Executive Team - CulinArt Group

Executives

president peter witkowski
Peter Witkowski
President
Ali Bernardi
Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy
Lou Vogt
Vice President, Leisure and Logistics
Harry Williamson, Jr.
Vice President, Senior Dining
Dan McGill
Division President, Delaware Valley-Greater Philadelphia
John Drexel
Regional VP, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast
Jeff Powell
Regional Vice President
Brian Armenio
Regional Vice President, West Coast
Elliott Enyedy
Director, Finance
president peter witkowski
Peter Witkowski
President

 

As the President of CulinArt Group, Peter Witkowski is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s operations. With a passion for culinary excellence and a commitment to providing exceptional dining services, he leads a team of talented professionals in delivering innovative and delicious food to our customers and clients. With extensive experience in culinary and food service management, Witkowski fosters a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring that CulinArt remains at the forefront of the industry.

Prior to joining CulinArt Group, Witkowski served as President of Compass Group’s Global Clients Sector responsible for Financial Services clients, a portfolio consisting of 350 client locations in 14 countries. He also served as an Executive Committee member to the Board of Directors for NANA Development Corporation of Alaska, the Board of Directors for the CoreNet Global Real Estate Organization’s North Carolina Chapter, and as a committee member for the American Heart Association of North Carolina.

With a focus on quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, Witkowski is dedicated to driving the growth and success of CulinArt Group.

He resides in North Carolina with his family where they enjoy golf, tennis, and skiing.

Ali Bernardi
Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy

 

Having joined CulinArt in 1999 in the new business development department, Ali Bernardi subsequently became the company’s first dedicated marketing professional. Her immediate concentration fell to the company’s growing number of recreation and leisure accounts, with the goal of increasing awareness of CulinArt’s collection of catering brands and their portfolio of exclusive special event venues. As her team grew and the company expanded geographically, Bernardi was able to extend her focus to CulinArt’s core business sector (including corporate, higher education and private school dining), as well as to the company’s new Senior Dining Division.

Today, her team of marketing professionals, graphic designers, PR and web coordinators and full-scale in-house print shop, supports all aspects of the company’s brand image, micro-brands, advertising, retail marketing campaigns, and the like. Each and every day, Bernardi is charged with translating the CulinArt Group brand across all areas, departments and segments of the company – into every account and onto every CulinArt team member – while simultaneously communicating and raising awareness of the CulinArt brand within our industry.

Lou Vogt
Vice President, Leisure and Logistics

 

Lou Vogt joined CulinArt in 1998 as a Foodservice Director and was quickly promoted to District Manager in charge of the company’s growing portfolio of educational accounts in Manhattan.

When CulinArt partnered with Westchester County in the spring of 1999 to operate the concession and catering services at Playland Park in Rye, NY, company President Tom Eich drew on Vogt’s enthusiastic determination, as well as his vast experience with concession services, to open the company’s largest recreational venue. Again, Vogt made his mark, setting the stage to produce phenomenal revenues that far surpassed any in Playland Park’s history. When the time came to sign the company’s next account in the leisure market in 2000 (the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk), CulinArt would tap Vogt’s talents yet again. When Philip Stone Caterers merged with CulinArt in 2001, Vogt took on the responsibility of integrating the Philip Stone Division into the company’s existing structure.

Today, Vogt oversees a successful team of general managers and catering directors. His daily supervision of Philip Stone and Regal Caterers has elevated both the eminence and profitability of these two leading catering brands.

Harry Williamson, Jr.
Vice President, Senior Dining

 

Harry Williamson began his career in foodservice in the Williamson family restaurant, banquet and catering businesses. Now, with more than 30 years in healthcare dining services, Williamson brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the senior communities he serves. While he has experience in virtually all settings, his focus today is in continuing care retirement communities, acute/skilled care, and assisted living and specialty care facilities.

Williamson is currently responsible for the oversight and management of the entire Healthcare Division, as well as its growth and development. His current role is the result of a successful track record for developing quality accounts, strong relationships with clients, and marked growth within the Williamson Hospitality Division, particularly in the healthcare segment.

Dan McGill
Division President, Delaware Valley-Greater Philadelphia

 

Dan McGill has been in foodservice management for over 25 years. Upon graduating with a B.S. in Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University, he commenced his management career with Marriott Corporation. McGill later managed a Top Ten account for a global competitor in the Philadelphia area, and then received an MBA from LaSalle University with a specialization in Accounting.

John Drexel
Regional VP, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast

 

John Drexel joined CulinArt in 2004 as Food Service Director and in February 2005 was promoted to District Manager covering Manhattan. In 2007 John assumed a District encompassing New Jersey and Pennsylvania covering business and industry accounts. As CulinArt grew in the Mid Atlantic, so did John’s region; which now includes Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Colorado, overseeing several Fortune 500 accounts and prestigious private schools. In 2014 he relocated to Maryland and continues to grow the business. John became a Vice President with CulinArt in 2017.

John has a Bachelor’s degree from New York Institute of Technology in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. Over his 25 plus year career, he has had extensive experience as a Chef, Purchasing Manager, General Manager and District Manager. His passion for mentoring and diversity is reflected in the team of professionals within his region.

