It’s been a minute since I have written a blog. We opened back up and the business of being open and operating during COVID-19 took over. That is another blog entirely and I will get to it, but that is not what I want to talk about today. I read yet another fantastic MIBE (Make It Better Everyday) message from my friend and mentor, Anthony Lambatos, from Footers Catering in Denver, Colorado. Seriously – sign up for his weekly MIBE message, his words are gold and always thought-provoking. I read his MIBE message from last week (the inspiration for this post) and knew that I needed to do this same activity with our team. We brought our sales team back into the office this week on an alternating A/B schedule. This is the first time any of them have been at their desks or inside our doors since March 16^th. I have a few tears in my eyes just thinking about the journey we have been on thus far.

Read More…

Catering by Michaels comprises a spectacular team of employees who we love to brag about in our blog. We sat down with Isabella Ospina, Sales Concierge, to learn more about her role and life outside of work.

What did you do before working at Catering by Michaels?

Before I worked here, I was a student at UIC studying business management. I was working in various student employment jobs at the university (data analytics was one role).

I was at UIC for two years, then I took a semester off and transferred to Roosevelt University. Towards the end of that semester, I found work at Catering by Michaels.

Read More…

We love showing off all the wonderful people who work at Catering by Michaels. When we all work as a team, we are all Michaels!

This week, we’re talking to Alex Rufus, our Delivery Manager, who shares some of the details of his role with us… as well as some things he enjoys outside of work.

Q: How long have you been with Catering by Michaels?

A: It’s been 4 years now! I’ve worked for multiple different companies prior to this job but this is the first company I’ve dedicated this much time to. The management here is different than what I’ve been used to — they truly care about employees, even outside of the workplace.

Q: What do you do for Catering by Michaels?

A: I’m one half of the delivery management team. Along with another delivery manager, we run the delivery department.

Q: What brought you to Catering by Michaels?

I’ve worked with food in the past, which is what made me look into Catering by Michaels in the first place. I started here, liked it, and stuck around.

Q: What part of your job makes you proud?

A: The ability (and choice) to provide excellent customer service — I like seeing people in a good mood. It brightens my day! I like being part of making sure everything goes well.

Q: What company values best align with your own?

A: I think the Catering by Michaels value that best speaks to me is that of Pride. In every aspect of my life, I like to be the best I can. I believe that at this company, everyone tries to give their best and I strive to do the same.

Q: For your birthday, what would you have Catering by Michaels deliver to your home?

A: The white cheddar mac and cheese is my favorite thing. But I also love the Chicken Vesuvio. So, I’d pair that with the mac and a salad for the perfect birthday treat!

But my favorite food ever is pizza, hands down.

Read More…

Catering Alchemy

Recipes succeed when perfect ingredients meet perfect skill. Meals achieve memorable status when simple ingredients join to become more than the sum of their parts. We love this catering alchemy: when all the elements of preparing a perfect dish, meal, menu, or event come together magically. And we know this alchemy is only possible when all of us subscribe to this same philosophy.

It is because of this mindset that Catering by Michaels has gained the reputation for being one of the very best catering companies in the Chicagoland area.

We Are All Michaels

Catering by Michaels is more than just a collection of talented people. We are a team. We are a family. It’s what we think about every time someone asked the (obvious) question, ”Who is Michael?” The elegant and fulfilling answer is, “We are all Michaels!”

One of our greatest assets is the camaraderie we all share. For us, it’s about so much more than just the food: it’s about the people behind the food and service.

We are fortunate to have a collection of dedicated people who all bring unique—and integral— skills to work everyday. We succeed as a company because we thrive as individuals. Our unity, our desire to work toward the same goals, our mélange of skills, perspectives, and personalities all combine to make Catering by Michaels flourish.

At Catering by Michaels, you can really taste the difference this combination makes. We owe it to all the “Michaels” who care about the quality and care that goes into every menu item and every event booked.

We are proud of who we are—individually and as a whole—and we want to share this pride with you.

Read More…

Have you met David (“Dave”) Sandler? He insists that he’s a boring guy, but interviewing him led to a lot of interesting industry insights, not to mention some great suggestions regarding proper storage of cheese and how to use different types in the perfect homemade macaroni and cheese dish.

Dave Sandler is the Executive Vice President of Catering by Michaels, and has been involved with the company from a very young age. It’s pretty safe to say that working here is something that will never change!

What did you do before working at Catering by Michaels?
Honestly, I’ve worked here more or less my whole life, originally starting when I was 12. I’ve done other things, like when I went away to college (where I ran a local restaurant and bar program), but all of my jobs have been in this field. For the most part, Catering by Michaels has been my career.

Read More…