Biography
Katherine Hilboldt Farrell
Katherine Hilboldt Farrell, President and Owner of Katherine's Catering has enjoyed the catering business for over 25 years. She has a passion for what she does; whether it is cooking dinner for 1000 guests or planning a gala party, Katherine has her hands on the pulse of the business, and loves every minute of it. She and Chef Todd Stapnowski have worked together for the past 5 years, and have built a repertoire of menu items that is superb.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor's west side, her company specializes in full event production, offering complete catering services for both corporate and social occasions. At Katherine's, the term 'teamwork' really means something. Under Katherine's continued leadership and vision for excellence, her talented chefs, event planners and professional service staff have produced over 50,000 events since 1985.
Education
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Katherine truly enjoys the greater Ann Arbor Area. Trained at La Varenne Cooking School in Paris, Katherine received her Grand Diploma, and has been a mentor for many in the professional world of catering.
Community
She has served on numerous community boards, including the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, The University Musical Society and the Women's City Club. She is a graduate of the chamber's outstanding Leadership Program, and was awarded the Ann Arbor Achiever's Recognition award for her business accomplishments.
Recognition and Achievements
Katherine also served four years as the regional president for the Great Lakes Chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES). In 1995, she won the first place Gala Award in Orlando, Florida for producing the Best event on a shoestring budget. In 1997 she was awarded the first place GALA AWARD in Las Vegas, Nevada for creating Best plated food presentation at a corporate event.
She has taught cooking classes, been featured in countless magazines and newspaper articles about catering, as well as participated in numerous community organization events. In September 2000, Katherine was nominated for and won Caterer of the Year by a vote of her peers at Catering Magazine, a national trade magazine located in Phoenix, Arizona. In March of 2000, Katherine was nominated as one of the Top 10 Business Women in Michigan.
Katherine is married to Damian Farrell, an internationally recognized architect. They have three children, ages 11, 17 and 19. When asked how she maintains balance in her life, she responds, "My professional endeavors are extensions of my inner passions. I love my work because it connects so much of what is important in life; family, friends and fun!"