Originally from Ohio, executive chef Adam L. Gooch graduated from Pennsylvania Culinary Institute and fell in love with the city of Pittsburgh. Gooch was the Executive Sous Chef of Fox Chapel Golf Club for 8 years, the corporate Executive Chef for Gladco Inc. at the Pittsburgh International Airport, Executive Chef of Edgewood Country Club and now the Executive Chef of The Willow Room.

Gooch studied in France at the La Cordon Bleu and Ritz Escoffier as well as here in the U.S. at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Gooch holds office as a board member of the American Culinary Federation Pittsburgh Chapter. He also holds many local and national Ice Carving Medals and is a member of the National Ice Carving Association. Exceeding the diner's expectations is a key focus of Chef Gooch. He loves to impress you with new and innovative ways of preparing "everyday" foods.




Banquet Manager/Sales Associate, Lyn Laitinen brings 30 years of experience in both Fine Dining and Banquet service to The Willow Room. Lyn has worked throughout the Pittsburgh area in fine dining and as a banquet server at Nemacolin Woodlands for 8 years. She knows the recipe for a successful event is good communication between the clients, the sales associate, the Chef and the staff. Her eagerness to please people goes above pleasing just the client. She strives to keep her staff well motivated, knowing that it takes a team to make each and every function successful.





Erin Rudnisky is a Washington, Pennsylvania native that comes to The Willow Room with immense enthusiasm and willingness to get the job done and done right.  She completed her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Psychology at Washington & Jefferson College in 2002.

Erin brings to the position unsurpassed knowledge in the field of event coordination coupled with her unique skills in customer relations from her prior work experience with 84 Lumber Company as a Corporate Event Coordinator and Inner Circle Manager.  These areas of expertise make her a priceless asset to The Willow Room.

The fact that she is very attentive to details and willing to do what it takes to meet the customer’s needs allows Erin Rudnisky to excel as the Sales Director of The Willow Room.  She constantly puts forth her best effort to get exactly what the clients are looking for when it comes to planning their occasion. 

She understands that executing a successful event relies on understanding the needs of clients and striving to rise to their occasion.  She exudes the confidence it takes to handle various situations and keep her clients extremely happy. 

 



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