Peter Fassbender is the Food & Beverage Director and Executive Chef of Season's at Highland Lake Inn. A native of Chile, Peter is a 1998 Business Administration & Chef graduate of Instituto de Los Andes in Lima, Peru, and was awarded a Grand Diplome from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 2001. Before his debut at Highland Lake Inn in 2004, Peter lived and worked in South America, Europe, and the United States, and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and even a little bit of French and Italian.
Michelle Bailey is the Executive Sous Chef for Highland Lake Inn. Originally from Memphis, TN, Michelle has been cooking professionally in western NC for the past twelve years. Michelle graduated from AB Tech in 2007 and that same year earned 3 gold medals through team competitions with the American Culinary Federation. Most recently, Michelle developed a catering business as the chef for The Venue and served as executive chef for The Marketplace Restaurant. Her enthusiasm for using seasonal, local products and supporting sustainable practices goes right along with the philosophy at HLI. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys gardening, camping, mountain biking and kayaking.
Marlena Boyce, Restaurant Manager at Season's at Highland Lake Inn, was born in Fairview, NC and went to AB Tech for Hotel and Restaurant Management. She graduated in 2007 with Honors where she received a scholarship for her last semester from the Hotel Lodging Association. Marlena then moved to Durham, NC where she worked at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club as a Banquet Captain for two years. From there she returned to the mountains to work at Season's where she has been since 2009. In her spare time Marlena enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and scrapbooking.
Cathy Horton serves as Shift Leader at Season's at Highland Lake Inn. Born and raised in Minnesota her first words were, "Ham and eggs, Ma!" which lead to her long-lived love affair with food. In NC for 26 years, she obtained her culinary degree from AB Tech in 2008 and worked only two weeks in a kitchen before realizing her strengths were better suited to the front of house where she could interact with guests. Having joined Season's in 2011, Cathy is happiest when she is hugging customers. In her spare time she writes food reviews and teaches at AB Tech.
Highland Lake Inn - 86 Lily Pad Lane, Flat Rock, NC 28731 - Toll Free (800) 635-5101 - Local (828) 693-6812
