Magnolia Gardens names new events team

CHARLESTON, SC – Magnolia Plantation and Gardens has filled two key positions on the staff that coordinates corporate and social events and weddings.

Leanza Kauffman, a former sales and catering manager at a Virginia mountain-top resort, has been named Magnolia’s events manager.

Maclain Copeland, a recent graduate of East Carolina University, is the new assistant events manager.

Kauffman’s replaces Jessica Cruz, who leaves this month to launch a wedding planning service, Cruz Coordination.

Tom Johnson, Magnolia’s executive director, said, “Jessica has done a phenomenal job in transforming Magnolia into a primer wedding venue. We wish her well in her business, and I am sure we’ll see her here with her clients. Magnolia’s events office now has a dynamic duo led by Leanza.”

Kauffman holds a double degree from the University of Central Florida in event management and hospitality management. She has coordinated weddings as a summer intern at the Biltmore House and Gardens at Asheville, N.C. At Mountain Lake Lodge at Pembroke, Virginia, she supervised corporate and social events.

Kauffman said she’s excited to have an opportunity at Magnolia to do more of what she enjoys the most, assisting brides on their big day. “I will get to focus on social events and weddings on a larger scale with weddings year round.”

At East Carolina University, Copeland earned a degree in hospitality leadership with a concentration in special events. She minored in business administration.

Copeland was an intern with the Cumberland Hospitality Group in Nashville, Tenn. She assisted designers and planers with numerous special events, including weddings, corporate activities and the Country Music Award festivities.