Team of Experts

Courtney Killeen Buote

Event Sales Manager

Courtney has over ten years of event planning and selling experience in hotels. Starting her career in weddings and social events before moving to Philadelphia in 2018 when she first joined Hyatt at the historic Bellevue Hotel. She worked there for five years and was part of the opening team at Hyatt Centric Philadelphia.  She joined Hyatt Regency Dallas in 2024, making it her fifth Hyatt hotel, offering her a wealth of knowledge with large events and groups across multiple cities and markets.

Eugenia Vance

Associate Director of Events

Eugenia Vance began her career in Travel and Tourism in 1999 and quickly transitioned to an Event Planning Manager role the following year. Eugenia has extensive experience in the event planning industry and was brought on as our Associate Director of Events in 2022.

E: eugenia.vance@hyatt.com

Bart Meijers

Director of Events

Bart Meijers began his hospitality career in 1994, initially in Event Operations at boutique hotels before joining Hyatt Hotels in 2000. Bart first became a Director of Events in 2007 and Hyatt Regency Dallas is currently his fourth Hyatt Hotel as Director. In 2018, the Hyatt Regency Dallas was awarded the Hyatt Hotels Events Team of the Year and the following year, Bart was awarded the Leader of the Year for Hyatt Hotels.  

E: bart.meijers@hyatt.com

Rizwan Naqvi

Senior Event Planning Manager

Rizwan Naqvi started his career 37 years ago at the Hyatt Regency DFW. After 3 years, Rizwan joined the Hyatt Regency Dallas and has been at our hotel ever since. Rizwan is a true ambassador for the brand and hotel and as Sr. Event Planning Manager an invaluable asset and provides the highest quality service to external and internal customers.  

E: rizwan.naqvi@hyatt.com

Brian West

Sr. Event Planning Manager

Brian has 25 years of service in the hospitality industry and 20 years specializing in event planning.  He is committed to delivering unforgettable, seamless experiences. He began his hospitality career with Hyatt, where he spent the first 10 years, and proudly returned to the brand five years ago. Throughout his career, he has worked with luxury convention hotels to plan and execute high-impact events with creativity, precision, and a “never say no” approach that turns client visions into reality.

Sahar Amin

Event Planning Manager

Sahar started her career with Hyatt in 2004 in southern California as a Food & Beverage Manager.

Originally from Northern VA, Sahar has been back and forth between the east and west coast with Hyatt, transitioning to the Events side along the way.  She enjoys collaborating with and supporting her clients and her colleagues, throughout the whole planning phase.

E: sahar.amin@hyatt.com

Chardonai Goodwin

Event Planning Manager

Chardonai began her hospitality career at the young age of 16 hosting in restaurants. While attending university, she began supervising and eventually transitioned into culinary at hotels in the Dallas area. Upon graduating, Chardonai began working Event Operations at a resort hotel in Florida in 2017. She then went on to work at multiple hotels in Florida, Boston, and Fort Worth before transitioning back into restaurant management. With her strong F&B experience, Chardonai utilized the skills she acquired to run the Special Events department for a local restaurant chain. Chardonai joined the Hyatt Regency Dallas team in January of 2024 as an Event Planning Manager, where she enjoys creating many memorable experiences for her clients.

Sarina Sommers

Event Planning Manager

Sarina Sommers began her hospitality career in 2018 working as a Room Attendant where she discovered her passion for creating unforgettable guest experiences. After earning her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 2022, she joined Hyatt Regency Dallas as a Corporate Mangement Trainee. Sarina quickly advanced through multiple Food and Beverage departments until her current role as a Remote Event Planning Manager, putting her experience and passion into action.

Brandon Drummond

Executive Chef

In 2005 Brandon Drummond began his culinary career at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, as a Sous Chef. He has excelled in his career, working several positions at multiple locations, he was brought on as Executive Chef here, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas in 2021.

E: brandon.drummond@hyatt.com