Karen Almazan

Karen Almazan is an experienced Events Manager based in San Francisco, California, with more than 13 years in high-end hospitality, private dining, and large-scale event execution. She is known for her ability to design and deliver seamless guest experiences through careful planning, strong vendor relationships, and attentive service leadership. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for combining precision with warmth, ensuring that every event—whether an intimate gathering or a large corporate function—runs smoothly and leaves a lasting impression on guests. Karen currently serves as Private Events Manager at One Market Restaurant, where she oversees complex private events for up to 1,500 guests, including corporate receptions, weddings, and premium dining experiences. She manages the full event lifecycle, from client intake and proposal development to staffing, logistics, and on-site execution. In addition to coordinating teams and budgets, she works closely with chefs and sommeliers to create custom menus and wine pairings that elevate the guest experience. Her earlier roles at One Market included banquet leadership and coordination, giving her a deep, hands-on understanding of hospitality operations. Her career began in entry-level restaurant and café positions, where she worked her way up through service and operations before transitioning into event management. She also served as a Tasting Coordinator for Wine Enthusiast Magazine, where she managed wine submissions and blind tasting logistics for editorial reviews. Karen’s professional journey includes notable achievements such as managing large-scale events for major clients like Apple and receiving an industry award recognizing her excellence in hospitality. She is now focused on expanding her impact in the field and is exploring the development of her own consulting business to share her expertise in event planning and execution.