Meet the Crystal Plaza Group Team
From our family to yours…
Leadership and passion roll down from the top, and there’s no one more passionate about what he does than our owner, Allan. For over 50 years, he’s taken a personal interest in clients and recognized the importance of making memories, and has built long-lasting relationships with our community and beyond in the process. Now the patriarch of the company, Allan worked side-by-side with his father for many years and continues to foster a “family affair.” Hiring only the best in the industry, his upper-management team alone has over 200 years of combined hospitality experience.
Hospitality is in Hunter’s DNA. Prior to joining the family business as Managing Partner, he experienced almost every aspect of the industry, from hotels and restaurants to nightclubs and music festivals. During his time at TAO Group in New York City he specialized in operations, private events, and business development. He has created an outstanding network of lifestyle professionals around the globe to bring you the finest of what the hospitality world has to offer. Hunter still lives in New York City and continues to work in partnership with some of the largest event brands to curate their event experiences with Crystal Plaza Group's flare. Hunter attended the University of Arizona and holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Culinary Management from the Institute of Culinary Education.
After graduating from Hobart College where he played football for the Statesmen and earned degrees in Media and Economics in 2014, Max immediately joined the family team. As one of Crystal Plaza Group’s thought-leaders, in his role as Director of Sales, he enjoys working closely with clients to make their wedding and event dreams come true, and has an infectious passion for food and high standards of presentation. Max also leads the marketing and social teams that are constantly interacting with guests. Look for Max to play a key role in your event from start to finish, and be the perfect point of contact for your event experience at Crystal Plaza.
One of Ronni’s earliest childhood memories is helping in the coat check during her father’s events. Her dedication to the family business has continued to this day. She is known for taking time to go over details of catering and beyond with her clients and helping them to achieve their perfect event, stress-free. Ronni was responsible for creating one of the company’s first "theme" parties (a Yankee theme), an offering that is enormously popular today. Ronni’s business acumen stems from her time at New York University’s Stern School of Business where she received a double major in Marketing and Management. She also has taken culinary courses at The New York Restaurant School and enjoys being involved in her community and local charities.
Chef Paul is the mastermind behind Crystal Plaza Group’s custom culinary creations. Since 2004, Paul has brought guests’ visions to life with creativity and flexibility. Paul is a unique multitasker, managing to lead teams in both the Crystal Plaza's Highview kitchen and Alpine Kosher kitchens simultaneously, while still providing the highest level of quality. Prior to joining the team, Paul worked at various hotels, restaurants and catering companies. He calls Culinary Institute of America his alma mater, and holds a degree in Culinary Arts.
Ryan was born and raised in Livingston, NJ. He attended Purdue University for Pre-Medical studies and worked full time at Crystal Plaza Group over the summers and while on time off from school beginning in 2013. After rising through the ranks as a server, bridal attendant, and assistant manager Ryan made a life-changing decision to pivot away from the medical career he was pursuing to join the CPG team full time. His love for the magnificent Crystal Plaza venue, as well as the finesse of the Alpine Kosher brand, and dedication to detail has made the transition seamless.
Mikheil attended the University of Georgia for a Masters in Ecology, and worked as both a soccer coach and a youth affairs coordinator, before officially landing in a hospitality role back in 2009, and never looked back. As our in-house problem solver, a.k.a. Operations Manager, he works hard to make our clients’ dreams come true and everything run smoothly. Mikheil, along with the other operation managers, works closely to train and manage our front of house employees, to ensure six-star service to guests at Crystal Plaza. Mikheil is also fluent in Russian.
Iris received her Undergraduate Degree at Boston University and went on to receive her MBA in Finance and International Business from Fordham University in Manhattan. Iris entered the event industry in 2011 and became an event designer and producer, which was her true passion. She began to design and produce all kinds of events, from mitzvahs, weddings, and corporate affairs, to sweet 16’s and social celebrations. In 2021, Iris joined Crystal Plaza Group as an operations and design manager, and was quickly embraced by existing and new clients alike. Iris is also fluent in Hebrew.
Rovin has been a valued member of the Crystal Plaza team since 2008. Originally a Lawyer in his home country of Guatemala, he moved to the US as an adult. After working in several industries, he found a home with Crystal Plaza Group. He worked his way up from within as a server first, and then spending time in every area of Crystal Plaza Group's chain of command before being named Operations Manager in 2019. Rovin is also fluent in Spanish.
Talmia grew up in the event industry, with her family background in events, culinary, and hospitality. Her parents started their own flower shop from the ground up. Talmia attended Fairleigh Dickinson University: College at Florham, where she held leadership positions in many clubs and organizations on campus. She graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies from the Silberman College of Business. A natural creative, she returned to her alma mater for continuing studies in Fine Arts and Graphic Design, which translates naturally in her role as Office Administrator today. Originally, Talmia joined Crystal Plaza Group in 2017, starting as Greeter/Receptionist and Coat Check Attendant. Talmia rose to Office Administrator in 2019, where she plays a key role in coordinating day-to-day operations. Talmia is known for being thorough, courteous, and calm under the pressures of a fast paced, high-energy industry.
Estivalys was born in the Dominican Republic, where she studied Hotel Administration during her time at University. She moved to the United States and was hired by Crystal Plaza Group in 2007 as a server, a role which she thrived in for many years, but, Estivalys was always destined for more. She always had a creative eye, and was quickly singled out by management to be trained to help design and put out the cocktail hour stations. She continued her hospitality training, on the job, while maintaining a "Crystal Heart" - a passion for all things Crystal Plaza Group. Estivalys was promoted to Captain in 2020 and has since played an important role in training the staff at Crystal Plaza. Estivalys is also fluent in Spanish.