Our Team

Our Team

What Our Team Brings To The Table

The Urban Solace Catering team is as diverse as the community we serve. A multi-generational, family-owned enterprise for more than 40 years, we value the unique perspective each team member brings to our culinary vision and exceptional client service. We are a family of fierce foodies and bold creatives, united by our passion for creating your most memorable food moments.

Lisa Richards is a Senior Sales Coordinator and the CEO of Urban Solace Catering. Her dedication to catering was inspired by her father’s love for cooking and BBQ. She’s been in the industry for 40 years planning great events in San Diego. Lisa’s go-to dish is shrimp and grits from Urban Solace Catering, but she’s also tried some wild eats like Asian worms and fried bugs! She’s committed to creating memorable experiences and is known for her mouth-watering BBQ beef ribs.

Lisa Richards

Blake Richards is the President of Urban Solace Catering. He is a purpose-driven food enthusiast who named his son after his greatest culinary inspiration, Thomas Keller. From an early age, he was always experimenting in the kitchen, trying out new recipes and techniques. In the kitchen, he excels in shaping legs of lamb and loves the beef Wellington at Urban Solace. Blake’s adventurous palate includes braised jellyfish. He’s proud to have passed down his love of food to his kids.

Blake Richards

Taylor Richards is the Director of Operations at Urban Solace Catering and a culinary enthusiast inspired by Gordon Ramsey. In the kitchen, he is known for shaping sushi and loves the beef Wellington at Urban Solace. Taylor’s daring palate includes a shark-stuffed chicken wing from Kyoto. His greatest success was catering a Bob Dylan event for 45,000 guests with fireworks and elephants.

Taylor Richards

Yami McKenney is the Staffing Manager at Urban Solace Catering. She finds inspiration in her parents’ cooking. She describes herself as enthusiastic, hard-working, and friendly. Yami’s favorite food is pizza and her go-to dish at Urban Solace is the tri-tip. She’s tried duck, which she considers the craziest food she’s ever eaten. Yami’s greatest success is her family – her loving husband and three children.

Yami McKenney

Lori Monroe is the Director of Finance at Urban Solace Catering. She is friendly, reliable and loves Italian cuisine and creating her own dishes. Inspired by her grandmother’s Sunday dinners, she enjoys sharing her passion for food with others. Her favorite dish at Urban Solace is the Mac n’ Cheese with crab and lobster, and she’s always willing to try new things like the oyster stuffing she once enjoyed. Her greatest success is raising her children to be kind and successful, and she hopes to continue sharing her love of food and family for years to come.

Lori Monroe

Royann Anderson is the Vice President at Urban Solace Catering. She is a culinary enthusiast who draws inspiration from Ina Garten’s recipes. She thrives in organized chaos, making catering a perfect fit for her. Royann’s specialty is Fried Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Bacon, influenced by her time in Virginia. At Urban Solace, she loves the Duckaroni and enjoys trying new foods, like Blood Sausage in Barcelona. Royann’s greatest success was taking a decade off to raise her children before returning to the culinary industry. She’s passionate about food and plans to continue creating and sharing her culinary masterpieces.

Royann Anderson

Greg Guerrero is the Event Services Coordinator at Urban Solace Catering. He finds culinary inspiration from his mom and Chef Shrage, his high school culinary arts teacher. He describes himself as optimistic and always ready for new experiences. Gregorio’s favorite food is Mushroom Tagliatelle, and he loves Urban Solace’s Smoked Brisket. As a daring foodie, he’s tried Sea Turtles on Puluwat. Greg’s best success is becoming a temporary honorary ambassador for the US and visiting Japan for the Kizuna Project, which he’s proud of.

Greg Guerrero

Partners

We proudly support local farmers and take advantage of their freshest produce and seasonal goods whenever possible. Over the last 40 years, we have built amazing relationships with our trusted partners, including food artisans, local wineries and craft breweries, venue operators, entertainers, décor partners and many more. As a creative community, we work together to deliver a superior culinary and event experience for you and your guests.