Savannah
Event Team

George Hawkins
Host
Lives in
- SAVANNAH
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

DeDwana Henry
Host
Lives in
- Charlotte
Motto
- 08051975
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Program Manager (DEB Head Leader for Savannah, Raleigh; Group Leader for Charlotte)

Phillip Turner
Host
Lives in
- Upper Darby
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Stephanie Turner
Host
Lives in
- Upper Darby
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Ebony Grey
Group Leader
Lives in
- Brookeville
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Event Planner

Jannett Isaacs
Group Leader
Lives in
- Kennesaw
Motto
- Love Live Laugh
Hobbies
- Music
Profession
- Making the world a better place to be!

Necol Ronda
Group Leader
Lives in
- Guyton
Motto
- Life's short, eat the dessert!
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Actress

Taqwaa Saleem
Group Leader
Lives in
- Pooler
Motto
- Polish the Details of Your Experiences
Hobbies
- Travel, Cooking, Art Collecting
Profession
- English Professor; Event Planner; Leadership & Etiquette Coach

Malinda Scott Hodge
Group Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
- Live to Love & Love to Live
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- URBAN PRINCESS & REAL DOWN TO MARS CHICK

Aja Snowden
Group Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
- 08/06/80
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Program Coordinator

Hope Taylor
Group Leader
Lives in
- Snellville
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- National Account Manager

Vanessa Wallace-Lonon
Group Leader
Lives in
- eden
Motto
- I am the master of my fate; I am the Captain of my soul.
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Director of Underrepresented in Medicine - Mercer University School of Medicine - Savannah Campus

Kimone Anderson
Table Leader
Lives in
- Richmond Hill
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Leslie Cato
Table Leader
Lives in
- Bloomingdale
Motto
- Live Life Daily
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Commercial Lending - BankSouth

Kasi Crawford
Table Leader
Lives in
- Fort Lauderdale
Motto
- Smile
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Property Manager

Tonya Crawford
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Diane DeVore
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Latrisha Dukes
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Instructional Coach

Utesa Escudero
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Analyst

Belinda Green
Table Leader
Lives in
-
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Reading
Profession
- Retired

Shenequa Gresham
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Kashawn Littlejohn
Table Leader
Lives in
- Waycross
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Shawn Martin
Table Leader
Lives in
- Columbia
Motto
- Prepared for the worst, but still praying for the best
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Project Management/Controls

Sonya Merritt
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
- Always choose KINDNESS!
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
- Recruitment

E. Jennifer Morrow
Table Leader
Lives in
- Bluffton
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Shalonda Mullgrav
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
- Work hard…play harder!
Hobbies
- Crafting, travel, Zumba
Profession
- Higher Education Administration

Pamela Rountree
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
- Prioritize YOU!
Hobbies
- Design
Profession
- Administrative Assistant

Jazz Silie
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-

Eric Teel
Table Leader
Lives in
- Clementon
Motto
- Friendship is Essential to the Soul as Preserverence is to Success
Hobbies
- Eating
Profession
- Soldier of The New Power Generation

Chloresse Timmons
Table Leader
Lives in
- Townsend
Motto
- Be the change you want to see.
Hobbies
- Dancing
Profession
- Medical Administration

La Saundra Wade
Table Leader
Lives in
- Port Wentworth
Motto
- Let your FAITH be bigger than your fear!
Hobbies
- Baking
Profession
- Educator

Crystal Wiggins
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
- “KEEP THE FAITH AND STAY ENCOURAGED”
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
- LONGSHOREWOMEN

Angel Williams
Table Leader
Lives in
- Savannah
Motto
- 07231978
Hobbies
- Reading
Profession
- Logistics
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.