Kaspar Donier
Chef and Owner
A Swiss native, Kaspar Donier began his formal training as a 16-year-old chef apprentice at Zurich’s Hilton Hotel. His culinary intuition and creative genius were rewarded with successive appointments at the Suvretta House in St. Moritz, the five-star Beau Rivage in Lausanne, and a position with Hilton Worldwide as Chef Gardemanger of The Hotel Vancouver where he met his future wife, Nancy.
Kaspar became chef saucier at The Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, where he quickly moved up the ranks to sous chef and then executive sous chef. Eventually, he was offered the position of executive chef of the Four Seasons’ Inn on the Park in Houston.
In Houston, Kaspar supervised the menu planning and food preparation for the Four Seasons Hotel. That's when he and Nancy began fine-tuning a business model for their dream restaurant.
Kaspar and Nancy returned to the Pacific Northwest in 1989 to open a restaurant of their own, featuring Kaspar’s unique culinary signature. In 2005 Kaspar’s Restaurant became Kaspars Catering & Events, offering the same innovative and celebrated food and service that Seattle had come to love.
Nancy Donier
Owner and Everything Else!
Nancy began working in The Hotel Vancouver’s accounting office managing the planning and budgeting of banquets and events when she met Kaspar. She later joined the respected accounting firm KPMG to work with catering businesses and upscale restaurateurs.
After getting married, Nancy embraced adventure and moved to Texas after Kaspar was offered the position of executive chef of the Four Seasons Houston. While there, she earned her accreditation as a certified public accountant. Soon thereafter, she and Kaspar began fine-tuning a business model for their dream restaurant. They returned to the Pacific Northwest to open their restaurant, utilizing Nancy’s organizational expertise.
When not producing memorable events, Nancy loves to spend time with her friends and daughters, Wendy and Liza. She enjoys traveling and staying up-to-date on catering trends for your next special event.
Derek Johnson
Chef de Cuisine
Derek is a Seattle native with a true passion for food. After receiving his Culinary Arts degree from Seattle Culinary Academy, Derek started at Kaspars in 2011 as a Prep Cook. With his talent and leadership, he worked his way up to the Sous Chef position. In 2022, after a brief stint running the kitchen at the Facebook Campus, Derek returned to Kaspars to lead the culinary team as Chef de Cuisine. Outside of work, Derek loves spending time with his wife and his cat, and enjoying his other big passion besides cooking - the Seahawks!
Sam Shapiro
Sous Chef
Sam is an East Coast transplant who has lived in Seattle for eight years. With three decades of experience in the culinary industry with a heavy focus on catering, Sam brings a high level of professionalism and excellence to the kitchen and on-site at events. Sam is excited to be a part of Kaspars, and looks forward to developing the team, creating recipes, giving our clients exceptional service and memorable events. When Sam is not in the kitchen he enjoys live music, spending time outside in nature, baseball, and spending time with his dog.
Shannon McCormick
Director of Events
Shannon McCormick has been inspired by food before she even received her first EZ-Bake Oven. Before moving to Seattle, Shannon served as the General Manager and Senior Event Planner for a catering company in Brooklyn for 7 years where she specialized in customizing menus and events for a wide variety of clientele. Shannon is thrilled to be a part of the Kaspars team, creating memorable events that reflect each client’s vision and personality. Shannon enjoys working in new and unconventional venues and is excited to delve into the exciting new array of event spaces here in the Puget Sound region. Away from work, you will find her out exploring the beautiful parks and playgrounds of the Pacific Northwest with her daughter.
Sara Lucachick
Sales Manager
Sara’s passion for travel, food, and wine has shaped her dynamic career in the event and hospitality industry. After earning her BA in Psychology from the University of Washington, Sara’s curiosity led her to explore the world, immersing herself in diverse culinary experiences along the way. Her dedication to mastering the art of food and wine led her to the Court of Master Sommeliers program, where she honed her expertise in fine dining and wine pairings.