Jeff Powell
Regional Vice President

 

Jeff Powell joined CulinArt in 2000 and brought with him over 15 years of private industry experience as an owner-operator of an independent restaurant and a separate off-premises special event caterer, both of which he created from the ground up. In his over two decades with CulinArt, Powell’s experience in the independent school market and corporate dining services directly contributed to CulinArt’s growth.

His passion for the ever-changing food industry has allowed him to share his firsthand experiences with farm-to-table cuisine and sustainable solutions. He has also worked closely with his clients to launch digital and mobile dining platforms. As a graduate of SUNY Delhi with a degree in Hospitality Management, Jeff’s education, career, experience and keen focus have fostered his growth from foodservice director to district manager to, now, vice president of the largest region within CulinArt. Jeff currently manages $175 million in revenue with clients throughout the northeast, including prestigious independent schools and many Fortune 500 corporations. As an active participant in the business development process, clients can trust that his entrepreneurial experience and essence will ensure that CulinArt’s operational, culinary and resource teams deliver creative, custom and financially-sound dining programs, launched quickly, efficiently and successfully, while featuring the latest in food trends, service excellence and digital experiences.

Brian Armenio
Regional Vice President, West Coast

 

Brian brings over 25 years of hospitality experience to CulinArt. He began his career managing five-star/five-diamond hotels, followed by several high-volume, critically acclaimed fine-dining restaurant groups on the West Coast. Brian transitioned into contract foodservice 10 years ago and worked for several top foodservice companies in an executive capacity before joining CulinArt in 2019. Today, he is focused on client retention, operational success and company growth, and is equally passionate about heightening the guest experience. Brian studied finance and business law at the University of California, Santa Barbara, then worked in the financial services field before pursuing his passion for the hospitality industry.

Elliott Enyedy
Director, Finance

 

Elliott Enyedy joined CulinArt in 2018 and has over 25 years of operational and financial experience.  He graduated from Florida International University in 1992 with a degree in Hospitality Management and began his career with Compass Group.  During his tenure, he has performed several roles including multi-unit Foodservice Director, Financial Analyst and Regional Controller within multiple sectors.  In addition to these roles, he has worked closely with the corporate IT department to improve and develop programs used in the field.

As CulinArt’s Director of Finance, he oversees reporting, budgeting, forecasting, new sales proformas, field and financial team training.

What our clients are saying

“What a wonderful dinner we had tonight for our international families. The food was delicious and well presented as well.”

“Thank you for including me today in the food waste demonstration/[chef competition] and flattering me with the role of “judge.” I will proudly don the [Stop Food Waste Day] apron the next time I plan an “event” in our own kitchen. I think this is a very worthwhile cause and the statistics you read off are staggering. They, alone, can intimidate a home chef, let alone be the “driver’ for a professional one.”

“Thank you and your staff for all the care and thought you give CSW adults and students. You approach events with such care and elegance- I don’t know how you do it! Especially day after day. Please thank all your staff for their wonderful work and kind manner with all of us. Here is to a great year!”

“Many, and I do mean many, thanks for a great Parents Weekend.  I heard from so many happy parents and you all work very hard to make it happen.  In gratitude and kindness…”

“We are so thankful and so impressed by your immediate attention to our power outage. It was such a relief to see all the equipment and workers coming in within a few hours of the outage. Thank you for serving dinner to all [the] students in a very difficult circumstance. Please extend our thanks to your workers who braved cold weather to grill hamburgers and hotdogs.”

“With all the prep work from Winterim ramping up and classes continuing as usual, it's a busy time to be a Forman teacher. Imagine my delight, tired as I was, when I delved into the upscale-restaurant-quality chicken parmesan our dining hall served last night. Forman is all about support, and providing our students with a dinner of that quality is just as important a measure of support as anything that happens in a classroom.”

“I can’t thank your entire team enough for the outstanding service, food, displays, everything!  You are a master at detail, and because of that Adam and I were able to focus on the parents.  I know what a sacrifice pulling off a weekend like this means, we are so appreciative and grateful to you all for your talent and generosity.”

“I ALWAYS feel spoiled by the meal offerings at CSW (The Cambridge School of Weston) and am entirely grateful for it. As I eat today's delicious and lavish lunch (and think about yesterday's as well), I can't tell you how much I feel so well cared for here, both with the food and by the dining hall staff. CSW cares for us in so many ways, both big and small.”

“Thank You! Chef Budd [and team], you overcame a new online ordering system (and hundreds of labels daily!), provided creative and healthy menus, continued to connect with local farmers to incorporate locally sourced ingredients, and worked tirelessly to serve the school community on three campuses.  While it feels like you are all a little like the Wizard of Oz right now, working behind a curtain in a kitchen far away, we sense your smiles and your passion to deliver the best possible service during these trying times. We are all so grateful!”

“I will say that CulinArt has always been a very collaborative partner to T. Rowe Price, listening to our current needs and future goals and suggesting realistic and achievable strategies to meet those goals.  2020 was obviously no exception.  CulinArt also altered other areas of our OCS and pantry programs to create safer environments for all our associates. We can only thank you for your continued flexibility and innovative ideas through these difficult times.”

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