Meet The Team
Nicole Salerno
Owner
Nicole founded Lago Custom Events with her husband, Fabio Salerno, in 2013. Owning and managing numerous restaurant concepts in Cleveland for 16+ years, Nicole and Fabio created this full-service catering and special events branch of the business to integrate their family’s love for food with the passion for putting on beautiful events and creating lasting memories for every guest.
In addition to overseeing the Lago Custom Events team, Nicole leads the charge on a healthy school lunch initiative that was launched in 2015 through Lago Dining Services, which provides healthy meals to students that are prepared by an executive chef, using the best ingredients available. Nicole also serves as the President of Food Strong, a local non-profit with a mission to strengthen and empower communities through fresh, local foods.
Fabio Salerno
Chef / Owner
Fabio is the Chef Owner of Lago East Bank and Sora. In 2013, Chef Salerno and wife, Nicole, moved Lago from the popular dining neighborhood of Tremont, where Lago called “home” for its first 7 years, to the Flats East Bank. By moving to the Flats, Lago also cemented itself as the exclusive caterer to the aLoft Hotel and its property, paving the way for Lago Custom Events.
With Chef Salerno’s vision, Lago Custom Events prides itself on restaurant quality food, a top-notch beverage program and a full-service event design team with specialties ranging from weddings to corporate events and all social gatherings in between. Fabio is also a Chef Partner with Aramark, with his Banditos Modern Mexican Concept currently located in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Aubrey Czarzasty
Director of Operations
Aubrey has been a member of the Lago Custom Events family from the very beginning! Since our founding in 2013, Aubrey has held the role of bartender, restaurant manager, sales manager, property manager and is now the the Director of Operations for our company. With a strong passion for creating quality events and experiences for every client, Aubrey does it all – from assisting a guest with making a reservation in the restaurant to executing a large-scale wedding.
Michelle Roberts
Event Manager
Michelle is a seasoned Event Manager with over nine years of experience driving the successful execution of high-profile, custom events. She provides strategic leadership across all phases of event operations, including logistics planning, space design, and staff management. Known for her attention to detail and ability to lead teams with clarity and efficiency, Michelle ensures every event aligns with organizational standards and client expectations. Her commitment to excellence and operational precision consistently results in seamless, elevated event experiences
Earl Jackson
Event Manager
Earl has been a member of our team for over seven years! Holding the position of Event Manager, Earl truly takes pride in bringing each of our clients’ visions to life. Whether it’s technical setup/coordination or managing the traffic flow of vendors, Earl is our go-to guy for ensuring that each event is set accordingly and on time.
Jordan Goens
Event Coordinator
Coming Soon
Paige Reiss
Event Coordinator
Paige is a Wedding and Social Event Coordinator at Lago Custom Events, where she brings over three years of hospitality experience to life through thoughtfully planned and flawlessly executed events. Working closely with clients from initial inquiry through event day, Paige manages event sales, contractual agreements, vendor partnerships, budget oversight, and on-site/off-site execution, ensuring every detail is seamlessly aligned. With catering curated from Lago and Sora, she collaborates across teams to deliver elevated culinary and guest experiences. Known for her strong client relationships and attentive approach, Paige is deeply passionate about guiding events from start to finish and transforming each client’s vision into a memorable and meaningful experience.