The Vista at Applewood
Mackenzie Rodriguez
Director of Private Events & Sales
Phone: 303.278.6637
Location
14001 W 32nd Ave., Golden, CO 80401
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Hours of Operation
Monday - Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Meet the Team
Mackenzie Rodriguez
Director of Private Events & Sales
Inspired by the 2000's Blockbuster hit, "The Wedding Planner," she's known she's wanted to plan events from a young age.
Learn MoreMackenzie Rodriguez
Director of Private Events & Sales
Born in Chandler, Arizona, Mackenzie Rodriguez moved to Colorado at a young age and now proudly calls it home. Inspired by the 2000's Blockbuster hit, "The Wedding Planner," she's known she's wanted to plan events from a young age.
When she graduated high school in Colorado, she returned to Arizona to study Creative Writing for her first two years at Arizona State University. She then pivoted to finish her Bachelor's degree in Tourism, focusing on Sustainability and Event Management, in 2019. During her time at university, she fell in love with traveling while studying abroad in Spain and finishing her final semester with an internship in Costa Rica. Following her time in Costa Rica, she could not stay away from Colorado and moved back to Denver at the end of 2019. Mackenzie started assisting wedding planners in Arizona while in school and transferred the skills she learned to help plan beautiful weddings all over the country with a variety of talented planners based out of Colorado. Mackenzie understands that each client is different and enjoys finding what would make an event unique to everyone she works with. She has no better feeling than the one she gets when she sees clients' smiles, when their days go perfectly and when each event comes to fruition.
Along with weddings, she has helped coordinate and set up banquets, birthday parties, and corporate meetings. She is well-rounded and excited and open to planning any event that a client might desire. She is patient and attentive and will make sure you feel heard. In her free time, she enjoys the local restaurants in Denver, attending the local markets her sister makes jewelry in, antique shopping, spending time with family and friends, and traveling to new countries and states.
Fun Facts
- My favorite quote or famous saying: “I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you find the strength to start all over again.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- My favorite city in the world: Mallorca, Spain in the Balearic Islands is my absolute favorite city. I studied abroad there for 6 months and never wanted to leave. It’s so rich in culture and nature and I love the Spanish language.
- Number of years in the wedding industry: 7 years
- I am originally from: Chandler, Arizona but moved to Colorado when I was 7 years old.
- Favorite movie of all time: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
- My favorite hobby when I am not working: I love to travel. If that could be my full-time job, I would be so happy.
- No. 1 thing on my bucket list is: Go to a waterfall in Fiji.
- If I had a gift card with an unlimited balance I would shop at: Free People and Anthropologie
- My favorite part of the wedding planning process is: The design and décor decisions and having it come to life.
- Best advice I can give a bride: Allow it to be your day. This day is for you and your spouse, whatever anyone else wants doesn’t matter. It should just be for you two to celebrate your love.
Bailey Gibson
General Manager
Born and raised in Golden, CO, Bailey grew up with Applewood as her backyard.
Learn MoreBailey Gibson
General Manager
Born and raised in Golden, CO, Bailey grew up with Applewood as her backyard. Learning to play golf at Applewood, Bailey went on to play golf and water polo during high school at Lakewood High. While attending college at Gannon University in Erie, PA, she studied Sports Management and Marketing on a scholarship for water polo.
During the summers home from college, Bailey worked at Applewood to start and gain some experience in her field. After graduating, she returned home to Colorado and got a job as an assistant to the General Manager at Applewood. She quickly moved up and got a full-time position with Touchstone Golf as the General Manager at Deer Creek Golf Club in Littleton. After 5 years at Deer Creek, she then got the General Manager position at Applewood Golf Course, back where she started.
Her passion for sports, event planning, and marketing are what pushed her into the industry that she continues to love.
Fun Facts
- Favorite Music: Country
- Favorite Movie: Larger Than Life
- I swam against Missy Franklin when I was younger in my summer league days.