Sara’s professional journey includes working with renowned restaurants in Seattle and Hawaii, designing exceptional events, and curating bespoke menus for various occasions. Today, she applies her skills as sales manager for Kaspars, crafting memorable experiences for clients. Outside of work, Sara enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, paddle boarding, and skiing—seeking new adventures year-round.
Lynne Jaicomo Deal
Events Manager
Lynne has years of experience in catering and special events for a wide variety of clientele. She has built a reputation for outstanding customer service and meticulously executed events. As a founder and former owner of one of Chicago’s leading high-end catering companies, one of her most notable clients includes a former president of the United States! Whether she is designing an intimate donor dinner for 20, a gala fundraising auction for 500, or breakfast for 6,000 corporate employees, Lynne is passionate about working closely with clients to turn their ideas into fabulously successful events. When she's not at work, Lynne loves growing tomatoes and dahlias, cooking for family and friends and trying new restaurants.
Sarah Atterberry
Events Manager
Sarah started in the world of food as a teen at her family’s Catering Company and Restaurant. She quickly immersed herself in the restaurant industry and developed an intense passion for hospitality and culinary arts as she grew her experience and knowledge. Sarah has since furthered her career researching the Pacific Northwest craft cocktail experiences as well as working as a Floor Manager and she is thrilled to be a part of the Kaspars family. When not at work, Sarah can be found hitting the trails with her dog, Zeus, experimenting in the kitchen, or spending time tending to her garden.
Jen Campbell
Event Planner
Jen is from England originally and made the ‘big leap across the pond' in 2022 to join her husband in Seattle (she even flew her dog over!) She joined the Kaspars Family in June 2023. Inspired by planning her own 21st birthday party in 2006, Jen started her career in event planning in 2008. When you meet Jen, a self-confessed foodie, her passion for events and catering is self-evident. She loves nothing more than providing a personable, well-organized and memorable event for her clients, always striving to go above and beyond. Her motto is "there is never a problem, only a solution." Starting her career in London, Jen has worked for some of the most prestigious caterers and venues in the UK and specifically London. Jen has 16 years of experience in catering and event planning and has worked with a varied range of clientele. Her most memorable time was planning events for the London Olympics 2012 and working with Madonna! Outside of work, Jen loves nothing more than spending quality time with her baby boy, husband and fur baby. Growing her own vegetables, paddleboarding and throwing BBQ’s are her biggest hobbies, alongside travelling as much as she can!
Chris Adams
Director of Operations
With nearly 40 years of experience in hospitality, Chris has held leadership positions with Wolfgang Puck, McCormick & Schmick’s, The Cheesecake Factory, Hilton International and Disneyland, Paris. A native of Seattle, Chris holds a BA in Psychology from The Evergreen State College and an MBA from Cornell University. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, live music and attempting to restore a classic British convertible.
Mia Portuese
Operations Manager
Mia grew up in Seattle, not far from Kaspars headquarters in Magnolia, where she first found her passion for hospitality working as an event planner for a local catering company. Mia continued her career in the wine industry in Washington, working for a private wine company and a wine marketing agency, where she handled beverage operations and winery recruitment for Taste Washington. Mia is thrilled to return to her Magnolia roots and be a part of the Kaspars team. When not at work, you can find her cooking for friends & family, gardening in her backyard, and hunting down vintage finds around Seattle.
Margaret Behm
Office Coordinator
Margaret was introduced to the world of catering working as a server for three years when she moved to Seattle in 2016. With a decade-long career as a dance artist and teacher, she loves the excitement and entertainment of events that evoke a similar energy to performing. Her administrative experience comes from years working in dance studio offices and directing dance companies and performances. She is now excited to support the events teams with her administrative skills as Office Coordinator. Outside of Kaspars, Margaret stays involved in the Seattle dance community, and you can find her performing, teaching, taking classes and attending shows. She also loves the beach, drinking wine, and hosting friends!