LaKota Oaks

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About Us

Formerly known as Dolce Norwalk, the new LaKota Oaks™ has just raised the bar on social event and productive conference experiences.

“LaKota” is a Native American word that warmly signifies “allies.” What better notion to exemplify the purpose of this stunning property, and to welcome all who seek productive conferences, memorable weddings and social events that truly go above and beyond.

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Meet Our Team

Sam L. Haigh

GENERAL MANAGER

Sam L. Haigh
General Manager

Sam L. Haigh, LaKota Oaks General Manager, brings 18 years of hospitality operations experience to LaKota Oaks, having served in a variety of leadership positions in large branded hotels and resorts, as well as in mid-sized independent resorts.

Prior to joining the LaKota Oaks team, Sam served as Corporate Director of Operations for LaKota Hotels & Resorts, and he also provided consulting services to hotel owners and operators through his company, Fairwater Hospitality LLC.

Sam’s previous experience includes serving as General Manager for the 239-room Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ, where he achieved the best financial and guest service performance in the history of the property. Sam also served as Director of Operations for the 255-room Ocean Place Resort and Spa in Long Branch, New Jersey and served in key management roles in several properties with Hyatt Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and InterContinental Hotels.
A native of Norwalk, CT, Sam received a BS in Hospitality and Tourism from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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Laura M. Zap, CMP

DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCE PLANNING

Laura M. Zap, CMP​
Director of Conference Planning

Laura M. Zap, CMP, Director of Conference Planning at LaKota Oaks, brings 14 years of hospitality sales and event planning experience to the hotel.  As a regarded professional, Laura started as a Guest Services Agent with Marriott and quickly worked her way up to a position in sales. 

While Laura has held various sales positions throughout her career, she always knew that planning and detailing was her wheelhouse. With moving from Marriott to Hilton, Laura gained sales experience and additionally catering knowledge. During her career at Hilton, Laura was also able to obtain her Bridal Consult Certification from the Association of Bridal Consultants.  After 5 years with Hilton, Laura applied for the position of Event Meetings Manager at Dolce Norwalk and landed the job in August 2010.

While at Dolce Norwalk, Laura was eager to learn the many facets of conference services. She started as Event Meetings Manager and rapidly moved up to Senior Conference Planning Manager. Once the property was sold, Laura retained her position with LaKota Oaks. When the position of Director of Conference Planning became available in early 2019, Laura was promoted to lead the Planning, Conference Services and Audio-Visual Teams.

Laura has held her CMP degree for 3 years and is an active member in the Westfield Chapter of  MPI.

A native of Redding CT, Laura received a BS in Hotel & Motel Management from Southern New Hampshire University, along with earning her CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) from Convention Industry Council.

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John Peper

EXECUTIVE CHEF

John Peper
Executive Chef

Chef John has over 14 years of culinary experience in the hotel industry.  He currently oversees the Lakota Oaks culinary team and is in charge of menu creation for everything from conferences to weddings.

Prior to joining LaKota Oaks in September 2017, Peper was Executive Chef at Tarrytown House Estate and Conference Center where he managed the culinary team and a food and beverage revenue stream of 13 million dollars! 

Chef John started his career in 2006 at Marco Island Marriott Resort where he developed creative menus, numerous special and taste panels for high valued groups.  In 2011 he landed the Executive Chef position at World Yacht Inc. in NYC and in 2014 moved into Executive Chef role in Tarrytown. 

John became Director of Dining Services/Executive Chef for Brightview Senior Living where he composed seasonally inspired menu’s based all on locally sourced produce.  After two years at Brightview, John then moved to Dolce Norwalk as Executive Chef, no LaKota Oaks.

Peper holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Culinary Arts Management from The Culinary Institute of America.  He currently resides in Ridgefield, CT. 

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Hazel Scudder

DIRECTOR OF CATERING

Hazel Scudder​
Director of Catering

Always a “people” person, Hazel came up through the ranks of retail sales, merging gracefully into the hospitality industry through her 14 years working at the Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk, CT.  

In 2009, when Dolce received zoning approval to hold celebratory events at their 32 Weed Avenue location, Hazel came on board as Catering Sales Manager, responsible for all social events at the property.

“I Love my Brides”, has become Hazel’s tagline to success.  As Director of Catering and responsible for sales, planning and execution, Hazel personally oversees every social event on the property.  With her enthusiasm and eye for detail, clients can be assured that their function will be seamless and successful.

Hazel attended Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio.  She lives in Norwalk, CT.

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Dana Paulstich

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 

Dana Paulstich
Director of Finance

Dana began her Finance career in 1991 and has over 28 years of experience as Assistant Controller and Controller in the Hospitality industry.  She has held Controller positions at tri-state area hotels including NY Penn, Hilton Fort Lee, Royalton and Lombardy Hotels.  Dana also held the Controller title at two prestigious Country Clubs - Anglebrook Golf Club in NY and Silver Spring Country Club in CT.  She joined the LaKota Oaks team in October of 2018.

