Chef Center Stage

Springfield Regional Opera’s annual Chef Center Stage fund-raiser drew roughly 250 people April 26 to Wellington Place in downtown Springfield. Chefs Peter Tinson, Tony Garcia, Tong Trithara, William Mauck, Eric Zackrison, Keith Fuemmeler, Pat Duran and the team of Julia Ferrell and Martin Almaraz auctioned off private dinners; winning bids ranged from $700 to the $3,000 paid for two dinners by Metropolitan Grill’s Duran. The event, which included a silent auction, raised $24,000 for the opera. Springfield Business Journal and KGBX were event sponsors.

Above, KGBX personality Cindy Ripee drums up interest in the skills of Avanzare chef Garcia.

Below, the team at Springfield advertising and marketing agency Kendall International celebrates the evening. Pictured, left to right, are account executive Jessica Idleman, copywriter Craig Wilson, President and Creative Director Adam Walker, account executive Scott Shotts and graphic designer Jason Skinner. Kendall designed event materials and coordinated the publicity campaigns.