Meet the Team

The team behind every detail.

From your first tour to the final dance, our team is here to make every detail feel thoughtful, seamless, and completely yours.

Angela Voges

Dual Director of Sales

Marriott Certified Wedding Planner

Angela leads the sales and events team with a strong passion for hospitality, relationship building, and creating memorable experiences for every client. She works closely with couples, corporate groups, and social event clients to understand their vision and guide them through each stage of the planning process. From the first tour and initial conversations to room layouts, timelines, contracts, and event details, Angela helps make the experience feel organized and approachable. She also manages corporate accounts, community partnerships, and overall sales strategy for the property. Her goal is to make every client feel supported, confident, and genuinely excited about the event they are creating.

Emma Wachtel

Dual Sales & Events Manager

Marriott Certified Wedding Planner

Emma brings a creative, organized, and personal approach to every event she helps coordinate. She works closely with wedding couples, corporate groups, and social clients to turn their ideas into thoughtful and well-planned celebrations. From room layouts and timelines to menus, guest room blocks, setup details, and day-of coordination, Emma helps keep every piece of the event moving smoothly. She values clear communication and takes time to understand what matters most to each client so their event feels personal to them. With a strong eye for detail and a warm approach to planning, Emma helps create an experience that feels seamless from the first meeting through the final celebration.

Jorden Gerdes

Executive Chef

25+ Years of Culinary Experience

With more than 25 years of culinary experience, Jorden brings extensive knowledge, creativity, and a passion for hospitality to every event hosted at Courtyard Mankato. Well known throughout the Greater Mankato area, he creates memorable dining experiences for weddings, corporate gatherings, and social celebrations using fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and thoughtful presentation. Jorden works closely with the sales and events team to develop menus that complement each client’s event, preferences, and overall vision. From plated dinners and buffets to hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and late-night bites, he focuses on creating food that feels special to the occasion and leaves a lasting impression on guests.

Love Notes

“The space was beautiful, but Emma and Angela are what made the experience unforgettable. From the beginning, they made the entire planning process feel easy, personal, and stress-free. They were responsive, organized, and always willing to answer questions, offer ideas, and help with the little details that made such a difference. You could tell they genuinely cared about our event and wanted everything to be perfect. On the day of the event, everything ran smoothly, the space looked amazing, and we were able to relax and enjoy ourselves because we knew we were in great hands. If you’re looking for a beautiful venue with a team that is kind, attentive, knowledgeable, and truly invested in making your event special, we would absolutely recommend Courtyard Mankato.”

★★★★★

— A Courtyard Mankato Couple

Let's talk about your celebration.

Plan Your Event