meet the team

every member of our team plays an integral role in creating the superb product we put forth. from the sales office to the kitchen to the guest service experience, our team is dedicated to perfection. meet a few of the members of our catering family that will bring your event to life.

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walter t.x. slawski

proprietor & executive chef

settling in charlottesville from san diego, california and harare, zimbabwe, walter launched his catering company as an undergraduate at the university of virginia. an owner-operator, walter is actively engaged with all aspects of planning and executing events. he works closely with the catering team to ensure each member’s individual success. in a love affair with food, drink, and entertaining, walter dedicates his professional career to crafting your beautiful moments. walter has a b.a. in economics from the university of virginia. when away from work, walter enjoys fishing and cooking with his daughters, sophie and calla.

shannon campbell

general manager

originally from palm beach gardens, florida, shannon campbell moved to charlottesville in 2013 and quickly fell in love with the community she now proudly calls home. she has spent her career doing what she loves most—making people feel welcome. from working nearly every position in restaurants to co-owning croby's urban viddles with her family, shannon has developed a deep appreciation for great food, genuine hospitality, and the people behind every successful event. as general manager of the catering outfit, she oversees front-of-house operations, sales, staffing, and the client experience, believing that exceptional hospitality starts with taking care of people—both the clients who trust tco with their celebrations and the team members who bring those events to life. outside of work, shannon enjoys cooking for family and friends, exploring local shops and garden centers, and spending time with the people she loves. whether taking an afternoon walk or making a starbucks run for an iced latte and a pup cup for the family dog, roxy, she finds joy in life’s simple moments.

cole gibson

chef de cuisine

cole grew up in the heart of nelson county in afton, virginia, in a house that was once a cheese shop in the 1940s and that, as he often says, his grandparents turned into a home. he began his culinary career at blue mountain brewery at a young age before moving to the boar’s head, where he began honing his skills as a chef and eventually entered the world of fine dining under one of his favorite mentors, “franny.” just 26 at the time, cole learned techniques and lessons that he still carries with him today. when the old mill room closed, he returned to blue mountain brewery and began his tenure as executive chef, combining his fine dining background with the practical restaurant management skills that helped shape the chef he is today at tco. at tco, cole especially enjoys creating custom menus and intimate dinner parties, where he can showcase his talents in a more personal setting and see guests truly experience the food. outside of the kitchen, cole loves traveling to new places, playing fortnite with his wife and kids, and simply enjoying life to the best of his ability.

courtney hildebrand

marketing manager
senior sales executive

as a native of charlottesville, virginia, courtney has strong ties to the community and longstanding relationships throughout the wedding and event industry. with more than two decades of experience in hospitality, events, sales, and marketing, she has built her career both locally and internationally. prior to joining the catering outfit a decade ago, courtney held roles in event coordination and catering leadership, developing a strong professional reputation with local venues, businesses, planners, and vendors throughout charlottesville and beyond. now serving as senior sales executive & marketing manager, courtney brings her extensive industry knowledge and love of hospitality to strengthening the catering outfit’s brand, cultivating relationships, and showcasing the creativity and thoughtful service behind the company. her firsthand experience in wedding and event management gives her a unique understanding of both the client experience and the industry as a whole. in her spare time, courtney enjoys spending time at her belmont cottage with her partner and two dogs.