The team at Milestone is proud of the overwhelming number of 5-star reviews that have been published by clients who have expressed how the Milestone approach and process made all of the difference in the success of their event.
President
Marshall Bauer brings to his role as President of Milestone Events Group a highly successful, 30-year career in sales and marketing. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Babson College and an Executive MBA from Southern Methodist University, Marshall has a track record of successes at companies including General Dynamics Corporation, ROLM Corporation, MFS RealCom, and GE Capital Rescom.
After years of traveling as many as 40 weeks a year, Marshall and his wife Leslie decided to explore a lifestyle change that would enable him to be home more regularly. The goal was to bring his management skills, technology expertise and marketing sophistication to a new arena that ultimately was in in Northern California’s wine country.
Marshall purchased Wine Country Party & Events, established in 1976, in July of 2003. During the next decade Marshall helped build the business into the largest event rental business in the North Bay and in July of 2013, ten years to the day after it was purchased, the company was bought by a private equity group.
The concept for Milestone Events Group came out of the knowledge gleaned over the years from working within and for wineries as a member of their event services support network. Marshall believed there was an opportunity to help the wineries better support the events portion of their business and to provide a better level of service to clients wishing to host their events at a winery. Milestone Events Group was incorporated and by March 2014 our team began operation with its first winery client. Marshall lives in Healdsburg with his wife, Leslie and a large golden retriever. Their son lives in southern CA while attending UCLA. They enjoy skiing, shooting, golfing and hiking.
Creative Coordinator, Venue Design
Following graduation from Stanford University, Leslie spent her early career in technology sales and sales management before embarking, with her husband Marshall, on a career in the hospitality services industry in 2003. For over a decade Leslie enjoyed her role as co-owner and Design Director for the largest rental company in the North Bay. Her team was responsible for introducing a catalog of unique “Wine Country” specific looks and products that became the benchmark for excellence in this area.
Leslie’s role at Milestone utilizes her creative talents, as she draws on the knowledge she gained in her previous role designing company and client spaces and showrooms.
When a new venue becomes a part of the Milestone collection, a fresh set of design-focused eyes can make all of the difference to enhance the property both for wine club events as well as Milestone events. Leslie’s experience ensures the Milestone clients’ experience exceeds their expectations.
Director of Operations
Leslie Fravel was first exposed to the hospitality industry at a young age, working as a hostess on the weekends at her parent’s restaurant in Virginia. Leslie moved to the Santa Rosa area to attend college and began working at a local catering company, where she soon knew she had discovered her passion.
For the next twelve years, Leslie worked with a premier catering company in sales and event production overseeing 600 plus events ranging from intimate dinners, fundraisers, celebrity galas, to weddings.
To further her career in hospitality, Leslie joined a family-owned winery as the Director of Hospitality where she was brought on to develop their events program and food and wine experience. During her three years at the winery, Leslie developed one of the most successful and imitated events programs in the area.
In March 2013, Leslie was recruited to join the team at Milestone Events Group. Bringing motivation with experienced leadership, event production, and venue management to Milestone, Leslie thrives on the development of the diverse and dynamic properties in the Milestone portfolio and in our team.
In the summer months, you’ll find Leslie playing on the Mudhens, a local softball team, or on weekends, cheering on her kid’s sports teams. Date nights with her husband and spending time with her family are Leslie’s favorite pastimes.
CFO
Chris is a career entrepreneur with experience owning and participating in a variety of businesses. These companies have all focused on the delivery of high quality services in one form or another. Satisfied clients, positive reviews, new client referrals and seeing career growth in team members all bring him a sense of accomplishment. Chris has both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Engineering from the University of Florida.
He and his wife live in Florida, with their faithful dog companions, and spend their time golfing, boating and traveling.
Venue Selection Manager
Amanda began her event coordination career over 15 years ago when she was thrown into planning several weddings in one year for friends and family. The experience was surprisingly enjoyable, so she chose to enhance her Marketing & Interior Design backgrounds with a certification in Event Planning. She immediately started her own Wedding Coordination company and built a strong and steady brand in Wine Country. While coordinating at beautiful venues across the county, Amanda fell in love with the Milestone staff and the values instilled among our team and the associated properties. It seemed like a perfect fit to partner with the MEG team in early 2018.
When out of the office, Amanda spends endless time in the kitchen cooking, laughing and entertaining with her three kids and great friends. If she can squeeze in a day out on the links once a week, she’s a happy girl.
Site Host Manager
Stacey started planning events and choosing the perfect event sites while planning her Southern California High School’s Prom. After graduating from Vassar College, she moved on to the corporate world of large client meetings, software user’s meetings, trade shows and non-profit events.
She learned early that much of an event’s success depends upon the venue and the team who understands all its nuances to make it perfect. Her time as a client choosing event sites has been an asset in helping Milestone clients find the venue that’s the right fit for the occasion. All events are special and Stacey enjoys working with clients to make their vision come true.
Administrative Coordinator
Marie has been in a customer service-related business for the past 30 years. Her business experience includes working for an insurance company, owning a couple of businesses, one of which was a floral/gift shop, and she followed that up with 20 years as a Notary Public. With a background as diverse as this, Marie brings a special set of talents to the Milestone team (including complimentary Notary services for our clients if needed). As a believer in supporting her community, Marie has been involved in Jaycees and Kiwanis, including holding board positions and managing projects.
Marie grew up in a military family and traveled throughout the United States. She landed in Sonoma County in 2000 and is firmly rooted here now. She is married to an electrician and has a daughter who graduated from University of Arizona and was part of the Alpha Phi Sorority.
Fun Fact – Marie has always had a love of animals and a bit of a competitive spirit. In her youth she competed in Hunter Jumper Equestrian competitions and currently she competes with her Doberman in Obedience Trials. If you have questions about dogs or flowers she is happy to chat about her two favorite things.
Site Coordinator
Samantha’s passion for weddings began after her sister became engaged, when she found herself carefully watching the wedding planner from the sidelines. It was then that she knew pursuing a career in events would suit her well.
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Samantha’s love and knowledge of the area are brought forward in her client’s events. She graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in Business Management and Hospitality and brings a sense of leadership and attention to detail to every event.
Samantha joins the Milestone team with a background in wine, event planning, and floral design.
When Samantha is not handling wedding details, she can be found channeling her creativity into Pin-worthy craft projects or strolling through the farmers market with her famil,
Site Coordinator
Dayna was born and raised in beautiful Sonoma County. She graduated from Sonoma State University in 2015, and quickly returned to school to take hospitality classes, where she discovered her love for the events industry. With this new found passion, she worked as the event coordinator at the local fairgrounds where she planned many large public events and small private events for the community.
She wanted to work more one on one with clients, so when she discovered Milestone, it was a no brainer!
In her free time, Dayna loves going to Giants games, country concerts, and playing with her dogs.
Since the arrival of the global pandemic, our team members have been in close contact with all of our clients whose weddings were, are, or may be affected in the next number of months – postponing, rescheduling, and providing a virtual shoulder to cry on, as needed.
Although the new reality keeps us sheltered at home and prevents on-site visits for couples who are just starting their venue search process, many of our previously booked clients actually selected their sites without seeing the property in person!
Milestone has had “virtual tools” in place for quite some time to help with all of the destination couples who want their weddings in wine country but were too busy, or too far away to visit the sites. The power of technology is awesome, and it makes virtually booking your venue and planning your wedding from the comfort of your couch
possible!
Here are some ways you can remotely explore our network of venues, create a budget, and get personal help from our wine country team of experts, all online.