All Hands on Deck
It takes a village to host the perfect event, and you deserve to know the people who will make it happen like clockwork.
Our principles. Our leaders. Our friends. These are the people who chart Classics’ vision and hold the company to the highest possible standard.
Harriet Dopkin, Owner / Chief Inspiration Officer
Cooking since she was eight years old, Harriet has had a life full of culinary adventure. After pursuing a degree in the Classics at St. Johns, she went on to study the culinary arts in both the United States and Japan. Backed by an ever-expanding library of cookbooks, great food reads, travels and collaborations with culinary friends, Harriet loves to introduce new flavors, cooking techniques and producers to Classic’s kitchen. She enjoys gardening, experimenting with different heirloom vegetables and sharing them with family and friends.
Favorite food: Anything made with love (and truffles).
Surprising fact: Has discovered that pickle ball is almost as much fun as tennis.
Christopher Meaker, President / CEO
Since he was young, watching his mother and grandmother cook their favorite Polish recipes for family celebrations, Chris had known the food and hospitality business was where he wanted to be. He loves the process of planning an event, from the listening to the inspiring to being there to watch the smiles.
Beverage of choice: Tim Horton’s Dark Roast
Surprising fact: Canadian born, Texas Raised.
Larry Frank, Partner / Executive Vice President Business Development
From a summer spent in Ocean City, MD at the Carousel Hotel in 1977, Larry hasn’t stopped working in the catering and restaurant business. His experience has provided a knack for planning and executing the logistics and off-premise catering as well as a high level of service and creating an exemplary experience for guests.
Favorite quote: “If you make someone laugh every day, if you learn something every day, if you teach something every day and if you thank someone every day… then you will have a great day.” – adapted from my father, Stanley Frank.
Favorite food: Pickles
Ronnie Ching, Executive Vice President / Operations
Born and raised in Baltimore, Ronnie began his hospitality journey as a prep cook at the renowned Pimlico Hotel. Ronnie worked his way to become one of the area’s finest chefs – and the executive chef at Classic for almost three decades! After a brief departure, Ronnie returned to Classic as our Vice President Operations for seven years, overseeing the day to day operations of the company.
Through his experiences in all areas of the hospitality industry, Ronnie is now Classic’s Executive Vice President / Operations where he supports the CEO and the entire Classic Team.
Favorite food: anything Italian
Surprising fact: he’s superstitious
Our Account Executives have feet on the ground and phones in their hands at all times, as they handle every detail that goes into organizing and executing hundreds of events a year.
Katelyn West, Classic To Go Manager
Katelyn knew from an early age that she wanted to be involved in the hospitality industry. She started out around 8 or 9 and turning her dining room into a restaurant, making a menu (hot dog, cheese sandwich or spaghetti-o’s) and sending her older brother in as the server to take her parents’ orders. She takes care of her clients at Classic as well as her restaurant guests, taking care of all of their Classic To Go catering needs.
Favorite food: Grilled Cheese!
What would someone be surprised to know about you? I love all types of crafts and I’ve ran a successful online Etsy shop for the last 8 years.
I am overly confident in myself when it comes to crafting and anything using my hands.
Ellen Brook, Classic To Go
When she was a little girl on trips to NYC with her mother, Ellen would walk through the Plaza Hotel and Waldorf Astoria in awe, leading her to want to work in a restaurant or hotel. She loves helping perfect menus for events and has become a friendly face (or voice on the phone) to our Classic To Go clients.
What is your favorite food? Fresh Eastern Peaches (Only Eastern, never from California)
What is your beverage of choice? My homemade Sangria
Kelly Girard
Kelly strives to deliver a party that exceeds every wish, and treasures her relationships with her clients. A long history in hospitality has given her experience with all types of events from plane charters to galas.
Favorite food: Kit Kat
Beverage of choice: h2o
Bobby Pressman
For over two decades, clients have been praising Bobby’s results-oriented focus as well as attention to detail, infinite patience and responsiveness. He credits the amazing and talented support team at The Classic Catering People. All we know is that when his clients say things like “Thanks for a phenomenal job” and “He took a ton of stress off my shoulders,” we all look good.
Lynn Piette
As our resident wedding specialist, Lynn prides herself on listening skills and special rapport with brides. While planning her own daughter’s wedding was her most memorable Classic event, Lynn treats all of her clients like family. Which explains why her corporate and wedding clients alike use words like “amazing” and “incredible” to describe her.
