Long-time veteran of the hospitality industry, Kristen Gegnas has worked with Chef Charlie Palmer for almost two decades. Starting in the kitchen at Palmer’s famed restaurant Aureole before becoming his Executive Assistant. She’s worn many hats for the group and most recently as its Chief Marketing/Strategy Officer overseeing all of the Collective’s marketing, communications, and public relations initiatives. 

Her strategic and creative approach to marketing and communications maintain brand positioning and support scalable, quality, and sustainable brand growth. Her passion for implementing new marketing platforms to create efficiencies and optimization are key to successful business.

Gegnas is passionate about giving back in the form of food & wine. She's played an integral role  from the inception of both Charlie Palmer's Pigs & Pinot and Clay Mauritson's Project Zin. In their 16th and 13th years, respectively, along with their hospitality teams, Kristen has systematically raised over 2 million dollars for Share Our Strength, Farm to Pantry, Scholarships and Down Syndrome Association North Bay.

Kristen is a lover of food, wine and travel. She resides in New Jersey with her husband, four children and dog, Samoa.