Koren Draper
Executive Chef & Owner
With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Koren's passion for cooking has taken her all over the world to study different cuisines in Mexico, Italy, Costa Rica, Jamaica and regional America. From sourcing the freshest, organic and local ingredients, to creating unique and flavorful dishes, she is committed to providing clients with the best possible experience. From corporate catering, cooking classes, to private chef dinner experiences, Chef Koren tailors catering to specific needs and preferences—for any budget or tastes, including special diets such as halal, kosher-style, keto, low-carb, low-sugar, nitrate-free and more. What sets her apart from other catering companies? A passion and dedication to serving quality, fresh food that does not jeopardize your health, and a commitment to meeting customers and employees where they are at.
TJ Vecere
Chef & Kitchen Manager
TJ is well versed in the kitchen with a decade of experience including roles as an owner/operator of a food truck for a few years, a lead cook, a kitchen production manager, and a cold kitchen manager previously in his past. He even cooked for the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, earning himself a super bowl ring. TJ thinks the company culture is great, saying, "It’s a very no nonsense, get the job done type of operation and environment while also feeling like a relaxed family. I appreciate Koren the most. She’s patient, understanding, willing to work with outside schedules and trusts and appreciates my hard work." Since he achieved his goal of owning his own food truck, he now strives to start his own family.
Jabri Draper
Catering Chef & Produce Manager
Jabri grew up in King of Prussia, PA, is a graduate of Upper Merion High School and has been working with his "Aunt Kay" for years as a side job. He recently decided to come aboard at Koren’s Kitchen full-time to help grow the family business. “Food has always been a passion of mine, and when you grow up working around food with family it just becomes a normal thing, so why not do it professionally,” explains Jabri. “I enjoy making delicious food, but the most rewarding part is when clients also love it, and say I did a great job,” he adds. In his free time, he loves competitive gaming, kayaking, fishing, grilling with friends or just “soaking up the sunlight."
Dave Rogers
Chef
Dave is the steady hand behind the scenes at Koren’s Kitchen, bringing both structure and a sense of calm to the team. With more than ten years experience, he’s mastered the art of turning complex techniques into dishes that are as flavorful as they are visually stunning. In the kitchen at Koren’s, Dave keeps everything running like clockwork -- communicating clearly, supporting his team, and staying cool under pressure. He’s also a familiar face at onsite catering events, where guests often ask for him by name.
Alex Panichi
Catering Events & Expediting
Alex grew up in King of Prussia and loves to play golf and videogames. Being very competitive, he enjoys most games and activities. He chose this career path because he loves to cook and create art on a plate. He appreciates the uplifting company culture, where workers are determined to complete their tasks. But what does he like the most about working at Koren's Kitchen? Chef Koren's encouragement to the chefs to be confident in the food they make."Don't second guess yourself" is a signature phrase in the kitchen.
Alayna Lloyd
Executive Assistant
Alayna grew up in Brookhaven, PA, where she spends her free time spending time with loved ones and doing arts & crafts. She has a B.A. in Psychology and is currently working towards her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling. With her busy schedule, working part time at the kitchen has been ideal due to Chef Koren's amazing leadership and organization. Alayna has learned so much about the food/catering industry as well as the administrative components that will be essential in her future career. Alayna says the comradery is the best part about working at Koren's Kitchen, and she loves how everyone plays an important role that contributes to the greater whole of the company.
Leigh Ann Keithley
Catering Sales & Event Planner
Hailing from Berwyn, PA, Leigh calls herself “a local, through and through.” And the food business is in her blood, as she says. Her uncle, Frank Palumbo, owned numerous South Philadelphia landmarks: Palumbo’s Restaurant, The Nostalgia Room, The CR Club and The Click. At a very young age, she would go with her grandmother (Mom-Mom) to the restaurants and “help” her in the reservations office. “From then on, I was hooked,” says Leigh. What does she appreciate most about working with Koren’s Kitchen? In one word: Koren! “She took a huge leap in opening her own catering company… With her go-getter attitude, motivation, drive, and positive outlook, there is no doubt in my mind, she will absolutely THRIVE!
Emma Warrington
Catering Sales & Event Planning
Emma grew up in Bristol, PA, but moved around a lot, also living in New Jersey, Colorado, and Japan. She has worked in the catering and events industry for 5+ years. working her way up from being a banquet server and bartender to being a manager and event coordinator. Emma values client interactions, as she loves being able to talk to people about the special events they are planning, and help bring their vision to life! Outside of work, she really enjoy being outside exploring nature, baking bread, reading, and spending time with family. She became interested in a career in events when working at a conference center at a ski resort in Colorado. She loved the behind the scenes of putting an event together, watching it all come to life and making sure everything went smoothly. Her favorite movie? Shrek 2 of course!
Nicole Braun
Social Media & Marketing
Jasmine Duffie
Catering Team Member
Vivi Gonzalez
Catering Team Member
Maren DeStefano
Catering Team Member
Angelina Gonzalez
Catering Team Member
Angelina grew up in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and her upbringing has shaped her into someone who values both personal growth and meaningful connections. She spends a lot of time deepening her faith, which plays an important role in who she is and how she approaches life. While she truly loves spending time with friends and family, she also values her alone time—giving her a space to reflect, learn more about herself, and grow as an individual. She is currently working toward returning to school to pursue criminal justice, a goal she is very motivated about. At work, she genuinely appreciates the company culture; everyone brings great energy and personality, and even during high-pressure moments in the kitchen, they support one another and keep things positive and fun. Learning about different cultures through the foods that are prepared every day is something she truly looks forward to—it’s so intriguing to see how so many things can be similar at their core, yet expressed in ways that are completely different.
Lindy
Catering Team Member