Meet The Team

Our event stylists bring energy, creativity and guidance to our design studio. Whether you need assistance putting together your order or want to roll up your sleeves and create something over-the-top, our stylists help to curate the details that go into creating truly exceptional tabletops and eventscapes. With a deep knowledge of our inventory, they are available to provide guidance on perfect pairings and unique decor suggestions. Contact the studio to chat with a stylist, or stop by the design studio during the week to say hello and get to work!

 

Carly Lalim

Director of Sales, Napa Corporate Office

Carly is thrilled to take the reins as Theoni's Director of Sales, and brings a wealth of experience in the event and rental worlds to her role. Early in her career, Carly worked for Patina Catering Group and then at La Tavola’s Newport Beach showroom, where she fell in love with the event industry.

With her unmitigated charm, creative brain, and deep passion for nurturing relationships, Carly will inspire Theoni’s growing team to create new relationships, foster long-time industry connections, and elevate what’s possible!

Claire Sanz

Product Development Manager, Napa Corporate Office

As an artist and eternal creative, Claire Sanz has always been drawn to the beauty of design. As the founder of PoppyStone, a floral design house based in Sonoma, Claire became an integral part of the wedding and events industry—gathering years of design experience. In 2016, she made the transition from florist to consultant at PoppyStone and joined our team at Theoni.

Claire’s expertise is focused on design—where the details like vessels, votives, dinnerware, and colors all come together to create something truly memorable. With a knowledge of all the local venues and a deep understanding of the range of options that work in each setting, Claire brings her expertise to our design department, where she helps to curate all the details that go into creating truly exceptional tabletops and eventscapes.

Ashley Williams

National Linen Sales Director, Napa Corporate Office

As the National Linen Sales Director at Theoni, I specialize in all things linens and napkins, helping clients design beautiful, memorable tablescapes. I’m passionate about the art of pairing the perfect linen with your china, and you’d be amazed at how many stunning combinations we can create! A monochromatic table setting is one of my favorites—it’s a timeless look that will always be in style.

When I’m not curating the ideal linen for your event, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family, embracing nature and creating lasting memories.

Joel Fox

Lead Designer and Sales Representative, Beverly Hills

We’re excited to welcome Joel back to Theoni as our Lead Designer and Sales Representative for our new Beverly Hills Showroom, opening in March 2025. Having previously worked with us, Joel returns with a fresh perspective and a wealth of creativity, expertise, and passion.

Originally from Michigan, Joel’s floral design journey began in Portland, where he worked at a 24-hour flower shop, eventually running it for over 8 years. His career has since flourished, designing florals for high-end events worldwide. With experience in both floral design and event coordination, Joel has collaborated with top professionals to create unforgettable experiences for clients across the globe.

Joel enjoys writing, fishing, traveling, and spending time with his family in Michigan. Now back in Southern California, he’s eager to rejoin Theoni, bringing his expertise to our growing team and helping clients create extraordinary events.

Ariel McNeely

Sales Executive, Beverly Hills

Ariel is drawn to minimalist tablescapes with intentional textures—soft linens, sculptural glassware, and matte ceramics—anchored by a bold statement piece like the Richard Ginori Oriente Italiano. Her favorite palette right now mixes mossy greens, like our Mable Pine Green Velvet chair, with warm neutrals for a look that’s earthy, refined, and calming.

She finds creative inspiration in the work of Kelly Wearstler, admiring her ability to blend raw materials with high design. Outside of the showroom, Ariel loves hosting dinner parties, traveling, and practicing breathwork and meditation. Her perfect Sunday includes a farmers market stroll, brunch, a beach walk, and a cozy dinner with family—always starting with a strong morning coffee.

Lori Chavez

Linen Salesperson, Beverly Hills

Lori Chavez brings bold energy and a love for vibrant design to Theoni’s Beverly Hills showroom. She’s especially inspired by the current trend of rich, colorful palettes replacing traditional tones, and she’s all about adding a little glam—like a touch of sequin linen—to elevate any table setting.

