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.
Site Selection Specialist
Jessica has lived in Sonoma County since childhood and loves everything about living in wine country, including the nearby beaches, the dining options and of course the beautiful vineyards!
She entered into the wine industry in 2007 and worked for several years at Jackson Family Wines, overseeing the distribution of nearly 6 million cases a year worldwide. Jessica took a hiatus from working to have her two young children and is excited to now be on the events side of the industry working directly with clients and making their events a success.
In her free time Jessica enjoys spending time exploring nature with her kids, taking fitness classes or enjoying a glass of wine with friends.
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.
Production Manager
Paige was born and raised in the small Northern California town of Mt. Shasta. She graduated from CSU, Chico with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Design with an emphasis in Graphic Design. Her passion for working with clients began with her creative design projects in college. She used her communication skills to work with people to help their creative visions and dreams come to life.
Paige has over seven years of experience in the hospitality industry, working her way up to management positions in front-of-house restaurant services. She discovered her desire to work in the event coordination industry through her experience as a program coordinator managing non-profit recreational events and program operations.
In her free time, Paige loves to travel, spend time making homemade raviolis with family, listen to podcasts, hit all the best sushi spots in town, and explore the outdoors.
Paige has managed/produced more than 30 weddings and events while working with Milestone Events Group.
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.
administrative Manager
Meet Jaimie, a seasoned professional with 23 years in restaurant management. Feeling the winds of change, she recently decided to shake things up. Milestone gave her the chance to continue doing all the things she loves about the restaurant plus a chance to grow while learning a whole new industry.
Three years ago, Jaimie traded the hustle of Los Angeles for the laid-back charm of Sonoma County. Family is everything to her, and she’s got a loving husband and two beautiful daughters to prove it. When she’s not in the office, you’ll find her unwinding in the kitchen. Baking is her therapy, and the sweet aroma of fresh treats is her happy place. Life’s all about finding that perfect recipe, whether it’s in the kitchen or in the balance between work and family. Cheers to new beginnings and savoring life’s sweet moments!
milestone estate kitchen manager
Dan Pineda, a seasoned photographer and mixed media designer, intentionally made the move from the busy streets of Los Angeles to the peaceful surroundings of Sonoma County in 2020. With a solid 17-year background as a marketing director in LA, Dan smoothly transitioned into a successful role as a hospitality and catering director in the scenic landscapes of Sonoma County.
Outside of his photography and business ventures, Dan finds joy in life’s simple pleasures. Whether traveling the world with his wife, navigating the challenges and joys of raising two strong and independent young ladies, or exploring nature on hikes with his Golden Shepherd, Cali, Dan uses visuals to tell stories. His talent for unique perspectives extends to navigating a drone through the skies during his travels. Dan’s passion lies in seamlessly blending photographic artistry, the allure of vintage treasures, and the beauty of the great outdoors. During his downtime, you’ll likely find him fully immersed in the excitement of sports or enjoying a leisurely bike ride.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Dan is recognized for curating a vibrant vintage store—a haven for vinyl record enthusiasts. It’s a place where collectors and aficionados alike can find solace and indulge in their passion for music.
Site Manager/Events Assistant
Meet Jesse Hom-Dawson, the seasoned site manager and intrepid problem solver at MEG. At work, Jesse ensures every detail falls seamlessly into place, transforming wedding dreams into reality.
Beyond the realm of event coordination, Jesse enjoys culinary adventures in the kitchen, crushing the New York Times crossword, and spending lazy Sunday mornings watching Formula One races.
Her home base is a cozy house in West Sonoma County where she lives with her fiancé, two dogs, and a garden that’s mostly just a jungle of unruly tomato plants.
Event Coordinator
Arianna grew up in a small town in the Central Valley and knew
early in her youth that she was anxious to explore what the world had to offer beyond her hometown. As a result, she attended Sonoma State University and completed degrees in chemistry and psychology. During her time at Sonoma State, Arianna realized she had a desire and skill for working with people from all walks of life and helping them accomplish their goals, whatever they may be. Previously,
she worked as a residential counselor connecting clients with community resources, coordinating their care, and providing emotional support whenever needed. She also worked intimately with physicians and cancer patients, aiding in their scheduling of treatments and future doctor appointments and scheduling specialty referrals, lab draws, and imaging studies. From these experiences, Arianna
has attained the tools needed to efficiently handle high-stress situations, relay important time-sensitive information, and easily manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
In her free time, Arianna enjoys skiing during the winter months,
frequent trips to Bodega Bay year-round, taking nature walks/hikes, and trying new cuisines.
Site tour host
Rachel grew up in Carmel Indiana before moving to Los Angeles California in 2005 to attend FIDM, majoring in Beauty Industry Merchandising and Marketing. She then went on to study Makeup Artistry at the Make-up Designory in Burbank and finished her education, earning an Esthetics license at the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology. Rachel has spent over 15 years working with brides, helping them look their best for their big day. It was this experience that inspired her to make a career change to weddings and events. Rachel has an eye for detail and design and brings her aesthetic experience to her hobbies and career. When she’s not giving site tours, she enjoys trying new restaurants, gardening, sewing clothes and decorating her home.”
event coordinator
Marissa has been in the hospitality industry for several years. She has a broad range of experience, including service, bartending, and coordinating. Marissa’s previous company, Becker & The Co., is located in the hub of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. While there, she enjoyed working on several high-profile events, including the Oscars, Paris Hilton’s wedding, and Julie Andrews’ Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony. These experiences have given Marissa a significant events foundation and a proven track record of success, which will be invaluable as part of the Milestone team.
Marissa’s specialty is weddings and birthdays, having
assisted in the coordination and execution of parties ranging from 150-1,000 guests with budgets up to $1M. She is committed to creating unforgettable experiences for her clients. With her keen eye for detail, ability to spot trending designs, and expertise in event planning, Marissa can help to make the perfect day for our Milestone clients.
When she’s not at work, you can find Marissa hiking, biking, and exploring the outdoors with her Border Collie, Zoey!
Event assistant
Brooke comes to Milestone with a love of weddings, mainly fostered by movies and glimpses of the local weddings. She continues her hospitality experience, having previously been a hostess at a local breakfast and lunch restaurant. As a Sonoma County native, having graduated from Cardinal Newman High School, she just completed her second year at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.
She does philanthropic work during the school year including Walks to End Alzheimer’s and fundraising with Alzheimer’s Association. She is a proud Sigma Kappa Active Member under the Kappa Eta chapter at TCU.
In her free time, she enjoys driving to the beach in her Jeep, fondly named Phoebe after a character from Friends, and shopping at Trader Joe’s to create charcuterie boards with her friends.
Event Assistant
Hi, my name is Abby, and I was born and raised in Sonoma County. I am currently studying Kinesiology at California State University San Marcos. I highly enjoy working in event planning and learning so many amazing skills from great mentors. In my free time, I enjoy going on runs and hikes with my dog.