ABOUT
COHOST
We are passionate about food, drinks, service & beautiful details.
We are also passionate about our relationships with gifted chefs, talented staff and loyal clients.
We are thrilled to bring all of these things together to create memorable & wildly successful events.
STORY OF COHOST
While running the catering division at Cuba Libre in 2009, Jewel Briggs learned two important things about catering companies in Dallas: Restaurants had the best food, and catering companies provided the best service. Catering clients had to choose one or the other, but she was convinced they could have both. In 2010, prompted by the sudden closing of Cuba Libre, Jewel formed partnerships with three of her favorite local restaurants and Cohost was born.
Through the years, mostly through word of mouth, our clients have multiplied and our evolving partner list has grown to over 60 restaurants & bakeries. Since Dallas loves to surprise us with new amazing food, we suspect that the future for Cohost will hold an even wider array of delicious possibilities.
"Jewel was super responsive to what we were envisioning, brought incredible ideas to the table, and worked so hard to make our ideal wedding come to life."
- Taylor Almquist | Watermark Church | Dallas, TX
Meet the Founders
Jewel Briggs - Owner/Operator
Jewel was always drawn to the fast-paced and coordinated chaos that thrives in the restaurant business. As the daughter of an entrepreneur, she knew it was in her blood to forge her own path in an industry she so admired. Jewel realized her vision was simple and unique: catered events with elevated restaurant food. She loved her first event even more than the restaurant life and the rest is history!
Over the years, her vision for Cohost has grown, and the company has expanded to accommodate. She has big dreams and plans to continue her mission of making Cohost a bigger, better blessing to our clients and community.
Outside of work Jewel loves spending time with her husband, Marcus, and their 4 beautiful children. Jewel is a movie buff who loves Jesus, puzzles, and escape rooms.
Meet the Founders
Marcus Briggs - Rentals & Fleet Director
Marcus has been instrumental in all points of growth with Cohost. He is the director of our Event Rentals division and is also responsible for all office/building/fleet projects. He fancies himself an amateur mechanic and handy man and is good at fixing just about anything that needs a little attention in the warehouse. If you catch him at an event, he’s likely acting as our Ambassador to Client Satisfaction where he makes sure our hosts and guests are well fed, armed with a drink, and enjoying the event. When he’s able to sneak away from work, Marcus is enjoys spending time with his 4 awesome kids and his wife, Jewel, who is a fabulously gifted entrepreneur.
"Phenomenal service with a staff that goes above and beyond expectations.
Pure joy to work with in achieving a successful event."
- Jason Weeks | Corporate Client | Dallas, TX
The Cohosts.
Meet your cohosts - the team that will be planning & managing your events - working behind the scenes diligently to create memorable experiences for you and your guests.
Justin Tennison
Operations Manager
Justin got his start in hospitality in 2008, quickly climbing the ranks within the restaurant industry. After transitioning to the catering world in 2017, he now finds himself managing all things operations, assisting in all aspects of Cohost to ensure that the behind-the-scenes needs are met for each and every event. As a creative, bringing a client's vision to life comes naturally to him and we're lucky he decided to create along with us! When he's not in the office or stopping by an event, he's probably relaxing at home, playing piano, writing music, or hanging with friends and family.
Cristina Kinney
Office Manager
Cristina brings experience in both hospitality and corporate marketing, with past roles as a Catering Manager and Marketing Manager. She loves elevated food, collaborating with her team, and finding clever ways to make events run smoother. Efficient by nature, she’s always looking for smarter solutions that save time and keep clients happy.Her go-to dish is the tuna tartar wontons from Dive, and when she’s not at work you’ll find her traveling, hanging out with family and friends, reading, or deep into a binge-worthy series. If she ever hit the lottery, she’d be on the next plane overseas - probably straight to the UK.
Graham Pigg
Logistics
Graham has spent the last decade in catering after making the switch from the medical field, where he discovered both careers share the same heart—taking care of people. At Cohost, he loves being part of the whole journey: setting up, seeing the rush unfold, and ending with happy guests and lasting memories. Known for his versatility and easygoing spirit, Graham is always ready to learn and tackle new challenges. When he’s not at work, he’s relaxing with his family, dreaming of food adventures in Greece or Italy, or flexing his deep movie knowledge.
The Leads.
While you may occasionally see some of the team above at events, the team below is who you will see the most of -leading our staff and making your vision come to life.
David Manison
You’ll see David at all kinds of events, but he’s our go-to guy for any corporate function. A truly positive and motivated man who leads by example. He has an incredible ability to connect with our clients. He can make them laugh, feel excited and confident in their event and anticipate their needs and go with the flow when unexpected changes are made.
Flor Villareal
We call Flor, “the ant.” Small, but mighty. Flor's determination and commitment to excellence (paired with her almost super-human strength) have made her an asset to Cohost. She commands her team with kindness and grace, and holds them to the highest standards. Flor’s work perfectly embodies the philosophy that every client's vision is important.
Shingi Muchemwa
Shingi has been with Cohost since 2018 and has been instrumental in executing some of our biggest, most memorable events. His leadership and friendship is adored by every member of our team. He’s an expert at building relationships with clients and has a keen eye for coordinating the many moving parts behind each event. You’re gonna love him.
David Gentile
David has been with Cohost from the beginning and embodies our values of faith, family, and fine food. An engineer by trade, David has a solution for every potential problem and navigates every situation with both confidence and excellence. He loves food, God, his family and deeply cares about each and every client and event. He adds joy to every event & team he leads.
Adilia (Esme) Arana
Esme’s love for hospitality began in her mom’s kitchen and took her from Wolfgang Puck to Cohost, where she now shines as a Banquet Captain. She’s all about great food (especially brisket or smoked chicken with cornbread from Slow Bone BBQ), meaningful connections, and a life full of learning and joy. When she’s not leading events, you’ll find her volunteering, writing in cafés, dancing to Spanish music, or hanging out with her cat, Miku.
"The only thing I wish I knew in advance was how amazing they were going to be."
- Tiffany Heldenfels | Social Client | Dallas, TX