Staff Profiles
Our Caribbean Wedding Planner Staff
When it comes to tying the knot, Marriott’s Certified Wedding Planners are an important part of your special day. Our expert wedding event planners in the Virgin Islands provide complimentary services, handling all of the event details and working closely with you and your wedding planner to ensure the perfect Caribbean wedding.
Leanne LaPlace, Wedding Sales Manager
Originally from South Africa, Leanne decided to stay in St. Thomas after she fell in love with the island during a visit in 1992.
A year later, she joined the Frenchman's Reef Reservations Department, where she worked for the next 11 years. In 2004, she became part of the “Weddings in Paradise” team as Wedding Sales Manager.
Patricia Telemaque, Wedding Sales Manager
Pat graduated from Charlotte Amalie class of 2000 and started her career one year after with Renaissance Grand Beach Resort St. Thomas in September 2001, as a front desk agent, following she left Renaissance as a Front Desk Supervisor in 2005 where she came to Frenchman's Reef as a reservation agent. From there she left Frenchman's Reef in 2005 as a Marriott Rewards Coordinator and then relocated to Orlando, FL working at the MVCI call center. Pat stayed there for a few months then transferred to Residence Inn SeaWorld as a Front Desk Supervisor in March 2006, she continued working there until she had the opportunity to transfer to Grande Lakes (JW and Ritz Carlton) as a Group Housing Coordinator in 2007 where she stayed until she moved back to St. Thomas and came to Frenchman's Reef as a Wholesale/Group Specialist, held the position of Group Housing Coordinator before she moved into her current position as Wedding Sales Manager. She has been with Marriott for 7 years and has a great future with the company.
Laura Jakubisyn, Wedding Event Manager
With a background in sales & marketing and nearly 20 years of experience as an Event Planner, Laura joined the Marriott family in 2005 as an Events Coordinator for Marriott International. Soon after, she was promoted to her current role as Event Manager. At the Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Resort, Laura manages all small groups as well as half of the 400 weddings held annually at the resort.
Santiago Ojeda, Banquet Manager
Santiago started with the company in 2002 as a Banquet Server at Los Sueños Marriott in Costa Rica. In 2005, only three years after being promoted to Purchasing Supervisor, Mr. Ojeda moved to St. Thomas and became Assistant Restaurant Manager at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Resort. In 2007, Santiago became Banquet Manager for the resort.
April Cormier, Senior Wedding Specialist
April Cormier graduated from Thomas College with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and Economics. After working for 7 years in the financial industry she decided to move to the Caribbean and started working as a wedding planner. Today, four years later, April works at the St. Thomas Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Resort as our Senior Wedding Specialist.
Tammy Teague, Senior Event Manager
Tammy began her career as a telephone operator at the San Francisco Airport Marriott. After working her way through different hotel departments such as Front Desk, Room Service, Catering and Event Management - she ended up working as a Meeting Planner at Marriott Corporate Headquarters. Having been, a meeting planner and a hotel event manager, this 20 year veteran brings valuable insight to our Event Management Team.
Mauricio Salamanca, Executive Chef
Executive Chef Mauricio Salamanca started his career at the Chicago Downtown Marriott, where he worked while attending the Washburne Culinary Institute. Soon after his graduation, Mauricio accepted the position of Banquet Chef at the Marriott in New Orleans. Throughout his career, Chef Salamanca has worked in places like: Houston, El Salvador, Jamaica, Washington DC, Curacao, Rio de Janeiro and Hawaii. In 2004, he scored a perfect 10 on a Chaine des Rotisseurs Gala Dinner at the Curacao Marriott Hotel.
Chef Randolph Nicholas, Executive Sous Chef
In 1974, only seven years after starting his career in St. Croix, a young and eager Randolph Nicholas joined the Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Resort. Better known as Laban, Chef Nicholas worked his way up to become Executive Sous Chef at the property. When it comes to the “flavors” or “taste of the Caribbean”, his knowledge of local cuisine is highly regarded.
Efren Rendon, Assistant Executive Chef
Born in Mexico, Efren began his career at the age of 18, when he was hired as a dishwasher at The Cannery - an up and coming fine dining restaurant located in Newport Beach, California.
After several years of training, Rendon worked his way up to Executive Chef and developed a passion for cooking, still evident today.
With 20 years of culinary and management experience in both fine dining restaurants and resorts, Efren is a wonderful addition to the Frenchman's family.