Her showroom favorite? The Selene Grass Green Couch. Her linen pick? The Summer Love Black—classic with a statement twist. Lori believes no event is complete without beautiful linens, and she’s here to help clients find just the right fit.

Outside the showroom, you’ll find her brunching with family, hitting a flea market, relaxing poolside, or enjoying live music. And yes, she’ll always say yes to crispy chicken tacos from Pepe’s SoCal.

Kellie Kewin

Senior Sales Executive, Beverly Hills

Kellie brings a refined, design-forward approach to her role in our Beverly Hills showroom, helping clients create elevated and memorable table settings.

She is especially inspired by the artistry of Richard Ginori, with each new piece influencing her creative perspective. Her favorite color pairing—pink and brown—reflects her love for unexpected yet sophisticated combinations.

Outside of work, Kellie enjoys fashion, interior design, reading, and painting, as well as hosting friends and spending time with her loved ones and her two cats, Benson and Birdie.

Cristal Gonzalez

Showroom Coordinator, Beverly Hills

Meet Cristal, our talented Showroom Coordinator in the Beverly Hills showroom! Growing up on a Napa ranch, Cristal brings a unique blend of nature and design to the team. She’s currently loving the trend of long tables with drapey linens for vineyard dinners—an idea that’s always been on her inspo board.

Her favorite showroom piece is the Paloma Black Chair, a bold, statement-making design. For any event, candles are a must—tea lights, tapers, or pillars all create the perfect ambiance.

Outside of work, Cristal is grateful for her two sisters, who are her role models and best friends. Her perfect Sunday? Sipping coffee or matcha, enjoying a breakfast burrito, and diving into a good book on the beach.

Mackenzie Bouse

Senior Sales Executive, Napa Corporate Office

Mackenzie Bouse brings a lifelong passion for hospitality, design, and creating memorable guest experiences to her role as Senior Sales Representative in our Napa showroom. With a background in culinary arts and years spent in the hospitality industry, Mackenzie has a natural eye for thoughtful details that elevate every event.

When she’s not helping clients bring their visions to life, you can find her baking at home, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her husband and baby boy. Her favorite showroom piece is our Nico Glassware Collection—especially the Jade/Aqua Tumbler—for its perfect balance of color, versatility, and personality. A firm believer that every evening event deserves the warm glow of candlelight, Mackenzie loves helping clients create spaces that feel both beautiful and welcoming.

Whether she's curating a tabletop or enjoying brunch with a view on a Sunday afternoon, Mackenzie is inspired by the moments that bring people together.

Beverly Harris

Account Coordinator, Napa Corporate Office/San Francisco

Growing up surrounded by the beauty of the industry, Beverly has built-in passion for event planning and the joy of working behind the scenes to create memorable events. Working for her family’s restaurant, The Fremont Diner, as a hostess and a server for many years, and serving as a part of the Betty Zlatchin Catering team, Beverly has a rich service background.

Beverly joined the team in the summer of 2018, but is no stranger to the company. As founder Betsy Stone’s granddaughter, she has worked alongside the team for every showroom opening, witnessing the collection come together firsthand. From the San Francisco Showroom, Beverly will bring her energy to social media and supporting the sales team.

Hannah Rutter

Sales Representative, San Francisco

Meet Hannah Rutter, who is equal parts design-obsessed and detail-driven. Her favorite rental trend right now is sculptural silver and chrome serveware, and her go-to piece in the showroom is the Juliska Bamboo flatware. She believes an event isn’t complete without elevated table linens and gravitates toward a baby blue and maroon color palette, drawing inspiration from architect Julia Morgan.

Outside of work, Hannah enjoys barre class, Tuesday movies in the city, hiking around San Francisco, and searching for the best cioppino in town. She can’t live without fresh bagels and lox, and her perfect Sunday includes a coffee-fueled walk through Golden Gate Park followed by vintage sourcing at an estate sale.

