All Hands on Deck
It takes a village to host the perfect event, and you deserve to know the people who will make it happen like clockwork.
Our principles. Our leaders. Our friends. These are the people who chart Classics’ vision and hold the company to the highest possible standard.
Alex Mathov, Owner / CFO
Alex Mathov brings almost two decades of leadership experience in finance, strategy, and entrepreneurship. As Owner and CFO of The Classic Catering People, Alex is committed to honoring the company’s 40-year legacy while guiding its next chapter of growth and innovation.
He believes that great businesses are built on relationships, integrity, and thoughtful systems that allow people to do their best work. Whether refining financial strategy, strengthening operations, or empowering leadership teams, Alexis approaches every challenge with a mix of discipline and creativity.
A Baltimore resident for over two decades, Alex first joined Classic as Controller and quickly connected with its culture, its people, and its purpose. His focus is on sustaining the family values that define Classic while introducing modern tools and ideas that help the company thrive for generations to come.
Favorite food: A perfectly grilled steak — simple, satisfying, and hard to beat.
Surprising fact: Appeared in a Super Bowl commercial.
Christopher Meaker, President / CEO
Since he was young, watching his mother and grandmother cook their favorite Polish recipes for family celebrations, Chris had known the food and hospitality business was where he wanted to be. He loves the process of planning an event, from the listening to the inspiring to being there to watch the smiles.
Beverage of choice: Tim Horton’s Dark Roast
Surprising fact: Canadian born, Texas Raised.
Ronnie Ching, Executive Vice President
Born and raised in Baltimore, Ronnie began his hospitality journey as a prep cook at the renowned Pimlico Hotel. Ronnie worked his way to become one of the area’s finest chefs – and the executive chef at Classic for almost three decades! After a brief departure, Ronnie returned to Classic as our Vice President Operations for seven years, overseeing the day to day operations of the company.
Through his experiences in all areas of the hospitality industry, Ronnie is now Classic’s Executive Vice President where he supports Alex and Chris, along with the entire Classic Team.
Favorite food: anything Italian
Surprising fact: he’s superstitious
Harriet Dopkin, Legacy Advisor / Former Owner
Cooking since she was eight years old, Harriet has built a lifetime of culinary adventure and inspiration. After earning a degree in the Classics from St. John’s College, she went on to study the culinary arts in both the United States and Japan. Backed by an ever-expanding library of cookbooks, great food reads, travels, and collaborations with culinary friends, Harriet has been the creative heart of Classic for decades.
Today, she continues to serve as a Legacy Advisor, sharing her wisdom, mentorship, and passion for innovation as Classic enters its next chapter. She enjoys gardening, experimenting with heirloom vegetables, and sharing her harvest with family, friends, and colleagues.
Favorite food: Anything made with love (and truffles).
Surprising fact: Has discovered that pickle ball is almost as much fun as tennis.
Larry Frank, Legacy Advisor / Former Owner
Since a summer spent in Ocean City, MD at the Carousel Hotel in 1977, Larry has dedicated his career to the world of hospitality. His decades of experience have given him a deep understanding of logistics, service, and the art of creating seamless guest experiences. Larry’s leadership and high standards have shaped Classic’s reputation for precision and professionalism.
Now serving as a Legacy Advisor, Larry continues to share his expertise with the leadership team, helping to guide operations, strengthen relationships, and preserve the values that have made Classic a trusted name for over 40 years.
Favorite quote: “If you make someone laugh every day, if you learn something every day, if you teach something every day and if you thank someone every day… then you will have a great day.” – adapted from my father, Stanley Frank.
Favorite food: Pickles
Our Account Executives have feet on the ground and phones in their hands at all times, as they handle every detail that goes into organizing and executing hundreds of events a year.
Katelyn West, Classic To Go Manager
Katelyn knew from an early age that she wanted to be involved in the hospitality industry. She started out around 8 or 9 and turning her dining room into a restaurant, making a menu (hot dog, cheese sandwich or spaghetti-o’s) and sending her older brother in as the server to take her parents’ orders. She takes care of her clients at Classic as well as her restaurant guests, taking care of all of their Classic To Go catering needs.
Favorite food: Grilled Cheese!
What would someone be surprised to know about you? I love all types of crafts and I’ve ran a successful online Etsy shop for the last 8 years.
I am overly confident in myself when it comes to crafting and anything using my hands.
Ellen Brook, Classic To Go
When she was a little girl on trips to NYC with her mother, Ellen would walk through the Plaza Hotel and Waldorf Astoria in awe, leading her to want to work in a restaurant or hotel. She loves helping perfect menus for events and has become a friendly face (or voice on the phone) to our Classic To Go clients.
What is your favorite food? Fresh Eastern Peaches (Only Eastern, never from California)
What is your beverage of choice? My homemade Sangria
Kelly Girard, Senior Account Executive
Kelly strives to deliver a party that exceeds every wish, and treasures her relationships with her clients. A long history in hospitality has given her experience with all types of events from plane charters to galas.
Favorite food: Kit Kat
Beverage of choice: h2o
Bobby Pressman, Senior Account Executive
For over two decades, clients have been praising Bobby’s results-oriented focus as well as attention to detail, infinite patience and responsiveness. He credits the amazing and talented support team at The Classic Catering People. All we know is that when his clients say things like “Thanks for a phenomenal job” and “He took a ton of stress off my shoulders,” we all look good.
Lynn Piette, Senior Account Executive
As our resident wedding specialist, Lynn prides herself on listening skills and special rapport with brides. While planning her own daughter’s wedding was her most memorable Classic event, Lynn treats all of her clients like family. Which explains why her corporate and wedding clients alike use words like “amazing” and “incredible” to describe her.
Beverage of choice: A really good margarita or red wine.
Favorite quote: “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” -Princess Diana
Jenny Gaintner, Account Executive
Learning to mix a martini at a young age and having a love for cooking and hosting made the service industry a natural place for Jenny to land for her career. She loves to see an event through from the initial concept to its completion leading to lasting relationships with clients and vendors. To Jenny, hospitality means providing an experience that becomes a memory to make someone smile.
Favorite Food: I LOVE pretzels, I even have one tattooed on my arm
Favorite quote: Life is Hard by the Yard by the Inch it’s a Cinch (not sure who said it originally but my father used to say it to me all the time)
Gail Kaplan, Business Development Leader
Gail was born into the business. Her father owned Nate & Leon’s on North Ave. and she went there until she was 8 years old, playing behind the deli counter. Her father then bought The Pimlico Hotel where she started working when she was 11 & the rest is history! Gail is a people-pleaser and her adrenaline starts flowing at every job, welcoming the guests and providing services to them to help make their experience perfect.
Favorite food? Sirloin steak, medium rare & a baked potato
Beverage of choice? Vodka martini, no vermouth
While our events and culinary team are client-facing, what you don’t see are all the amazingly organized and talented teams who help make every event happen behind the scenes — from accounting to marketing.
Eric Blass, Director of Purchasing
Eric has been working in the restaurant and hospitality industry since he was 14 doing everything from dishwashing to bussing tables, to opening and operating restaurant kitchens and food trucks. He’s passionate about food and wants to be a part of creating meals that people will remember for years to come.
Favorite food:
Any sort of stuffed and wrapped food. Everything from Agnolotti, Empanadas, Soup Dumplings to Lumpia.
Favorite Quote:
“Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats” – Voltaire
Both purists and professionals, our talented team of chefs bring an eclectic, worldly taste straight to thousands of tables in Maryland, Virginia, DC, and beyond.