Sales Team
Tara Phillips
Senior Catering Sales Manager - Colorado
Tara joined the Manna team in 2018 as a Senior Catering Sales Manager. Prior to that, she worked for two other Panera franchises over the past 14 years. During that time, she has helped out in many different roles including Catering Coordinator, Assistant Manager & various community relation roles.
She grew up in Michigan and has also lived in Oregon and Florida before moving to Colorado—which she absolutely loves! She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, gardening, star gazing and long walks with her two dogs.
Her most favorite thing to do is spend time with her 3 kids and be an active role in their schools and sports programs. She helps coach her sons soccer team, is an active PTA member and room mom at the elementary school. Work and kids keep her on her toes but she enjoys keeping busy and wouldn’t have it any other way!
Senior Catering Sales Manager - Colorado
Tara joined the Manna team in 2018 as a Senior Catering Sales Manager. Prior to that, she worked for two other Panera franchises over the past 14 years. During that time, she has helped out in many different roles including Catering Coordinator, Assistant Manager & various community relation roles.
She grew up in Michigan and has also lived in Oregon and Florida before moving to Colorado—which she absolutely loves! She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, gardening, star gazing and long walks with her two dogs.
Her most favorite thing to do is spend time with her 3 kids and be an active role in their schools and sports programs. She helps coach her sons soccer team, is an active PTA member and room mom at the elementary school. Work and kids keep her on her toes but she enjoys keeping busy and wouldn’t have it any other way!
Kristina Pankowski
Catering Sales Manager - Los Angeles
Kristina Pankowski began as a shift supervisor with Panera Bread in 2011, and quickly realized catering was where her heart is. After moving to the Catering Sales Coordinator position in our Glendale café, Kristina focused on sales building and training. In 2016 Kristina became the Regional Catering Sales Manager for Risen Bread and loves having the capacity to help each café grow in sales and build strong community relationships.
Kristina is a New Jersey native and loves the beach, hiking and cooking. She loves exploring the outdoors with her dog, Sir Benjamin.
Catering Sales Manager - Los Angeles
Kristina Pankowski began as a shift supervisor with Panera Bread in 2011, and quickly realized catering was where her heart is. After moving to the Catering Sales Coordinator position in our Glendale café, Kristina focused on sales building and training. In 2016 Kristina became the Regional Catering Sales Manager for Risen Bread and loves having the capacity to help each café grow in sales and build strong community relationships.
Kristina is a New Jersey native and loves the beach, hiking and cooking. She loves exploring the outdoors with her dog, Sir Benjamin.
Bridget Ackins
Catering Sales Manager - Orange County
Bridget started in her position as a Catering Sales Manager in North San Diego in 2018. She now manages the Orange County, California and Northwest Region for Manna Development Group. Bridget has a gift of hospitality and loves to serve her guests to provide the best catering experience possible.
Bridget was born and raised in California where she grew up loving the beach. She has a passion for painting watercolors, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Catering Sales Manager - Orange County
Bridget started in her position as a Catering Sales Manager in North San Diego in 2018. She now manages the Orange County, California and Northwest Region for Manna Development Group. Bridget has a gift of hospitality and loves to serve her guests to provide the best catering experience possible.
Bridget was born and raised in California where she grew up loving the beach. She has a passion for painting watercolors, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Allie Heyman
Catering Sales Manager - Oregon & SW Washington
Allie began her journey with Panera Bread as a Catering Sales Coordinator in 2022. Having a background in quality management systems, she learned how to best meet the needs of her guests and strived for excellence. She believes in having a heart of service for guests and team-mates alike and has found that building relationships with the community is the most rewarding aspect of her position in the Northwest Market.
Allie grew up in Washington and has also lived in Tennessee before returning to the Pacific Northwest, to live in Oregon. She loves to spend time with her family and pets, especially outdoors. Allie loves to travel and usually has a getaway “in the works” with her wife and son.
