Our Valuable Team Members

Karen
KarenDirector of Events, Sales & Operations
She oversees every detail of the conference center and client experience, beginning with the initial introduction.  Her goal is to allow the clients to enjoy every minute of their event, knowing that every detail is handled.  She has a passion for service and creating an experience for guests that is unique to each individual and each event. She leads a team of remarkable event specialists who are committed to the values of Whitehead Manor.

Karen realized that she had found a home at Whitehead Manor when she saw the value placed on providing that sincere southern hospitality and warmth in a truly unique and beautiful natural environment.

Karen credits the event management experience at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and customer relations and retail management positions with the US Postal service with enhancing the skills that allow her to orchestrate successful events and sales.

Karen enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Ashton Ward
Ashton WardSocial Events Director
She joined our team in August of 2014 with a desire to work with weddings and social events. Her sparkling personality, true southern hospitality along with her genuine desire for our guests to have their dreams fulfilled has taken social events to a new level at Whitehead.

Ashton’s favorite part of the wedding day is when couples decide to have a “first look” and get to spend a moment alone soaking in that special moment with each other without anyone around.

Ashton is a Virginia Tech alumni, where she played softball, and received both her undergraduate and Master’s degree.

Ashton enjoys concerts, hiking, traveling with friends, her mom’s home cooking, Virginia Tech football games and spending time with her 3-year-old Pit bull mix named Annie. She also admits that her day is not complete without an iced latte in her hand!

Paris Prusak
Paris PrusakEvent’s Manager/Day of Coordinator
Paris brings her beautiful personality and warmth along with her gift of attention to detail to events in ways that are invaluable to the social team.

Majoring in Hospitality Management, she received her two-year degree from Miami Dade College while on a full scholarship to play softball. She then transferred the University of South Carolina, Upstate where she continued her softball career and received her bachelor’s degree in 2015. With her passion in event planning and strong connection with our team members, we were lucky to announce that Paris officially joined our staff that summer.

Paris’ favorite part of the wedding day is getting to be with the bride and her father moments before she walks down the aisle to marry the love of her life!

Paris enjoys going to her family cabin in Georgia, snow skiing, attending sporting events (Go Eagles!), trying new margarita recipes, and spending time with her 8-month old lab mix Liliana Rose. She is also not afraid to admit she loves Justin Bieber.