Our People

Despite her comfort in the kitchen, Louise was intent on becoming a veterinarian, earning her Animal Science degree from Cal Poly Pomona and working in a veterinary internship program, until her mother devised a plan to redirect her daughter. "My mom really didn't want me to become a vet because she thought I'd be around diseased animals all the time. So, she asked me to research culinary schools for my aunt, who was supposedly planning to move here to become a chef. When I took the tour of the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, I thought it was amazing! The kitchens were beautiful, and the students seemed to be having so much fun. I decided to enroll - and of course, my aunt never came!" she laughs.

"When I came to Montage, I was excited about the prospect of working with Executive Pastry Chef Richard Ruskell, such an incredibly talented pastry chef, but I wasn't sure I could do it. However, Richard gave me a chance, and because of his faith in me, I've never wanted to let him down." That faith culminated in 2005 when Richard asked Louise to be a member of his team at the National Pastry Championship, and her skill with sugar pulling earned the team first place in Sugar Artistry and awakened a love of competing in Louise. "Winning was surreal for me," she remembers. She has since earned second place in the Food Network's Sugar Showdown and third place in the 2007 National Pastry Championship, and for now, Louise continues to develop her sugar artistry.

"At home, I have a library of pastry books, and when I bake, I have my 2-yr-old daughter Natalie helping me by tasting the dough!" Recently, while on maternity leave for the birth of her son Aydn, Louise was reminded about the beauty of being part of the Montage Pastry team. "I had left all of my recipe books in the pastry shop, and one day, someone noticed they were gone. I was heartsick, and then, a few days later, one of our chefs came to my home and, in her hands, were my recipes, beautifully typed and put into new books for me to use when I returned. That was a 'Wow!' I will never forget!"

I quickly decided that I wanted to be at the forefront of this new company and to share in that passion." Julia began her career at Montage within days of her interview, becoming the first administrative assistant in Catering/Conference Services, and imprinting many of the new systems with her trademark enthusiasm.

A native of Orange County, Julia joined Montage with a degree in Business Management from the University of Denver, where she majored in Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management, and where she had also enhanced her hospitality resume by working with major hotel companies including Disney and Marriott, as well as by working in private country clubs. In addition, she had held the position of Conference Services Office Manager at Inverness Hotel & Golf Club, prior to joining the Montage team.

With an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Julia dedicated herself to acquiring a vast array of new skills at Montage. She became one of the resort's first Departmental Trainers, a position she still enjoys, and she later added responsibilities as a teacher and mentor to others through assisting with the "Wow!" class, teaching several systems courses, and becoming an HR screener. Her career continued to accelerate as her personal growth expanded. She was promoted to Sales Coordinator, then to Guest Reception Manager, and, most recently to Residential Manager.

"I've been mentored every step of the way," she smiles. "From learning the art of sales calls, to impacting our guests' stays through our signature arrival process, to building relationships with our residents, I feel as if every opportunity has challenged me to become better at work and better as a person." On any given day, Julia might be found assembling a dinosaur "Wow!" gift for a young guest who was planning a trip to the La Brea Tar Pits or studying for her Introductory Sommelier Exam (which she successfully passed!)

A major component of Julia's personal fulfillment has also been her service as a founding Board Member of Hearts of Montage, the resort's community outreach organization. "Our family culture revolved around giving back," she remembers. "My parents set the example; one of our favorite family activities was going to the Youth Guidance Center at Christmas, and giving out the gifts, with my father dressed up as Santa Claus. I've been so blessed to have a venue for volunteer service at work, but then, I think I receive more than I give."

Lisa grew up in Huntington Beach with her mother and grandparents and took an active interest in the kitchen at a very young age. "It's hard not to, when the topic of conversation always centered around what the next meal of the day was going to be!"

"When my grandmother cooked for us, I could always see the smile, not just on her lips, but in her eyes and heart. It made her feel good to feed us. That's what led me to hospitality. I recognized at an early age that it feels good to feed people." Thus began Lisa's rewarding career in the front of the house, a place where, as she says, "I could work with, and be inspired by, the talent of a kitchen, a place where I could continually learn about food and wine, and a place where the gratitude was evident in the smiling faces of the guests." Lisa joined Montage as a member of Studio's pre-opening team after many years serving restaurant guests at Aqua in the St. Regis, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, and the Claim Jumper.