Beverage of choice: A really good margarita or red wine.
Favorite quote: “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” -Princess Diana
Jenny Gaintner, Account Executive
Learning to mix a martini at a young age and having a love for cooking and hosting made the service industry a natural place for Jenny to land for her career. She loves to see an event through from the initial concept to its completion leading to lasting relationships with clients and vendors. To Jenny, hospitality means providing an experience that becomes a memory to make someone smile.
Favorite Food: I LOVE pretzels, I even have one tattooed on my arm
Favorite quote: Life is Hard by the Yard by the Inch it’s a Cinch (not sure who said it originally but my father used to say it to me all the time)
Mark Eisenhardt, Account Executive
Mark fell in love with weddings while attending a culinary course in high school. After high school, he dreamed of being a chef but during his time at Johnson and Wales University,he realized he was more interested in perfecting events. Now, 17 years later, his love for this industry is evident in everything from designing to coordinating.
What is your favorite food? My mom’s Chicken Divan.
Favorite quote? “Positive thoughts equal positive outcomes.”
Gail Kaplan, Business Development Leader
Gail was born into the business. Her father owned Nate & Leon’s on North Ave. and she went there until she was 8 years old, playing behind the deli counter. Her father then bought The Pimlico Hotel where she started working when she was 11 & the rest is history! Gail is a people-pleaser and her adrenaline starts flowing at every job, welcoming the guests and providing services to them to help make their experience perfect.
Favorite food? Sirloin steak, medium rare & a baked potato
Beverage of choice? Vodka martini, no vermouth
Eileen Miles, Sales & Marketing Coordinator
As part of the Classic team, Eileen loves working with professionals that truly care what they do. She’s grateful for the business connections that she’s made that will last a lifetime. Eileen genuinely cares about the people she encounters and following through with promises and exceeding clients’ expectations.
What is your favorite food? Lambchops w/ mint and M& M’s (preferably not together)
What would someone be surprised to know about you? I wanted to be a Gym Teacher but my Dad said to go into the business school at American University where I was the First woman to be accepted in the school of Business
While our events and culinary team are client-facing, what you don’t see are all the amazingly organized and talented teams who help make every event happen behind the scenes — from accounting to marketing.
Michael Cole, Controller
Since he was in high school, Michael knew he wanted to be in accounting because he appreciated the idea of providing meaningful and accurate information that can be used to help the business succeed. And he does! We also know that he uses his ac-counting skills while counting strokes on the golf course.
Favorite food: Macaroni & Cheese
Favorite quote: If you give me 4 hours to chop down a tree, I will spend 3 hours sharpening my ax – Abraham Lincoln
Juliet Diaz, Director of People and Culture
Juliet Diaz learned that people were the driving force to a company’s success at a young age as an advocate for her parents. She loves People & Culture because she likes being a balance for the business and the employee, dabbling in the grey to drive results and get people within the organization to lead change. She enjoys implementing hospitality within the workspace, making everyone feel at home and providing a memorable experience from beginning to end.
A surprising fact: I love motorcycles, driving fast and free
Beverage of choice: Coca Cola
Eric Blass, Director of Purchasing
Eric has been working in the restaurant and hospitality industry since he was 14 doing everything from dishwashing to bussing tables, to opening and operating restaurant kitchens and food trucks. He’s passionate about food and wants to be a part of creating meals that people will remember for years to come.
Favorite food:
Any sort of stuffed and wrapped food. Everything from Agnolotti, Empanadas, Soup Dumplings to Lumpia.
Favorite Quote:
“Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats” – Voltaire
Both purists and professionals, our talented team of chefs bring an eclectic, worldly taste straight to thousands of tables in Maryland, Virginia, DC, and beyond.
In Loving Memory, Jerome Dorsch, Executive Chef
Chef Jerome started cooking at a very young age and hasn’t stopped. He spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his German grandmother and his little brother picking up different techniques and developing his own taste. He brings plenty of experience and flavor from his past positions from different restaurants throughout Baltimore & DC.
Interesting fact: Huge sports card collector and I collect both sports and horror movie memorabilia/autographs with my wife
Favorite food: Any kind of street food or a good Authentic Italian cold cut