Today, we’d like to introduce you to Marisa Roberts.
Hi Marisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I attended culinary school at Johnson County Community College and was on track to become a chef with fine dining in mind. I knew I wanted a family, and working in a restaurant didn’t feel like the right fit.
My husband and I built a house on a 10-acre property and decided to put a commercial kitchen on the lower level. Slowly, I built the business up, eventually purchased land, and built The Venue at Willow Creek, which led to adding a commercial kitchen with offices and a tasting room adjacent to the venue.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is any business a “smooth road?” I have had plenty of obstacles! Covid was a huge obstacle to overcome.
We did it and are proud to be thriving. I also had an employee embezzle a large sum of money. That was devastating. This isn’t something that we talk about much, but it is a cautionary tale for business owners everywhere. Moving on and learning to trust again was probably the hardest thing to overcome.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a full-service catering company and event venue. At Olive Events + Catering, we specialize in creative American Cuisine, impeccable service, and innovative event concepts.
The Venue at Willow Creek is on ten beautiful acres with lush gardens and a large patio for weddings and social and corporate events. We include our wonderful event coordinators to ensure the success of each event, from the early planning stages to execution.
I am most proud of the team at both companies and their dedication to perfection. We don’t want to be the biggest caterer in Kansas City, but we strive to be the best. We want to set the trends and really “wow” our clientele.
The best compliment we get at weddings is when guests tell us this is the best food they have ever had at a wedding. What sets us apart from others, is our team, They go above and beyond with service, hospitality, creativity and food innovation. This makes me so proud!
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I think people would be surprised to know that I write custom menus for about 95% of our events. This keeps the menus creative, on budget, and appropriate for each venue in which we work.
We are able to discuss with our clients what is important to them and really create a menu they will love and represent them. All of our food is prepared from fresh, seasonal items, so when guests have dietary restrictions, favorite meals, or even adventurous tastes, we can accommodate them easily.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oliveeventscatering.com and https://www.willowcreekkc.com/
- Instagram: @oliveevents and @willowcreekkc
- Facebook: @oliveevents and @VenueatWillowCreek
- LinkedIn: Olive Events and Catering
- Twitter: @oliveevents