"Montage is such a wonderful place to explore my passion for taking care of people and for continually learning" she smiles. "We have weekly wine tastings and a team of three sommeliers with a wealth of experience to share with us, and we have a culinary team that is on the forefront of gastronomic trends while still adhering to the fundamentals of seeking local, organic, and sustainable food sources. There is never a day that passes where we are not challenged to perfect some basic knowledge or learn something new!"

"I'm a 'Theme-aholic!'" she laughs. Whether it's organizing an O'Munsey Pub birthday party for her husband Seth or creating an elegant evening at the Chef's Table at Studio, Tiffani is masterful and innovative.

Recently, while planning a dinner at the Chef's Table, she learned that her guests were tequila fans. With the help of one of Studio's bartenders, Tiffani created a personalized tequila menu for the group, including such custom offerings as "Three Amigos," a unique three-shot selection, and she presented the menus to the surprised guests as they arrived for dinner.

"I love making people happy and creating memorable, personal experiences," she smiles. "It's not just a dinner, it's a memory!"

A California native, Tiffani grew up in Modesto and Pacific Grove and graduated from Sonoma State University in business administration with a focus on marketing. An accomplished artist, she also studied photography, painting, and line drawing at the university, all hobbies she continues today.

Tiffani began her career at Montage Laguna Beach in 2004 as a hostess in The Loft and became Assistant Manager of Restaurant Sales nine months later. Her meticulous artistry was so frequently praised by her guests, that Tiffani was promoted to Manager of Restaurant Sales and then to Catering Manager.

Always an enthusiastic learner, Tiffani eagerly absorbed the vast array of food and beverage classes offered at Montage, including cheese, chocolate, and food-wine pairings. She also passed the qualifying exam for the Introductory Course administered by the Court of Master Sommeliers at Montage Laguna Beach. In addition, Tiffani continued her personal growth by becoming a Departmental Trainer, and by completing "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and Leadership I.

"These classes inspired me to look at things differently," she explains. "They brought to the forefront what I inherently knew, but they took me out of my daily routine to look at things with a fresh perspective. I recognized that to be successful at work, I also needed to focus on myself. Hospitality is all about giving of ourselves, and we need to take time to give to ourselves as well. Montage reminds us of this through the way we all are appreciated."

Tim had heard about Montage while he was still a student; he knew he wanted to work at the resort in any capacity in order to begin learning about hospitality.

"I had worked in a restaurant before college, and I realized that I wanted to be around people, not food!" he laughs. "I could see that Montage was a place where the Associates are all on the same page, sharing the same values and striving to live the Mission statement every day. It felt like family from the very beginning."

Tim's versatility and determination have been cornerstones in his career growth at Montage. "I was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn the entire Resort during the six months I was working in Security. It was a terrific experience and one that was very useful to me as a Guest Receptionist. Our guests have an intense curiosity about Montage, and it's rewarding to be able to answer their questions," he continues.

In recognition of his exemplary demonstration of the Montage values on a daily basis, Tim was selected as a Montage Master in October, 2004, and was then promoted to Assistant Manager of Guest Services in March, 2005, to Guest Reception Manager in February, 2006, and to Director of Guest Services in June, 2008. Tim's management peers recognized his contributions to the Montage culture, selecting him as a Master of Values in Practice (MVP) for the first quarter of 2008.

"I really like seeing our guests' reactions when we've exceeded their expectations. That's what it's all about," he smiles. Tim is an active listener who takes the time to really listen to what our guests' needs are. His upbeat attitude contributes to the positive outcome of every task he undertakes.

Tim is well-known for his ability to create emotional attachments with our guests. One example is the family from Jacksonville, Florida, with whom he has connected during their many visits to the resort. When their daughter was ready to begin college, the parents brought her to Montage while they looked at schools in the area. After listening to what they wanted to do during their visit, Tim sent them information regarding local apartment rentals, school information, and local surf information, since their daughter is an avid surfer. When the young woman decided to attend Saddleback College, she even ended up moving into the apartment complex where Tim used to live! Now, the parents frequently come and stay at Montage while they visit their daughter.

In addition to his passion for delivering extraordinary guest service, Tim is passionate about spending time with his new bride, Julie, as well as surfing and playing golf.