Mauricio Pozos Co-founder, Owner; Ma-Ro Catering

"Toronto's catering and special event community is as dynamic, exciting, creative and demanding as it has ever been in our city. Ma-Ro Catering was created from a love and passion for an industry and community that I have been proud to be a part of for the past 30 years."

Mauricio is a veteran of the catering landscape in Toronto, whether planning small, intimate events or a large-scale event for 5,000 he brings experience and professionalism to each of his clients.

His background and experience in the special event industry is extensive. Having studied food & beverage hospitality and culinary arts at the acclaimed Escuela Mexicana de Turismo in Mexico City, Mauricio moved from his home country to Toronto in 1988.

Mauricio has worked at some of the best-known establishments in Toronto and with many of Toronto's top chefs. Starting off as the Assistant Food & Beverage Manager of Movenpick Restaurants, Mauricio moved to working alongside Canadian Chef Jamie Kennedy at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

In 1999 he was hired by The Butler Did It as the Senior Event Manager for the largest staffing agency in Canada, producing the finest, large scale catered events in the city at dozens of Toronto's most well known and respected venues. Catering every week to the nation's elite as well as international celebrities, politicians and dignitaries helped Mauricio develop a unique set of planning and leadership skills. Then in 2006 Mauricio was asked to join GMB Catering as their Director of Sales, a best-in-class boutique kosher catering company. Mauricio was responsible small to large scale events for clients such as the United Jewish Appeal Federation (UJA), Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre and Ve'ahavta organizations and other events held at Synagogues across the city.

Prior to opening Ma-Ro Catering in 2016 Mauricio worked with Encore Catering and Applause Catering as the Director of Events. These two very well established and long standing Toronto caterers looked to Mauricio to manage and grow their most important clients and events.

"Ma-Ro Catering is a result of a lifetime of learning, growth and passion. While our combined experiences and extensive network of suppliers and hospitality professionals allow Ma-Ro Catering to produce amazing events for our clients, we believe we are only ever as good as our last event, as our last happy client. Our clients' complete satisfaction from beginning to end is what has always driven us throughout our careers and is the cornerstone today of what Ma-Ro Catering brings to the table."

Chef Roshan Wanasingha Co-founder, Executive Chef, Owner; Ma-Ro Catering

Chef Roshan Wanashinga has been an extremely passionate and driven culinary master of his trade for more than 20 years in four different countries. The finest of tastes and presentation are his signatures. Roshan has never felt the need to be limited by only what is available in the local market and has always incorporated imported products and techniques to his global culinary style. When it comes to catering to the broad cultural palate that defines Toronto's most discerning clients and guests, Roshan is a true artist. His imagination and creativity is never restricted or limited by a conventional or traditional approach to creating memorable custom menu designs.

Roshan completed his formal culinary training in Sri Lanka. He then made his way through some of the finest kitchens, luxury hotels and resorts in the eastern hemisphere such as the five-star Hilton Colombo and the seven-star Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Upon making the move to North America, Roshan joined the exceptional team at the Hockley Valley Resort in Ontario. He later became the Executive Chef of Encore Food with Elegance.

Roshan has won many awards including the Most Outstanding Award, gold and bronze medals for culinary presentation at the Escoffier Society of Toronto Salon Culinary in 2002, with another three medals from the Escoffier Society of Toronto Salon Culinary in 2005. In other local competitions he has received gold plus best in category main entrees, gold plus best in category in individual dessert presentation.

Additionally, in his career, he won 8 gold medals, 2 silver medals, 1 bronze medal, best in category and gold for buffet presentation in Sri Lanka, also being named the nation's most outstanding apprentice.

Roshan has catered over 100,000 events between corporate lunch drop offs, large scale open house events, corporate and social events including weddings. Each event varying from 2 guests to 10,000 guests.

Chef Roshan's long and extensive career has brought him to launch Ma-Ro Catering to continue to push the creative and culinary boundaries within the catering and special event industry here in Toronto.