We’re introducing you to our passionate team of experts. Today’s featured Deli crew member is our Catering Event Planner, Donna Wilkin!
Meet Donna
Donna grew up on a farm in Hartland, Michigan and found her way to the Ann Arbor area for college at Eastern Michigan University. Donna “enjoyed the vibe” at EMU and although she started her career as a graphic designer, she ultimately ended up with a long career in hospitality.
Donna at the Deli
Donna joined the team of event planners in Zingerman’s Catering & Events in 2024, but she was already plenty familiar with us. Before coming to work at Zingerman’s, she had a 26 year career as an event planner for the Congenital Heart Center at the University of Michigan CS Mott Children’s Hospital – and used Zingerman’s catering all the time! One of her favorite food-related memories is about us! She once mentioned to someone in sales that she wasn’t a huge fan of a salad her coworkers loved, but there was another one she did like. On every future catering order, her favorite salad was always added to the order just for her. That kind of personal attention to guests is one of the many things Donna loves about the Deli.
As a catering event planner, Donna works directly with guests to coordinate events and make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Donna helps guests with just about everything — floor plans, scheduling the timing of each aspect of your event, planning a memorable menu, working out seating charts, you name it. She coordinates staffing needs and any service equipment rentals, and even sends follow-up letters and thank you’s to the guests after the event. If you’re stressed out about planning an event and you just want to be able to relax and enjoy yourself instead of fretting, you need a Donna in your life!
Four Fun Facts
1. Her favorite thing to tell guests is that the Men’s and Women’s signs for the Greyline restrooms are original to the building and were in the Greyhound bus station!
2. Donna just rescued a dog from HVHS and named her Hazel Mae.
3. Donna is a practicing Witch!
4. If Donna had a sandwich named after her, it would be Manchester cheese and fig jam on grilled sourdough. Yum!