Read Phillips, Owner
Involved in the food industry for over two decades, Read Phillips is the owner of Beets Hospitality Group, the event management and catering company that operates two successful event properties in Pleasanton, CA – The Palm Event Center in the Vineyard and Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery.
Phillips received a Culinary Arts degree from the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in 1979. Armed with an entrepreneurial spirit after graduation, she established Beets Catering, an outside catering company that serviced all of the Bay Area. Phillips and her culinary team soon had customers flocking, and in 1993, Beets Catering became the exclusive food provider to the Shrine Event Center in Livermore, California. There, Phillips and her staff began coordinating and planning events, in addition to creating opulent culinary fare.
Eleven years later, Phillips jumped at the chance to open the Palm Event Center in the Vineyard as an upscale event venue in Livermore Valley Wine Country with property developer Mike Callahan. Phillips and the event venue flourished, and by 2006 the venue’s demand was so high, Phillips and Callahan partnered a second time to create a sister property, Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery. Fashioned after a Mediterranean villa and adorned in limestone and mahogany, Casa Real sits literally at the gateway to the Livermore Wine Country on the corner of highway 84 and Vineyard Avenue.
In 2009 Phillips and her company rebranded themselves as Beets Hospitality Group to reflect the growth from a small catering company to now a corporation that manages two of the largest and most successful event venues in the East Bay.
A strong supporter of the Tri-Valley region and Livermore Valley Wine Country, Phillips is also a leading voice in the business community. A past board member for the Tri-Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau, as well as the City of Pleasanton Economic Vitality Committee, she now sits on the Livermore Valley Winegrowers board. Phillips is also a member of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, Livermore Chamber of Commerce, and Dublin Chamber of Commerce and is a frequent guest speaker at Catersource conventions.
Melody O’Shea, COO
Melody is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. A seasoned manager with extensive sales and marketing experience, she previously served with U.S. Foods for over 20 years. When not managing the company, Melody can be found at her home in the Livermore hills gardening or bottling O’Shea Corral wine.
Michelle Pangrazio, Director of Marketing & Branding
A graduate from Saint Mary’s College of California and Harvard University, Michelle is in charge of marketing both the Palm and Casa Real. Her areas of specialty include corporate identity, branding, social media and Japanese culture. For all media inquiries, please contact her below.
Alyssia Jones, Event Director (Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery)
An experienced restaurant manager prior to joining Beets Hospitality Group, Alyssia brings to the company a unique perspective on how an event venue should be run. She expects the highest level of commitment from her staff in coordinating and executing events and works with the culinary department to ensure that at all times the cuisine is restaurant-quality.
Monique Bogni, Event Director (Palm Event Center in the Vineyard)
Monique has been involved with the company and hospitality industry in a variety of positions since she was in high school. In working her way through the industry, she brings to her current position a holistic knowledge of how an event should be run and pairs this with her experience of literally planning hundreds of events as an event manager. She is smart, compassionate, and will make certain that every guest is treated with the utmost care.
