Our experienced staff possesses a genuine spirit of service that truly sets our events apart. Through meticulous attention to detail, conscientious service, and a deep desire to please, our planning team and event staff will bring your dreams into reality. Give us a call, send us an email, or connect with us via social media to set up a time to discuss your wedding vision.
Heide Hendrick
General Manager
Heide has been with Abernethy Center since 2013. She believes that to be of service to another is a rare and special gift to give. Having the opportunity to work with a team of people that share in the common goal of providing the best possible service to our clients is an honor. Heide has worked in sales, marketing, and event management for the majority of her career. Recently she worked with Habitat for Humanity to raise home building funds for well deserving families. Heide and her husband live on a small farm in Aurora and have two sons. They enjoy working in the garden, filbert orchard, and in the yard, as well as hiking, biking, and visiting the coast.
Carmen Hooper
Executive Assistant
Carmen has been with Abernethy since 2013. She loves working on the operational side of our team and putting all the pieces together that make our events come to life. She has worked in the service industry since 2010 and for the last three years has filled multiple positions at Abernethy. She is actively pursuing her degree in business and marketing and enjoys spending her free time outdoors, whether it be hiking, camping, or fishing. She also enjoys spending time with friends, family and her beloved husky, Ivan.
Karissa Kysar
Event Specialist
Karissa is a recent college graduate from Washington State University with a degree in Hospitality Business Management. She has always been drawn to events and weddings due to the sheer beauty that she finds in them. She finds it exciting as well as humbling to get to be a part of making the biggest day is someone life as special as can be! In her spare time, she enjoys reading, meeting up with friends, spending time at home with her husband, Trevor, and two lovable beagles. Karissa spends as much as with her family as she can, as family is the most important thing in her life. Trevor and Karissa will be welcoming their first child this October 2016!
Michaela Shumate
Event Specialist
Since Michaela has joined the Abernethy Team, she has found value in connecting with people and hearing their stories. She is passionate about what she does and is grateful to have the opportunity to play a small part in an important chapter in people’s lives. When she’s not at Abernethy, Michaela loves to travel—her goal is to set foot on every continent! So far, she’s explored Germany, parts of Italy and France, Greece, and Malta! She also loves to go running, taking trips to the coast, spending time with her family, and enjoys playing music with friends.
Kassandra Preysz
Event Specialist
Kassandra Preysz has been with Abernethy Center since January 2017. After working in the Wedding Planning and Event industry for over 3 years, Kassandra’s favorite moment is being able to create that special memory for all to enjoy. Kassandra began working in the Event Planning field in 2014 with Petals and Twist where she learned the basics of wedding and event planning as well as floral design. From there, she moved to San Diego where she became an Assistant Wedding Planner for I Do Wedding and Events. With the help and support of their wonderful planners she was able to really fall in love with making any event stress-free, beautiful, relaxing, and fun! She could not be more excited to be working with Abernethy Center and start creating wonderful memories. Kassandra loves cooking, baking, and doing anything that involves being with her friends and family. She especially likes being outdoors; boating, fishing, hiking, and spending a day at the park.
Robert Stuart
Executive Chef
Robert Stuart has been with Abernethy Center since 2004. As our Executive Chef he loves the fact that he is a part of an event that the client will remember for the rest of their lives. Robert grew up in Wisconsin and has been working in the food industry nearly his whole life, starting at his family’s pub in Milwaukee. In 1987 he started working for the Weissgerber Restaurant Group where he trained under Executive Chef John Moosereiner. During his tenure with Weissgerber, he worked as a chef for several of their fine restaurants including the Golden Mast, Seven Seas and Gasthaus. Robert’s extensive culinary experience also includes working as the Sous Chef on The Queen of the West cruise ship and catering for touring musicians with Cellar Door Records. He has cooked for numerous celebrities including the members of REM and Counting Crows, Elton John and Gwen Stefani. In his free time, Robert enjoys golfing and taking his dog, Luna, to the dog park. He loves all things Wisconsin including the Packers, Brewers, Badgers and Cheese!
Barry Losch
Executive Sous Chef
Barry Losch has been with Abernethy Center since 2008. As our Executive Sous Chef it brings Barry happiness to cook amazing food and see the enjoyment people have while eating it. Barry began working in the culinary field in 1984 as a prep cook at the Heathman Hotel where he stayed for 24 years. During his tenure with the Heathman, Barry held numerous positions including the position of Lead Day Chef for 16 years. He worked for two James Beard Chef’s: Greg Higgins and French Master Chef Philipe Boulot. One of his most beloved jobs was making the soups for the hotel where he became known as “Mr. B and his soups”. Barry has worked with and cooked for numerous influential people over his career including Julia Child, Anthony Bourdain, Phil Knight and Jerry Seinfeld. Barry loves the outdoors; his hobbies include golfing, gardening, BBQs, hiking, biking, fishing and hunting and cooking up some gourmet slop for his pet pig Lulu.
Osvaldo Lozano Hernandez
Property Manager
Osvaldo Lozano Hernandez has been with Abernethy Center since 2005. As our Property Manager, Osvaldo enjoys providing all the necessary things to make the events in Abernethy Center as memorable and special as possible, especially for the clients and bride! Osvaldo began his career in Portland at ‘Poncho’s’, known as Portland’s first Mexican restaurant. He worked for Poncho’s from 1998-2003 and was in charge of preparing foods as well as maintenance. Afterwards, he worked at ‘Old Wives Tales’ from 2003-2007. Osvaldo held numerous positions there such as: making salads, pastries, helping the chef prepare the needed food, maintenance, and would also help the general manager with anything that was needed. In 2005 he began at the Abernethy Center as the Assistant Chef and held that position until 2013. In 2014, he became the Property Manager, and to this day he cares for the property and organizes sets for all weddings. He loves to spend his free time with his family going to the park and playing his favorite sports, soccer and basketball. He also enjoys coaching his soccer team and supporting his daughters at their soccer games.