Our Team
Michael
Roberts
The journey started over 30 years ago in his parent’s restaurant. That experience was the beginning of what has become his lifelong passion, the hospitality industry. Along the way he has worked as a Cook, Manager, Director, Managing Partner, Owner and Senior Executive in both corporate and privately held organizations.
Those ventures included award-winning operations in casual and fine dining restaurants, catering, events, and large-scale festivals, including Lollapalooza, The Rocket Mortgage Classic, LIV Golf, and the Michigan Central Station Grand Reopening .
Michael is a strong believer in servant leadership and TEAM; leading by the mantra that you can create excellence, deliver on the promise every time
Passionate People separate the ordinary from the extraordinary.
Michael is a supporter of several charitable organizations in SE Michigan serving on Boards at the University of Michigan including CS Mott, Congenital Heart Center and Caden's Full Throttle.
Neal Green
Neal has worked in the food industry for over 30 years. He began his career as a teenager working in grocery stores before moving on to his catering career in the mid-1990’s. In 2001 Neal, along with his wife Susan, founded All Occasion Catering LLC in Knoxville, TN.
Neal’s specialty is in high volume events and production. He works at finding the solution for making large scale events happen with the goal of providing guests with a tremendous experience.
Neal’s passion is to design, set up and run commissaries that operate efficiently and expertly whether they are brick-and-mortar, in a field or on a golf course. During his career Neal has been the lead for numerous events that have served well in excess of 7000 guests per day. Neal is a member of the LCA, ICA, and numerous civic and charitable organizations.
David Sandler
With over 35 years of industry experience, David has played a key role in the innovation, growth and development of organizations big and small. Primary focus is culinary, design/layout, operations, productivity, logistics and execution.
Recipient of several distinguished industry awards including the lifetime achievement award by National Association for Catering and Events(NACE) and International Live Events Association(ILEA). Through trust, integrity, honest relationships build the basis for increased employee engagement which facilitates change and sustainable grouth throughout organizations.
Richard Nix
Richard Nix was not only raised in St. Louis, but raised in catering. His Father, Richard Nix, Sr., started the company in 1966, with his wife, Anita. The second generation joined the family business in 1988 and Nix officially took over from his Father in 1992. He’s been growing the company ever since.
Over the years, under Nix’s leadership and progressive-thinking, Butler’s Pantry has evolved into more than a catering company – hospitality group is a more appropriate label. With over 40 full-time employees, nearly 200 part-timers, 5 brands, 4 exclusive venues, and 40+ preferred venues, Butler’s Pantry has become the leader in catering, dining & entertaining in St. Louis.
Butler’s Pantry has been at the helm of many significant events over the years: the 1984 World Series party under the Arch, the 1999 visit of Pope John Paul II, the 2008 BMW Golf Championship, the U.S. Senior Open, the Mayor’s Ball (catered by Butler’s Pantry for more than a decade), the re-opening of the iconic Gateway Arch and the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, to name a few. In fact, after 30+ years of catering for the iconic Great Forest Park Balloon Race, Nix is now a partner in this St. Louis 47-year family tradition.
A vital ingredient of the company culture at Butler’s Pantry and a passion for Nix personally, is giving back to the community. Nix has spent 10 years on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Development Board and several years on the Board of Directors for the Mercantile Library. Currently he serves on the Boards of COCA, Boys & Girls Club, Royal Bank and The Muny. Additionally, he gives countless hours and donations to so many other deserving organizations.
Jeff Ware
Jeff Ware has always been fascinated by large events; the thrill of watching 1,000 plates being plated and served in 15 minutes hooked him at an early age. Gifted with a natural business sense, perseverance and a wicked sense of humor, Jeff brings a truly unique perspective and energy to Catering by Michaels as their Director of Operations. Not only has Jeff excelled on the operations side of the business, but he has led waste reduction efforts company wide and implemented recycling and composting both at the Catering By Michaels commissary and in the field at all of their events.
In addition to his work at Catering by Michaels, Jeff also spends a lot of his time consulting in the areas of technology and large event execution across the nation. Jeff has consulted in a leadership role for headliner events such as Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, as well as private events including the Subaru National Business Conference and the Kia Cash Bash. He is an integral part of the leadership team and is steadily determined to execute flawless events and create trends, rather than just follow them.
Michael McConnell
Mike has spent much of his life in the event industry and at the young age of 29, is the President of AVL-Creative. AVL is one of the premiere audio-visual companies in the nation specializing in the creation and production of some of the very best virtual and hybrid events.
Mike and his team, from their brand-new state of the art studio Bldg22, have produced events that range from small company gatherings to interactive broadcast productions from multiple locations throughout the world with tens of thousands of individuals viewing them simultaneously.
He is widely regarded as an expert in the field of broadcast events and is a much sought-after consultant. Mikes mantra is “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life”. Mike and his wife Heather reside in Southeastern Michigan.
