Meet our Team
Our team is the heart of Valette Hospitality. Across Valette, The Matheson, Roof 106, and Valette Wines, we're united by passion for exceptional service and authentic connection. Here are some of the talented people who turn every visit into something special.
Leadership Team
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CHEF-OWNER
Valette HospitalityDustin Valette is Chef and Owner of Valette, The Matheson, Roof 106, and Valette Wines in Healdsburg, California. Growing up in great-grandfather Honoré's wine country, the Culinary Institute of America graduate honed his craft at Michelin-starred Aqua and Thomas Keller's Bouchon before spending six years as Executive Chef at Dry Creek Kitchen. In 2015, he and brother Aaron opened restaurant Valette in Honoré's bakery location, followed by The Matheson, both earning Michelin Guide recognition. Living with his wife and two children in Honoré's farmhouse, he creates inventive California cuisine with French technique and locally-sourced ingredients, collaborating with renowned winemakers to produce award-winning wines, including back-to-back 100-point Cabernet Sauvignons.
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PARTNER
Valette Healdsburg & Valette WinesAaron Garzini honed his hospitality expertise over a decade at John Ash & Co., the pioneer of Sonoma County wine country cuisine, before expanding his leadership skills in San Francisco at Betelnut on Union Street. He returned to his roots as restaurant manager at Francis Coppola's acclaimed Rustic Restaurant in Geyserville, leading teams in delivering impeccable service. In 2015, Aaron co-founded Valette restaurant with his brother Dustin, earning Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and Michelin Guide recognition. After successfully establishing Valette as a cornerstone of Healdsburg's dining scene, Aaron now joins Valette Wines as a partner, bringing proven expertise in creating exceptional guest experiences and deep wine country knowledge.
Operations Team
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DIRECTOR, STRATEGY & BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Valette HospitalityJillian Benvenuti, a fourth-generation Sonoma County resident and Director of Strategy and Business Operations at Valette Hospitality, brings hands-on experience scaling companies from startup to nine-figure valuations. She integrates data-driven guest experience strategies, unifies operational systems across all brands, and develops cross-platform marketing initiatives connecting guests to Chef-Vintner Dustin Valette's full portfolio. As a founding team member at Hello Alice for eight years, she served as Chief of Staff, leading capital raises, managing investor relationships, and driving strategic initiatives through AI-powered workflow automation. She mentors emerging female leaders and leverages her tech background to enable innovative hospitality solutions while preserving authentic guest experiences.
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EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Valette HospitalitySamantha Stewart is Executive Assistant at Valette Hospitality, bringing expertise in wine industry marketing, event planning, and brand storytelling. A Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo graduate with a degree in Wine and Viticulture (Wine Business concentration), she's built her career across California's prestigious wine destinations including Beaulieu Vineyard, Alpha Omega Collective, and Eberle Winery. Her experience spans guest experiences, wine club operations, tasting room management, and digital marketing, including her role as Social Media Manager at Simply Clear Marketing. A Sonoma County native, Samantha is passionate about fostering meaningful connections through authentic experiences, bringing creativity and exceptional service to support Valette Hospitality's guest-focused vision.
Events Team
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DIRECTOR, EVENTS & PARTNERSHIPS
Valette HospitalityRawna is Director of Partnership & Events at Valette Hospitality, overseeing strategic partnerships and event operations across The Matheson, Valette, Roof 106, and Valette Wines. With over 11 years as Director of Hotel Sales & Catering at Graton Resort & Casino, she brings expertise in revenue management, team leadership, and business development. Her proven track record includes building comprehensive sales platforms, managing vendor relationships, and consistently exceeding objectives. A motivational leader with outstanding presentation skills, Rawna excels at creating strategic sales initiatives, expanding market share, and fostering meaningful business relationships. Her experience spans budget management, event execution, and account retention across hospitality operations. Outside work, she's passionate about fostering dogs, bringing the same dedication to animal welfare as she does to her professional pursuits.
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EVENTS & SALES COORDINATOR
Valette HospitalityMia Aponte is the Event and Sales Coordinator for Valette Hospitality, managing events and sales for The Matheson, Roof 106, and Valette in Healdsburg. A Sonoma State University graduate, she has experience in event planning, public relations, and hospitality coordination. Mia previously served as General Manager at Primitivo PR and REACH Event Programmer at Sonoma State, where she gained experience in client communications, event planning, budget management, and digital marketing. Detail-focused, motivated, and committed to delivering excellence, she combines creative event execution with strong relationship-building to create memorable guest experiences.
Finance Team
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CONTROLLER
Valette Hospitality
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ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
Valette HospitalityMarisa Rowley is Administrative Manager at Valette Hospitality, focusing on finance, accounting, and operational administration across the company's restaurant and wine portfolio. With a unique background spanning banking and restaurants, she brings diverse expertise that has converged perfectly in her current role. Beyond her work with the company, she previously served as Treasurer of the Historic Railroad Square Association, contributing her financial leadership to preserve and promote this vibrant Sonoma County community. Known as a friendly face who welcomes and onboards all new employees, Marisa creates a warm, supportive environment for the growing team. In her free time, she enjoys hiking Wine Country trails and reading. Her combination of financial precision, organizational excellence, and genuine hospitality makes her an integral part of Valette Hospitality's operations.
Behind every exceptional dining experience is a dedicated
team of professionals who bring passion and expertise to their
craft. From our managers and sous chefs at Valette to our servers,
sommeliers, and bartenders at The Matheson and Roof 106, to the wine operations staff at Valette Wines, each member of the Valette Hospitality
team plays a vital role in creating memorable moments for our guests.
We're obsessed with the details that make a meal unforgettable. Our restaurants and wine label are built on craft, collaboration, and bringing people together. If you care about quality, relationships, and creating experiences guests remember long after they leave, see what's open below.