Catering Sales + Event Producer
Caitlin Kafka
cater
About
My Story
I grew up in a small town in upstate NY. After graduating college, I moved out west to Las Vegas, NV. I couldn’t imagine a bigger contrast. I loved being out of my comfort zone and in a completely new environment.
I began my career in promotional marketing and experiential events as an independent contractor, taking any local job I could get. Within a year, I landed my first gig as an event manager for Taco Bell’s marketing tour highlighting their new Doritos Locos Taco. I traveled cross-country while promoting their newest product launch at baseball games, college campuses, and concerts nationwide. I was hooked.
I continued as an independent contractor, traveling across the US, executing small and large-scale consumer-facing events while representing a variety of companies such as Target, Coca-Cola, and Blue Buffalo. Pretty soon I began getting involved in not just the execution but the production and planning as well. I quickly fell in love with the event industry. Every step from the organization and logistical planning, to seeing a blank canvas transformed into something completely different, and then the joy and excitement on the faces of everyone attending.
After seven years, traveling for the majority of the time, and much to my parent’s pleasure – I moved back to the east coast to settle down and be closer to family. After landing in Richmond, I began working for a small boutique event planning company, focusing on private and philanthropic events. I learned a lot and really found my passion for organizing more personal and creative events. I love meeting new people and creating unique experiences that represent their individual personalities. Seeing people come together, have a great time, and share in a memorable experience while knowing I had a part in making it happen, makes all the hard work worth it.
Outside of work, I love exploring the rich culture of Richmond and experiencing everything the city has to offer. Whether it’s food, music, or art, my Richmond bucket list continues to grow! I also really enjoy camping and hiking nearby, treating myself at independent bookstores, and quiet nights at home with my cat Rocky. My friends make fun of me for this – but I love to put a crackling fireplace video off YouTube on the tv, while I read or puzzle with a glass of wine.