Jamie Ehrsam | Executive Director
Throughout her experience as a wedding and events coordinator, owner Jamie Ehrsam found many beautiful event venues, but quickly realized there were few luxurious, exclusive sites that would impose no time limits, tourists, or traditional banquet hall constraints. An idea was born literally in her own backyard: An abundance of amazing private homes and estates would provide ideal settings for the exclusive events she had envisioned. Based on this vision, Estate Weddings and Events now provides an online resource or luxury private estates around the world that are available for weddings, events, and corporate retreats.
Luke Whittaker | Business Development
Claire Lewis | Media Relations
Claire Lewis will often be the first person to greet you and answer any questions you may have about planning your estate event. Her friendly and personable demeanor make her an asset to the Estate Weddings and Events team, and she takes great pleasure in seeing you through all parts of the process from scheduling your first estate visit to executing your vision on the day of your event. Claire graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in communication and a minor in the History of Art and Architecture. In her free time, she loves to make succulent arrangements and homebrew craft beers and put her love for crafts to work!
Gillian Gensler | Director of Membership Services
Gillian Gensler is a consummate professional with extensive experience in event planning, hospitality, travel, customer service and sales. She has spent the last six years with two of the premier wedding-and-event publications. Previously, she expressed her passion for golf through a sales and marketing position with what is now The Grand Del Mar Golf Club, as well as a customer service role with Callaway Golf. She also has a deep knowledge of hotel operations, having served for several years as a top-rated Concierge with Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts in San Diego. There she was involved with a variety of events and activities, including celebrity visits, President visits, Hollywood film crews, NFL team stays, banquets, public relations and guest loyalty. At Estate Weddings and Events, Gillian’s charm, diligence, knowledge and attention to detail will ensure perfection in marketing your estate. Gillian is a longtime resident of San Diego, where she enjoys travel, golf, and the Chargers.
Cindy Souza | Director of Membership Services
Cynthia Souza has been helping to build emerging growth companies in the technology sector for the past 5 years. Prior to joining Estate Weddings and Events she worked for Demandforce, a SaaS company that helps small businesses thrive in the Internet economy. After having her own dream wedding this January and moving to San Diego, she found the opportunity to use her knowledge of the power of online marketing and her passion for the wedding and events industry play out perfectly by becoming a part of Estate Weddings and Events. She is dedicated to help the members of Estate Weddings and Events showcase their beautiful properties and excited by all feedback, both positive and negative about the member experience.
Julia Maushart | Director of Special Events
For the last five years Julia Maushart, Director of Special Events, has made a career out of making people’s visions come to life. While her experience includes weddings and various social events, her passion is in corporate event planning. She prides herself in helping companies find the ideal venue for their ideal meeting, reception or celebratory getaway. Whether it’s a holiday party to thank associates for a year well done or a incentive trip for the top players, Julia and Estate Event Group will make it happen!
Brittany Steele | Santa Barbara Locations Manager
Brittany Steele has loved putting on events since she was a young girl planning dress up parties for her friends. She loves creating the details and bringing a unique experience to each event. As an adult the love she has for planning events has grown and she enjoys nothing more than helping couples plan for their upcoming wedding, or a company plan the perfect event for their annual party. At Estate Weddings and Events, Brittany will be your guide to Santa Barbara, Montecito, Santa Ynez and Ojai. Her friendly energy and her warm smile make her an asset to the Estate Weddings and Events team, and she takes great pleasure in seeing you through all parts of the planning process from touring the various Santa Barbara estates to executing your vision on the day of your event. Brittany graduated from the University of California, at Davis, with a degree in Communication. In her free time, she loves to paint, practice yoga and travel to beautiful locations around the world.