste. Michelle – Champagne

Java Pura Roasters – After Dinner Coffee Drinks

Bellaire High School Madrigal Choir - Dinner Entertainment

One of our board member's events is featured in the current issue of Catering Magazine.  Kathryn Creech, CMP of Enjoy Events created this amazing event at the House of Blues Houston for Mike and Carol's wedding. This event also won an award at the NACE National Conference this summer in Reno as the 2010 Best Wedding Event of the Year with a budget of $25k-$75k. 

Congratulations to our newest Houston Chapter members that recently received their CPCE.

Adam Rineer, CMP, CPCE with the Westin Galleria & Westin Oaks Hotels 

Nancy Oka, CPCE of The Woodlands Waterway Marriott

NACE encourages the professional development of caterers and event planners through voluntary participation in its certification program. Achievement of the Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) designation demonstrates expertise in catering and events and is earned by taking a comprehensive examination that covers the core competencies of the industry:

• Accounting
• Beverage Management
• Catering Services
• Contracts and Agreements
• Event Management
• Food Production
• Human Resources
• Sales and Marketing

Several NACE Houston members and students volunteered their time recently to help feed and entertain the families at the Ronald McDonald House Houston on Tuesday, November 29. This was the second time this year we worked with this amazing facility and we look forward to future opportunities to support this Houston resource for families of children with critical illness. One family in attendance was far from home in LIma, Peru with their son, Andres, and were extremely grateful. 

Besides providing, cooking and feeding the children and their families, we also brought in a DJ to entertain the guests with music, dance lessons and a few rounds of "Simon Says" and the limbo. Interactive opportunities were also available such as the cupcake building station and pre-made gingerbread houses with materials for them to decorate and personalize.

To view all of the images from this project click HERE

Donations provided by:

Teresa Westberry & Desiree Tapping, Omni Houston Galleria - Chicken and Ice Tea
Claudia de Velasco, A Day to Remember - Cupcakes for the children to decorate
Carita Felbermayr, Bow Tie Servers - Pasta and the Sauce.
Sheena Baba, G.E.T. Enterprises - Serving trays
Jason Fajkus, DJU Productions - DJ/Entertainment
Alex Rasmussen, Rasmussen Resource Management - Gingerbread House Centerpieces
Misty Daisy Schneider, Doubletree Suites by Hilton Galleria - Cookies for dessert
David Jones, D Jones Photography - Photography

At our November monthly meeting held at the Houston Zoo, a portion of our board was voted and sworn in. Congratulations to our many returning board members and our newest addtiions, Stephanie Tabbah and Misty Schneider.

President - Clara Hough, CPCE, Over The Top Linen, LLC

Vice President Education - Victoria Jenkins, South Shore Harbor Country Club

Vice President  Membership - Erin Oeser, CHE, Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

Treasurer - Adam Rineer, CMP,  Westin Galleria & Westin Oaks

Secretary/Webmaster -  Mitch Daniels, MDI Video

Event Professional - Jill Vidal, Elegant Beginnings, Inc

Programs Director - Stephanie Tabbah, The Tasting Room Uptown

Community Service Director – Misty Schneider, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Houston by the Galleria

Pictured from left to right: Mitch Daniels, Stephanie Tabbah, Clara Hough, Victoria Jenkins, Erin Oeser, Adam Rineer, Jill Vidal, Jeremie Millwee & Misty Schneider

As always, we rely on the generosity of our members and vendors to help make any event successful.  A HUGE Thank you to our donating sponsors for contributing to our November Program:

Think Studio - Ryan Salinas - centerpieces and photo booth
 
Unique Style Productions - Cesar Gil - DJ, EMCEE, Lighting
 
D Jones Photography – Laura Burlton - Photography
 
MDI Video – Mitch Daniels – Video Projection
 
Elegant Beginnings – Jill Vidal - Linens
 
Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates – Barbara Jurbala – Wine
 
Republic National Distributing Company - Ginger Beer/Tequilia Bar

Please be sure to visit our sponsors’ websites and contact them for your next event!

To see more images from this meeting click HERE

Thanks also to the NACE Members, Future Members and Guests for your continued support of our Chapter! We appreciate your time and commitment to the Houston Chapter!!!

We hope you will all join us at the Houstonian for our annual Star Awards on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.  Registration is open now at www.nacehouston.net

Congratulations to Margery Reinheardt, Director of Catering at the Hilton Houston Post Oak for receiving the Director of Catering of the Year Award from Hilton Worldwide for hotels with up to 500 rooms, for 2010.

Margery leads a team of two Catering Managers and two Event Services Managers that together performed the highest percentage over budget for the Owned/Managed hotels in their class.

A 30 year veteran with Hilton, she has been with the Houston Post Oak property since 1994 and also won the Director of Catering of the Year award for Doubletree in 1996. Margy first joined the Hilton Circle of Excellence in 2006 which recognizes superior performance in Catering and Sales.

An active member of the Hospitality Community, Margy has held both National and Local Offices with the National Association of Catering Executives and helped to form the International Special Events Society chapter in Houston.  Margy currently serves on the board of Women of Wine Charities and is also active with the Houston Society of Association Executives.

Ms Reinheardt attributes this success to "a great team that works well together in the Sales and Catering Departments with a powerful operations crew to back us up".