Bonnie Peck

Relationship Manager, Venue Concierge

Bonnie calls her innate desire to please people a spiritual gift, something she discovered working as a bartender and part-time server while studying criminal justice at Schoolcraft College.

Twenty-some years ago, she followed her instincts and built her career in hospitality, starting shortly after graduation at The Ritz-Carlton where she mastered her customer service and relationship-building skills in a variety of roles from banquet server to beverage manager.

At the urging of a colleague, Bonnie moved into sales, working for the area’s top wine distributor as a pace-setting district manager whose team supported the top 200 restaurants in Southeast Michigan including Detroit's renowned Opus One. When Opus One’s owner, local restaurateur Jim Kokas, approached Bonnie to direct sales and operations at a new event venue, she jumped at the opportunity, quickly growing its catering sales to $3.5 million annually.

After a nine-year run, another key contact in her network helped her land a plum job aboard Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters. When the leadership team of IOYC’s parent company asked her to help launch an off-premise catering brand she accepted the challenge and effortlessly ramped up the business with a roster of clients and premier venues like West Bloomfield-based Planterra.

On the Forte Belanger team, Bonnie taps her customer service expertise to develop relationships with key vendors and new properties, adding to the lengthy roster of event sites where Forte Belanger is welcomed to cater. And, she also pens policies for different departments throughout the organization so its team members can truly focus on delivering remarkable events.

Other restaurants I've worked in

Back in the day, I wrote all the menus at Opus One.

Best dining experience ever

I’ll never forget dining with friends at Charlie Trotter in Chicago...a life-sized Winnie the Pooh was my stand-in date (I was single). I dragged him into the restaurant and no one from the kitchen could keep a straight face during our entire meal. It was great!

Known for

Being loyal. I also have the gift of gab, and for some reason, people stick with me.

Take on life

Live life to the fullest and respect others.