Ashley joined the Italo-Canadian Club of Kingston as a recent graduate of the Public Relations and Events Management program back in 2019. Prior to events, Ashley worked as a social media coordinator at Signal Brewing Company in Belleville. Ashley also has an Advanced Diploma in Journalism and outside of the Club, continues to freelance for Kingston Life Magazine. She is also the founder of a not-for-profit of her own, MRKH Canada, where she plans events and advocates for people born with MRKH Syndrome, like herself. As if that isn't enough, she also keeps busy with her side hustle business, Ashley Taylor Media, where she offers up her skills in photography, videography and web design. 

The Italo-Canadian Club of Kingston is happy to welcome Laura as the new front of house Events Manager. Laura is ready to bring her expertise in customer service, staff management and small business operations to this amazing community hub and stunning event space. Her career has taken her from customer service in retail and fitness, to running her own home childcare, to food service, and finally, in staff management. Laura is a natural leader and highly driven, and is excited to bring her energy, creativity, and experience to our local Italo-Canadian community.

A native of Kingston, Chris has returned after having spent the last 15 years of his career in Toronto, graduating from the Culinary Management Program at George Brown College in 2008. He began his career with leading hospitality group Oliver & Bonacini at The Toronto Board of Trade. As his young career began to grow, he soon joined the opening team at Malaparte located in the TIFF Bell Lightbox where he developed and refined his culinary techniques. After spending two years at Malaparte, Chris joined the team at Arcadian Court as a Sous Chef at one of the largest event venues in Toronto, hosting corporate and social events. In moving up the ladder, he received nominations for the 30 Under 30 recognition program and several promotions later, Chris accepted the position of Chef de Cuisine. In 2019, he rejoined the team at Malaparte in the Chef role, pushing all he had learned and developed in the large-scale environment into refined techniques and an elevated food experience. With the ever-changing pandemic, Chris saw an opportunity to bring all he has learned back to his hometown and has now joined us here at the Italo-Canadian Club. Chris will be relieving our volunteers of preparing the weekly takeout – they certainly deserve a break after all of their hard work – and taking on all responsibilities in the kitchen for both takeout and events.