- I had an internship in college for the D League basketball team that fed into the New York Knicks
- I have two extra bones in my left foot.
- I played three sports growing up: Swimming, water polo, golf
- I would love to travel to Greece and Ireland
Brian Hamilton
Executive Chef
Brian Hamilton grew up in Claremont, California. He studied Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Learn MoreBrian Hamilton
Executive Chef
Brian Hamilton grew up in Claremont, California. He studied Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu, Scottsdale, Arizona. Graduating at the top of his class with honors, Brian then interned at the prestigious Insalata’s restaurant in San Anselmo, California.
Under Chef/ Owner Heidi Krahling, he learned scratch cooking, with an emphasis on Mediterranean cuisine. Many of the purveyors for the restaurant serviced the French Laundry. From fresh baby squid, to “the Mushroom Guy”, the highest quality ingredients were commonplace.
From the Bay Area, Brian moved to Carpinteria, California, working at Montecito and La Cumbre Country Clubs. Brian enjoyed surfing the famous surf spot, Rincon, which was a mountain bike ride to the beach.
In 2015 Brian and his girlfriend Lynne moved to Colorado. Working at Blackstone Country Club and The Ridge at Castle Pines as Sous Chef, Brian and Lynne bought a house in Aurora and got married in 2019. They enjoy gardening and remodeling.
Most recently Brian worked at Sanctuary Golf Course as Executive Sous Chef, working with Executive Chef Stevie Davis and F&B Director Andrew Hardin, with over 90 weddings and over 30 charity and tournament functions per season.
Brian is excited to bring his excellent wedding and tournament event experience to Applewood Golf Course!
Brian loves playing golf, going to live concerts, and most recently seeing his favorite band Nathaniel Ratliff and the Night Sweats at Red Rocks Amphitheater. He’s also an avid organic gardener.
Glenda Lee
Banquet Captain
I had been playing golf for several years here at Applewood when I was asked to be part of the banquet servers’ team, I accepted and have loved working here since with the wonderful staff!
Learn MoreGlenda Lee
Banquet CaptainI and have lived in the area all my life. I started working in a medical office before starting a small trucking company with my late husband where I drove dump trucks and end dumps for 24 years. My proudest moment of driving was being the first lady truck driver in 1972 to ever be allowed to drive a dump truck at Coors during their building stages. How times have changed!
I then returned to the medical field and was office manager for 7 offices before retiring on my 20th anniversary date.
I had been playing golf for several years here at Applewood when I was asked to be part of the banquet servers’ team, I accepted and have loved working here since with the wonderful staff!
My fun times in life have consisted of being part of a drag racing team in the 60’s that traveled from Pomona, CA to Sioux City, Iowa. And camping with my boyfriend Rich, who works here in ground maintenance.
My current hobbies are golfing as much as possible, playing pickleball, gardening and canning. And most of all spending time with my daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Konnie Michaels
Wedding Coordinator
Konnie has always been quite passionate about helping people and creating ways to bring people together. This passion led her to the event planning industry.
Learn MoreKonnie Michaels
Wedding CoordinatorKonnie is a Colorado Native. She is a wife, mother and a dog mom to her very active poodle, Ollie!
Konnie has always been quite passionate about helping people and creating ways to bring people together. This passion led her to the event planning industry. Whether she’s planning a small intimate family gathering or a large extravagant wedding, she derives so much enjoyment from helping others create fun and unforgettable memories! Her passion grew even stronger after planning and coordinating her own beautiful wedding just last year!
She says that her attention to detail is her super power. “I love all aspects of a wedding but I think my favorite thing is when all the little details come together to create the couples special and memorable day!”
In her free time she likes going to the gym, running a 5k, playing in the yard with Ollie, and hanging out with family and friends.
Fun Facts
My favorite reality tv show is Survivor and I would like to be a cast member someday.
I am an avid football fan. Go Broncos and Buffaloes!
I lived in Northern Italy for 3 years
My favorite relaxing pastime is doing jigsaw puzzles