Meet the Team
Gabriella Woodson
President/CEO
Gabriella has over 10 years in the hospitality industry! She has a degree in Culinary Arts and Hotel Restaurant Management! Her passion is doing events and feeding people and seeing the look on their faces once they see their vision come to life! Gabriella is very active in her community as she serves on The Clayton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, several HYPE committees, DDA Activities Committee and is a CCOC Ambassador. She started Chefella's right out of college in 2012 and opened her first store front in 2017! In 2021 Gabriella won a National Award with Alignable as Local Main Street Mentor and Local Business Person of 2021 for Clayton, NC!
Her future goals: " I have been very blessed to touch people lives through the hospitality industry. I always wanted to open up my own catering company and I opened the store in 2017. I always wanted to open a restaurant, and was able to do that in 2019! I have many other endeavors up my sleeve, but I just want to wait on God to lead me in the direction he wants me to go! "
Barbara Wallen
Executive Director of
Events & Operations
Barbara has over 35+ years experience in Event Planning! Her passion is taking her clients' vision and bringing it to life! Her main focus is planning events from start to finish, working within budgets of her clients and serving as a day- of coordinator or wedding planner!
Barbara is also the mother of Gabriella (Presient/CEO) and loves working in the family owned business created by her daughter. Barbara has seen the business flourish into what it is today! "It is so funny to see how much the company has grown. My daughter started this business in my home office in 2012 and now has a store front in Downtown Clayton!"
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Her future goals: "I want to continue to exceed expectations of our clients. I want to possibly open an Chefella's Event Venue, but am excited and eager to see the direction God leads the business! "
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Taylor Kowalski
Executive Chef
Born and raised in a small town near Albany, New York, Taylor grew up in a family that loves food. Her passion for food and creativity sparked at a very young age being ever inspired by her beloved grandmother (Me’Me) which has led to an entire lifetime of experience in the kitchen.
As far back as Taylor can remember, Me’Me always included her and brought her into the kitchen teaching her everything that she knew. Taylor graduated from a two year culinary program in 2014. She has always been fascinated and sees something truly magical in being able to take simple ingredients and turn them into the most beautiful, delicious and endless possibilities.
A jack of all trades who loves to stay busy and work with her hands, she does a little bit of it all- from making candles and soap to painting and gardening. She is an avid baker, chef, artist, crafter, recipe developer, foodie and loving aunt.
Leigh Muszynski
Sous Chef
With over 20 years of culinary experience, Chef Leigh brings expertise, creativity, and precision to every event. Trained by the elite 43rd Services Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, she combines military discipline with a deep passion for food. As Sous Chef, Leigh plays a key role in kitchen operations, and seamless event execution. From intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations, Leigh is committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences tailored to each client’s unique vision.