Ces & Judy
Cecily Hoffius
CO-OWNER
Cecily’s journey in the hospitality industry began shortly after college when she helped organize Delta Gamma’s national conference. She quickly discovered a passion for the challenge of planning large-scale events, piecing together logistics like a puzzle and seeing the reward when everything ran seamlessly.
From there, Cecily spent 10 years in Sales & Marketing with Sheraton Hotels, refining her expertise in event coordination. Her experience in the industry, combined with a shared vision, led her and Judy to open a restaurant in 1981, which soon expanded into full-service catering.
While Judy’s passion was always on the culinary side, Cecily found her love in the planning and organization that made each event a success. Whether it’s a year-long process for a wedding or managing the moving parts of a large corporate event, she thrives on creating smooth, memorable experiences for clients. Seeing the joy of a happy couple or hearing a room full of satisfied guests makes every detail worth it.
Beyond Ces & Judy’s, Cecily has served as President of the St. Louis Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, where she helps fundraise for scholarships supporting women in the culinary industry. She also works on initiatives to educate children about food, where it comes from and how to make it a part of their everyday lives.
Judith Bellos
CO-OWNER
Judy’s career in food service began at Sheraton Hotels, where she worked as a Food and Beverage Controller. This role gave her deep insight into large-scale food operations, helping her develop a strong foundation in profitability, efficiency, and quality control. During her time at Sheraton, she had the opportunity to work alongside talented chefs who recognized her passion for food and mentored her along the way.
Her dream became a reality in 1981, when she and Cecily opened their restaurant, which quickly grew into Ces & Judy’s Catering. Always looking for ways to expand, they soon operated food service at the Missouri Botanical Garden and later at the Living World at the St. Louis Zoo.
Judy’s hands-on approach and dedication to research and recipe development laid the foundation for Ces & Judy’s success. From day one, her focus has been on creating fresh, high-quality dishes that not only taste amazing but also bring people together. Her passion for food remains the heart of the business, ensuring that every menu is crafted with care and creativity.
Beyond her work at Ces & Judy’s, Judy is a founding member and past President of the St. Louis Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. Under her leadership, fundraising efforts increased by 100%, allowing for more scholarships to be awarded to women pursuing careers in the culinary field.
Our Catering Experts
IT ALL STARTED WITH
Darla Stadler
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
& EVENT MANAGER
Darla has been in the hospitality industry for 35+ years. Her career began in hotels, followed by an exciting 20 year career with Maritz Travel Company where she planned and executed corporate and social events for several Fortune 500 companies. This allowed her the opportunity to travel all over the world with her clients. She also spent 11 years as the Director of Special Events at the Saint Louis Science Center where she planned a number of galas and themed weddings & social events.
Darla loves people so this industry is perfect for her. She enjoys the commentary with her colleagues and the opportunity to mentor younger staff. She always says that there is never a dull moment in wedding & event planning which definitely holds true. She takes great pride in working hard to exceed every client's expectations.
Andrea Messina
SALES & CATERING
EVENT MANAGER
Andrea has been in the hospitality industry for over 15 years, starting her career in hotel management. While working in hotels, she discovered her passion for event planning and sales, leading her to transition into roles focused on creating memorable experiences for clients.
For three years, Andrea also worked in marketing for a movie theater chain, where she planned large-scale promotions and community events. In 2018, she began working as a wedding planner and event manager for a local planning company, quickly realizing that bringing weddings and events to life was what she loved most.
During that time, she had the opportunity to coordinate a wedding catered by Ces & Judy’s. She was not only impressed by the food but also by the professionalism of the staff. So when the opportunity arose in Fall 2024, she joined the Ces & Judy’s team full-time as a Sales & Catering Event Manager.
Andrea understands that wedding and event planning can feel overwhelming, and she takes great pride in ensuring the process runs smoothly for her clients. Her goal is to make every couple and event host feel valued and stress-free, knowing that Ces & Judy’s Catering is handling every detail with care.
Valerie Miller
SALES & CATERING
EVENT MANAGER
Valerie’s love for event planning started at a young age while helping with family parties, where she saw firsthand the joy of bringing people together to create lasting memories.
She pursued a degree in sport and hospitality business, allowing her to combine her passion for sports and event planning. This led to incredible opportunities, including working on Super Bowl LVI, the Ryder Cup, and Tony La Russa’s charity events, among many others.
As she gained experience, Valerie found her true calling in catering and menu planning, helping clients craft customized culinary experiences for events of all sizes. She has planned everything from intimate dinners for six to large-scale celebrations for 3,000 guests, including corporate events, weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, and private parties.
Valerie joined Ces & Judy’s in December 2024 after a successful career with a major hotel chain. She is excited to continue growing in the industry while learning from her talented mentors at Ces & Judy’s. With her eye for detail and passion for personalized service, she is dedicated to making every event as seamless and memorable as possible.
Join Our Team
Ces & Judy's is always growing and looking for new team members. If you are looking for a new opportunity, we have many different positions that we can fill. Let us know where you think you could fit in at Ces & Judy's.
