Welcome to the REG Associate Spotlight, where we take you behind the scenes with team members who help shape the heart of REG every day. In this ongoing series, “A Day in the Life, with an REG Associate,” we sit down with associates across departments to explore what their roles really look like—from the first email of the day to the final wrap-up. It’s a chance to get to know the people behind the titles, understand the impact of their work, and inspire others to grow into these roles in the future.
Name: Jennifer Fischer
Title: Catering Sales & Event Planning Manager
REG Department: Rich’s Catering & Special Events
Years With the Company: 9 years
Walk-up Song: “Sandstorm” ~ Darude
Ever wonder what it’s like to plan an event from concept to execution? Jennifer Fischer, Catering Sales & Event Planning Manager for Rich’s Catering & Special Events, gives REG an inside look at the meticulous planning required to deliver a truly Rich Experience. Behind the perceived glamor of hosting and attending gala-like events and weddings, is a rigorous schedule of vendors, venues, timelines and teams requiring precise coordination.
As the leader for offsite and drop-off catering, Jennifer is constantly navigating new venues and solving issues as they arise. To be successful, she said patience is critical.
“A lot can go wrong the day of an event, and never letting our clients or couples know something is wrong is truly remarkable,” explained Jennifer. “Remaining calm and problem solving has become a strong quality of mine.”
She also noted that the job requires a willingness to learn and evolve alongside a rapidly changing industry.
“There is always learning and growing, always new industry standards, and everyone always wants their event to outshine any others,” reinforced Jennifer. “Staying on top of trends and always be willing to learn is really important.”
Being adaptable and innovative in the event planning space is only possible when a team embraces the challenge together, and Rich’s Catering & Special Events nurtures an environment of collaboration and creativity.
“There is always someone to support an idea, back you up and offer assistance,” Jennifer said. “Our ideas are always welcome, new ideas encouraged, and we all work together to create and bring to life new ideas.”
Detailed planning and execution are critical to the success of every occasion. Event days typically begin at Rich’s WHQ where Jennifer ensures her team is ready, loaded and prepared to transport all the necessary food, equipment and supplies to the event location. Upon arrival, she thoroughly inspects the venue to make sure it is ready for her team to begin set-up.
“I make sure that everyone knows and respects the location and we align our vision with the client’s vision for a perfect event,” explained Jennifer. “Our job is to make it as easy for the client or couple and ensure a seamless event with no worries.”
Like the lead character in one of her favorite movies, The Wedding Planner, Jennifer often runs the wedding ceremony and timeline, ensuring every detail comes to life. This is one of the most rewarding parts of her job.
“Each event is different, and each person I get to work with is just as special,” said Jennifer. “I get to be a part of a couple’s most special and happiest day, and you really can’t beat that!”
In 2025, Jennifer lead her team in hosting the first two weddings at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Upon reflection, it was a milestone event for REG and AKG, one that stands out as a very memorable achievement in her career.
“There were months of planning, details and a lot of in-depth teamwork to flawlessly execute these receptions.”
Check out the rest of REG’s Q&A session with Jennifer:
What led you to pursue this position—was it a planned path or a surprising turn?
Going to college, I knew I always had a love for events. I moved to North Carolina and landed my first job as an assistant to the Director of Catering for a Country Club and knew it was what I wanted to do.
What’s the most challenging aspect of your role, and how do you tackle it?
Ensuring the vision is executed just as if it were my own event. We strive to always provide five-star service, and no matter what the complexity of each event brings, we always want everyone leaving feeling that they received the best food and service in WNY.
How do you collaborate with other teams or departments at REG?
We’ve done events at Canalside and Outer Harbor during the summer months. Also, partnering with The Travel Team and local hotels to support their catering needs. Wedding cakes and desserts from Frost Artisan Bakery are included in our wedding packages and catering menus.
What do you want people to know about your role, or you think people are not aware of…what would surprise them?
The amount of preparation and planning that goes into each event; including the follow up after events!
What impact do you hope your work has on others?
I love getting follow up thank you notes or reviews from clients. We receive a lot of our clients from word of mouth, and that is one of the biggest compliments to have someone call and say our services were recommended for their wedding day. We love getting to celebrate all the milestones, the big ones and the little.
If you could describe your job in three words, what would they be?
Organized. Adaptable. Sales.
If you could rename your job title to something more fun, what would it be?
Celebrations Manager
Assuming you know a bit about REG and the other entities of our collection of businesses (baseball, golf, dining/catering, travel, logistics, etc), if you could work in one other area of Rich Entertainment Group, … OR If you could swap jobs with anyone at REG for a day, what / who would it be and why?
For a short period of time, I thought being a travel agent would be fun, so working alongside The Travel Team and getting the chance to experience/travel somewhere warm is always welcomed!
Inspired to Learn More?
Every REG associate has a story worth sharing—and a role worth aspiring to. If this spotlight sparked your interest or helped you see a new path forward, we encourage you to reach out, ask questions, and explore opportunities within REG. Stay tuned for more profiles in the series, and maybe one day, we’ll be spotlighting your day in the life.