At WCI Communities, we are all about offering a great lifestyle to those at each of our WCI communities. With thousands of Residents and Members, it's no wonder we need help organizing great events and numerous activities. Today we're spotlighting our busy Director of Food & Beverage at the very popular Naples, Florida community, Tiburón. Here's what a day in her shoes looks like. Meet our very own, Jessica Lewis!
• What do you love most about your job? There is something new going on every day—every event is different. We hold many different types of events here, including Member dinner dances, cocktail parties and dinners for local businesses, rehearsal dinners and weddings. It is special to be a part of planning a party celebrating a milestone event for a Member or Guest, whether it is their wedding, birthday or anniversary.
• How does the Club decide which events and activities to add? Cindy Andrade, our Member Services Director, and I spend much of the summer evaluating past events and coming up with new ideas for next season. In addition, we listen to Member suggestions for new events that they would like to have at the Club. One event by Members’ request that was a very successful and fun was our Name that Tune event. Members played in teams and competed with each other to see who know the most songs and artists. We included a buffet dinner with the event and everyone had a great time.
• What is the most popular event and/or activity at Tiburón? Our most popular Member event last season was our Night with the Chef, an event that we held one night per month from January- April. Our Chef, Daniel Scinto, creates a different seven-course tasting menu each month based around a theme, such as French cuisine, and I pair wines from the same region with each course. At these events, Chef Dan speaks about every course and I speak about the wine pairings. It is a fun, informative night for the “foodie” Members.
• What interesting things have been done at the Club for a wedding? We have hosted all types of weddings, from brunch and lunch weddings to heavy hors d’oeuvres receptions to formal plated dinners. I am very open to allowing brides to execute their vision—if we are able to accommodate their requests for set up, the way the room will be decorated, etc. we always will. One idea that I loved was a display of place cards where the place cards were individually attached to golf tees and then “teed up” in wooden boxes filled with grass.
• What is the main thing that brides or businesses love about Tiburón and the reason they hold their events there? Our ceremony site is on our back lawn, overlooking the beautiful golf course. Our dining room is an intimate space meant for groups of around 100 guests and features floor-to-ceiling windows—the natural light is very appealing because many event venues have no windows. The covered patio adjacent to the dining room is absolutely perfect for a cocktail hour and has outstanding views of the golf course. The flow of the event, from the wedding ceremony, to cocktail hour and then dinner is a seamless transition from place to place for the guests. In addition, our culinary and service teams are outstanding—we constantly receive compliments on our food and service. I am very hands-on throughout the planning process and of course on the day of the event, which helps set brides at ease and allows them to enjoy their day without worrying about details.
• What are some of the fun events you've had over the last year? We held several dinners for corporate groups this year where we incorporated a four-hole putting course with glow-in-the-dark balls into their cocktail hour. The guests loved having an activity with a little friendly competition and the golf department did a fantastic job designing a really creative and fun event. A terrific Member event was our Alley Shakedown, which was held outside in Shark Alley. We had a steel drum band and the weather was gorgeous—it was one of the best events of the season.
• Any sneak peek into some great events and/or activities coming up in the summer? We have a couple of Summer Shakedown events this summer, which are great, casual events with a buffet dinner and live music. For these events, we feature a $10 bottomless glass of house wine, which is one of the best deals in town. These summertime events are open to Members as well as the public. For next season, we are planning to have a Members' fashion show luncheon and a country-western night with square dancing. While we have not finalized our calendar yet, we have many ideas for new & fun events for our members.
How are you enjoying the Naples lifestyle?