Catering Sales Manager - Oregon & SW Washington
Allie began her journey with Panera Bread as a Catering Sales Coordinator in 2022. Having a background in quality management systems, she learned how to best meet the needs of her guests and strived for excellence. She believes in having a heart of service for guests and team-mates alike and has found that building relationships with the community is the most rewarding aspect of her position in the Northwest Market.
Allie grew up in Washington and has also lived in Tennessee before returning to the Pacific Northwest, to live in Oregon. She loves to spend time with her family and pets, especially outdoors. Allie loves to travel and usually has a getaway “in the works” with her wife and son.
Katrina Schneider
Catering Sales Manager - Michigan
Katrina started out as an Associate at our West Main café in 2007. She worked her way up to eventually become an Assistant Manager at the Holland café. She always enjoyed the personal relationship she was able to grow with guests and how there was more opportunity to create connections in the catering role. She switched to the Catering Lead role in 2018.
Katrina grew up in Michigan and has lived there her whole life. She enjoys spending time with her family by going to the zoo, park, concerts, festivals, etc. We are always looking for something new to do or experience.
Catering Sales Manager - Michigan
Katrina started out as an Associate at our West Main café in 2007. She worked her way up to eventually become an Assistant Manager at the Holland café. She always enjoyed the personal relationship she was able to grow with guests and how there was more opportunity to create connections in the catering role. She switched to the Catering Lead role in 2018.
Katrina grew up in Michigan and has lived there her whole life. She enjoys spending time with her family by going to the zoo, park, concerts, festivals, etc. We are always looking for something new to do or experience.
Emilia Reyes
Catering Sales Manager - San Diego
Emilia began her journey with Panera Bread as a Catering Sales Coordinator in the beginning of 2020. Seeing the impact that a global pandemic left on our business, she dedicated herself to rebuilding the sales in her cafe and to reconnecting with our customers. Her hard work and commitment to providing each guest with the best possible experience drove the sales growth in her bakery-cafe, and she discovered a passion for developing and building relationships with our guests. That passion and commitment grows each day as she serves the San Diego market, and she loves being able to connect with so many different people!
Emilia was born and raised in The Golden State, and she loves to seek out adventures with her husband and daughter. Together with their families, they love to travel and explore new areas, enjoying nature and appreciating the beauty of California.
Catering Sales Manager - San Diego
Emilia began her journey with Panera Bread as a Catering Sales Coordinator in the beginning of 2020. Seeing the impact that a global pandemic left on our business, she dedicated herself to rebuilding the sales in her cafe and to reconnecting with our customers. Her hard work and commitment to providing each guest with the best possible experience drove the sales growth in her bakery-cafe, and she discovered a passion for developing and building relationships with our guests. That passion and commitment grows each day as she serves the San Diego market, and she loves being able to connect with so many different people!
Emilia was born and raised in The Golden State, and she loves to seek out adventures with her husband and daughter. Together with their families, they love to travel and explore new areas, enjoying nature and appreciating the beauty of California.
Marketing Team
Meghan Anderson
Marketing Manager
Meghan has been a Marketing Manager for Panera Bread since 2016. Throughout High School and College she worked in several bakery cafes as an Associate Trainer, Shift Supervisor and Catering Coordinator. Meghan attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO and has a degree in Technical Journalism and Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. Upon graduation, Meghan worked in the marketing departments for two other restaurant concepts before ultimately coming back to Panera. Her favorite part of her job is building relationships within the cafes and communities.
She is a Colorado native and is passionate about animals including her three dogs and two cats. When she isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, Ryan, who they welcomed in September of 2020.
Marketing Manager
Meghan has been a Marketing Manager for Panera Bread since 2016. Throughout High School and College she worked in several bakery cafes as an Associate Trainer, Shift Supervisor and Catering Coordinator. Meghan attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO and has a degree in Technical Journalism and Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. Upon graduation, Meghan worked in the marketing departments for two other restaurant concepts before ultimately coming back to Panera. Her favorite part of her job is building relationships within the cafes and communities.
She is a Colorado native and is passionate about animals including her three dogs and two cats. When she isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, Ryan, who they welcomed in September of 2020.