Middlesex Community College

Leslie Cregg-Hyder, Owner Planned Perfectly Weddings and Events, MCC Alumni

Leslie Cregg-Hyder has been planning unforgettable weddings & events for over seventeen years. With a passion for providing helpful, professional, and creative event planning, Leslie and Planned Perfectly Weddings & Events have garnered the respect and admiration of the New England Event Industry. Leslie’s career began with non-profit work and charitable events with organizations including the American Red Cross, The ALS Association, and It’s My Heart – Boston.

Leslie carries on her philanthropic mission by working as a Brand Ambassador to Brides Across America, a non-profit organization committed to gifting Military & First Responders with weddings and wedding gowns and is the Event Director for the Hidden Battles Foundation. Leslie uses her expertise to create memorable weddings as well as corporate and non-profit events all over Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and the Lakes Region. She is certified in Event and Trade Show Management and sits on the Advisory Board for the Middlesex Community College. When she is not executing flawless events, she is home in New Hampshire enjoying iced coffee and spending time with her family.

Courtney Kohanski, Director of Sales and Marketing, Meads Bay Hotel Group, MCC Alumni

Courtney graduated from MCC with a Hospitality Management Degree. She completed her internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida in the Disney College Program. There, where she worked at Hollywood Studios in Outdoor Vending. She then transferred to Southern New Hampshire University and completed her degree in Hospitality Management. At Southern New Hampshire University, she served as president of the Hospitality Association and Vice President and treasurer of Eta Sigma Delta, National Honor Society for Hospitality Management. After graduation, Courtney worked for Newport Hotel Group in Hyannis at the Hyannis Harbor Hotel as a Manager In Training in Housekeeping. Courtney then moved back to Dracut and worked at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Tewksbury, MA, as an Operations Manager and was shortly promoted to Director of Sales. Courtney's next role was with Meads Bay Hotel Group as the Director of Sales and Marketing for all of their 8 properties throughout the Cape & Islands.Courtney loves to travel, especially cruises and Disney, and to spend time with family and friends in her spare time.

Jose Lopez, Culinary Director, Stonebridge at Burlington, MCC Alumni

Jose is a graduate of the Culinary Arts Program at MCC, and was named the culinary arts student of the year in his final year at MCC. After graduation he began working at Stonebridge at Burlington, a senior living community. He currently works as the Culinary Director for this community.

Scott Plath, Owner Stones Hospitality Group

Scott, a lifelong student of culinary arts and hospitality, has created, owned, and operated multiple restaurants over the past 30+ years, beginning with the renowned regional destination, Cobblestones of Lowell. Growing up in the diverse environment of New York City, Scott’s passion for the culinary world ignited at age 13 when he took his first restaurant job. His career progressed from dishwasher to bartender, leading him to enroll in the University of Massachusetts Hospitality Management program. After college, Scott moved to Lowell, got married and had three daughters. By the age of 30, he had transformed a historic building into a quality dining destination, sparking Lowell’s ongoing renaissance. Over the years, Scott has remained an active community leader, donating time and money to numerous local causes while serving on multiple boards of directors, with a focus on youth-driven initiatives. Despite his demanding career, Scott remains dedicated to his family, travel, and teaching, guiding and supporting others while fostering a team ethic and a life-guiding mantra of “good people”. In his spare time, Scott is a writer and innovator, continually seeking answers and long-term strategies in the ever-evolving restaurant industry.

Danielle Rico, Event Planner at BeyondTrust, MCC Alumni

Danielle is a seasoned event planner and marketing strategist with over 12 years of experience crafting unforgettable experiences and impactful campaigns. Her career is marked by a diverse portfolio of successful events ranging from large scale corporate gatherings and charity events to intimate private programs. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Danielle excels in transforming visions into reality, ensuring every event she manages is a seamless blend of creativity and strategic planning. Beyond her professional commitments, Danielle is a devoted mother of two wonderful girls, Emma and Payton, partnering on everything with her fiancé Jay. Danielle and her family love to travel to Disney and spend weekends in Vermont and Maine over the summer. In addition to this, Danielle serves as a board member for the Westford Education Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit that gives back to the schools in her community.

Marianela Santana, General Manager Courtyard Hotel, MCC Alumni
With over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Marianela has cultivated a diverse skill set that encompasses hotel operations, sales management, and customer service. Currently serving as the General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Boston Littleton, she has a proven track record of driving hotel growth and enhancing guest satisfaction.Her journey in hospitality began at Gran Meliá Resort and Villas, where she honed her front desk skills. This foundational experience was further developed through various roles, including Front Desk Associate at DoubleTree by Hilton and Customer Service Manager at PPM Food Service. She then transitioned into operational roles, serving as Front Office Supervisor and later as Sales Office Manager at Tru by Hilton Manchester, where she focused on revenue generation and team leadership. Marianella holds an Associate's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality Management from Middlesex Community College and a Certificate in Business Administration in Hospitality Management from Penn Foster Career Online.

Tom Totman, Chief Operating Officer, Webber Restaurant Group

Tom Totman has been in the hospitality business since 1989 after he graduated from Union College with a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Mathematics. His career started at The Border Café in Cambridge where he worked his way up the ladder to become a manager after working several positions as an hourly. After 2 years he decided to move west to San Francisco where he spent 2 years with Chevy’s Mexican Restaurant as both a Front of the House manager and a kitchen manager. It was here that he was first exposed to corporate restaurants and the valuable, detailed training program that laid the groundwork for much of his future success. In 1993 he moved back home and started a long career with Bertucci’s where he worked as a GM in a few of their units before becoming a district manager, covering 7 restaurants. When those 9 years at Bertucci’s eventually ran their course, he worked for Legal Seafoods and McCormick and Schmidt’s before landing his dream job as the GM of The Gibbet Hill Grill and Function facility in Groton, MA. It is there where he partnered with the Webber family to start the Webber Restaurant Group which has now been in existence for 20 years. His position today is as Chief Operating Officer overseeing 4 restaurants and a function business that executes over 500 weddings per year.