Emily Edwards

Senior Sales Representative, San Francisco

Emily E joined our San Fransisco team in Fall of 2023 as an Account Coordinator. Her passion for events started at Pikes Place Market in Seattle, where she worked as a florist. Her eye for details and drive to create beauty led her to BHLDN where she channeled her creativity into bridal styling. 

With her diverse events and styling background and her cheerful nature, Emily is the perfect addition to our team. 

Emily’s favorite part about working for Theoni is playing a part in bringing people together to celebrate the important moments in our loved one’s lives.  She enjoys being part of the design process as it celebrates creativity and is all about capturing the beauty and importance of a moment. 

When she’s not working, you can find her reading anything and everything, listening to her ever growing record collection, and enjoying the outdoors.

Alexi Marquina

Senior Sales Representative, Santa Barbara

With an event production background followed by nearly a decade at La Tavola Fine Linen, Alexi joins Theoni with her love of design and client relationships. Coupled with an emphasis on details and fancying clients as friends, Alexi believes event design organically curates a creative path; a path that perfectly unveils an initial vision that ultimately creates an unforgettable atmosphere. Alexi joins our Southern California team from our Santa Barbara studio.

Alejandra Moreno

Napa Corporate Office

Organized and always willing to lend a helping hand to those around her, Alejandra runs Theoni’s accounts receivable and payable department, ensuring smooth and efficient customer service from start to finish. With a background at both La Bella Party Rentals and La Tavola, she brings a wide variety of expertise in the administration of the event industry, including shipping and logistics, accounting, payroll, and order support.

With a genuine love for her team and supporting those around her, Alejandra enjoys the variety of her role, engaging with clients when they have needs or questions, and generally staying busy. She is someone who genuinely loves to work and cares deeply about her job.

Claudia Galaviz

Napa Corporate Office

With twenty-one years of working in the Event Industry, Claudia brings a hard-working, driven, and adaptable work ethic to Theoni Collection. She currently manages our Table Top Operations. Claudia ensures all orders leave our warehouse perfectly fulfilled to our clients requests. Her hard work and dedication assist in curating successful events.

Outside of the working environment, you can find Claudia out on long walks in nature and spending quality time with her family.

Cesar Trujillo

Operations Manager, Napa Corporate Office

Cesar is no stranger to the events world, bringing over 22 years of experience in event rentals to our team. Starting out as a driver, he mastered the specifics of venues across California and created longtime partnerships with clients that still exist today.  As a Dispatcher, he built upon his experience in the field and excelled at the art of routing.  As Theoni’s Operations Manager, Cesar is the mastermind behind the smooth operation of our warehouse. Supervising everything from loading trucks, organizing routes, communicating between internal departments, and managing logistics, there isn’t a detail of our warehouse operations that Cesar isn’t on top of. In his free time, Cesar enjoys having cook-outs with his family and going to Warriors games.

Carlos Cortez-Benavides

Logistics Manager, Napa Corporate Office

Carlos joined our dispatch team in Summer of 2021, building on his previous experience in the Theoni Warehouse. His experience in the events industry began at an early age, helping his family business with party rentals in Mexico. His full circle journey back into event rentals brings him happiness and an appreciation for where he started. Carlos assists with building routes, managing communication with Drivers, and scheduling. In his free time, you can find him enjoying life to the fullest. Some of his favorite activities are ice skating, watching Netflix, and trips to Disneyland!

Jossue Cortez-Benavides

Logistics Manager, Napa Corporate Office

Jossue is a newcomer to the events industry, joining our team in Fall of 2021. With previous experience as a laboratory technician, his attention to detail is unparalleled. Perhaps one of the biggest hearts in our Theoni family, every interaction with him is joyful. His adaptability and strong communication skills make him the perfect liaison between the Sales Team and the Warehouse. Jossue manages the Theoni Dispatch Track system, interdepartmental communication, and logistics troubleshooting.  He finds fulfillment in knowing that his role contributes to the greater success of our team. In his free time, Jossue enjoys gaming. Team based strategy games are his favorite- which is no surprise!

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