The Cedar Room | Private Event Venue in Historic Downtown Charleston, SC

Tim has been a chef in Charleston for nine years but was born and raised in Long Island. Although his love for cooking started at a young age, his first passion was hockey. He played as a goalie for many years and finds this experience working under pressure has come in handy in the kitchen. Tim attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, NC and was able to work under Chef Daniel Boulud during his externship in NYC. Tim moved to Charleston after being recruited to work as a sous chef at Old Village Post House by Chef Frank Lee and then quickly moved to Slightly North of Broad as the sous chef.  Tim’s newest chapter has landed him as Executive Chef at Mercantile and Mash, an Indigo Road Hospitality Group restaurant, where he continues to cultivate his creativity in the kitchen working with local purveyors to highlight local and seasonal ingredients. When he’s not in the kitchen, Tim spends his time at the beach with his dog, renovating his home, and exploring Charleston’s ever-changing dining scene.

As Director of Sales for The Cedar Room, Mercantile, and Bar Mash, Jessie Tanner works closely with the service and culinary teams to ensure all clients’ expectations are exceeded.  

Jessie has worked with coveted event professionals to execute weddings that have been featured in People Magazine, Southern Bride, Southern Living, Martha Stewart, Brides, and The Knot. A solution-based thinker, Jessie aims to provide unforgettable moments and thrives on the creative process that occurs to reach that “wow” moment. 

Prior to joining The Indigo Road as Director of Sales, Jessie was a member of the Salamander Hotels and Resorts’ opening team for Hotel Bennett, a Forbes Four-Star Hotel, as the Catering Sales Manager. Responsible for showcasing and selling the newest luxury hotel in Charleston, S.C., Jessie placed a strong emphasis on the Forbes Travel Guide’s standards of excellence. She learned the ins and outs of culinary execution for off-site catering excelling during her time at Cru and has also served as a Sales Manager for Middleton Place and a Traveling Consultant for the Delta Zeta Foundation. 

Renee Bawden currently serves as the Senior Catering Services Manager of The Cedar Room. Originally from Victorville, C.A., Renee moved to Las Vegas at the young age of 18, where she discovered her passion for the special events world. In April of 2017, Renee gave up the West Coast sunshine for a Lowcountry lifestyle, relocating with her husband, Brandon, and two cats, Bailey and Guinness. The pair and their pets quickly fell in love with the southern way of life.

Prior to The Cedar Room, Renee worked for Wynn Las Vegas for nearly 8 years, assisting with everything from private events to city wide conventions and becoming refined in the art of event planning. Renee joined The Indigo Road Hospitality Group in 2017 as Catering Services Manager of Mercantile & Mash before becoming part of The Cedar Room team in 2019.

When she’s not organizing the catering for elaborate events, you can find Renee cooking, fishing, and enjoying an ice-cold beverage. With her ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and her willingness to go the extra mile to exceed guest expectations, Renee is an essential member of The Cedar Room team.

Kara who joined The Indigo Road team in August of 2019 currently serves as the Catering Services Manager. Prior to joining The Indigo Road and Segra Club at Riley Park, Kara worked at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Enchantment Resort in Sedona, AZ, and was the Private Events Manager at Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, VA. Originally from Front Royal, VA, she earned her degree in Recreation, Parks & Tourism Management from Radford University.

After 20 years in the hospitality industry, Kara still is eager to learn and grow. Her experiences so far make her a valued team member and a great fit for a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. She loves working with her team to plan an event and see it come to fruition and thereby create a seamless and memorable experience for guests.

Kara, who spends her free time enjoying the beach, live music, paddle-boarding and spending time with her two dogs, feels that her finest career accomplishment so far is finding a home with Indigo Road, “I am driven to achieve more tomorrow than I did today. At this point, I feel that my finest accomplishments are yet to come.”