Dana’s positions throughout the years have strengthened her abilities to oversee all aspects of financial controls in every business.   From producing financial statements to processing payroll, Dana has effectively contributed to year over year growth at every hotel and country club that she worked for and is a key strategic team member for LaKota Oaks.

Dana graduated from PACE University Lubin School of Business with a BBA degree in Accounting and Finance.  She currently resides with her family in Yorktown Heights, NY.

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Marco Degl’Innocenti

DIRECTOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS

Marco Degl’Innocenti​
Director Food and Beverage Operations

Marco has been with the venue since 2013 when he started as Restaurant Manager with Dolce Norwalk.  In January of 2019, Marco was promoted to LaKota Oaks’ Director of Food and Beverage Operations, overseeing Market 32 Restaurant and Terrace, 1904 Wine and Whiskey Bar and all refreshment break areas supporting the meeting rooms.

Prior to Marco joining the team, he held several positions with various restaurants including General Manager at “The Tuscan” restaurant in New Canaan, Hotel Manager at “Delamar Southport, General Manager at “Miramar Restaurant” and Food and Beverage Director at “Inn at National Hall” in Westport.

Marco is a native of Florence, Italy where he started his restaurant career, working for 15 years in the Florence Hospitality industry holding different roles in both the Hotel and Restaurant side of the business.  He is a graduate of IPASAR “Saffi” in Florence.

Marco moved to the USA in 1997, now with 22 years of experience in Fairfield County.

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Greg Zap

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING 

Greg Zap​
Director of Engineering

Greg has over 45 years of experience in engineering work and management. With over 15 years of experience specifically in hospitality, Greg is the one who ensures that LaKota Oaks runs literally like a well-oiled machine. He manages a team of engineers dedicated to the improvement of our facility.

After Graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering from The Bridgeport Engineering Institute, Greg worked in various positions, including owning his own home maintenance business.

Before joining the LaKota Oaks team in June 2018, Greg was the Director of Engineering at The Dolce Hotel and Resort where he stood out as a hardworking and dedicated director.

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Diana Tosado

DIRECTOR OF ROOMS 

Diana Tosado
Director of Rooms

Diana joined the LaKota Oaks team in October 2018 as Director of Rooms and currently oversees the Housekeeping Department and the Front Office team.  She is a hospitality leader with over 19 years of management and operations experience in the tri-state area.

Diana started in the restaurant industry for Hilton brand hotels and quickly worked herself up to management.  Through her career she has worked in the Food and Beverage, Accounting, Sales, Front Office and Housekeeping departments in a multitude of positions.

Diana has worked for many big branded hotels including Starwood Hotels, Hilton, Marriott and Wyndham.  She worked in a variety of task forces overseeing all operational departments.

Diana resides with her family in Bridgeport, CT.

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Our Mission

Simply put, our mission is to personify Hospitality Defined at every level, and every turn. To provide a white-glove level of service and attention that consistently deliver on the promise of truly memorable conference and event experiences.

Our Property

Available to groups large or small, LaKota Oaks™ is situated on 66 secluded acres of rolling hills, sweeping lawns, and scenic ponds in the heart of Fairfield County, offering 121 deluxe guestrooms, large social event spaces, state-of-the-art conference facilities, a 75-foot indoor lap pool and fitness center, walking, jogging and bike trails, indoor basketball and racquetball courts, and outdoor tennis, volleyball, and bocce courts.

The conference center exemplifies our Hospitality Defined philosophy. It features 20 unique hi-touch and hi-tech collaborative spaces for strategic planning, training and culture building, and a food service system specifically designed to cater to conference and social groups. We’re an International Association of Conference Centers certified venue and was voted “Best Weddings” by The Knot. Just minutes from I-95, the Merritt Parkway, Metro-North Rail stations, several marinas and beaches, and all of Southern Connecticut’s attractions, LaKota Oaks™ is easily reached from anywhere in the entire Metro New York area.

Equally supreme for meetings, team-building outings or stunning weddings, LaKota Oaks™ makes quite an impression – especially on your first visit. Wind your way up the scenic main road, and you’ll be met with several stately red brick buildings, complete with soaring gables and towering windows. Once inside, you’ll witness more than 10,500 square feet of IACC-certified event space, including 20 multi-purpose meeting rooms and a grand 3,612 square-foot ballroom. Also, on-site, basketball, racquetball, volleyball, tennis, a fitness center with pool, and two restaurants provide plenty of post-event opportunities.

Property Maps
Lakota Wedding Outdoor

Our History

A stroll through the scenic grounds of LaKota Oaks™ will reveal this historic site was originally a monastery – a seminary of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Norwalk directories list this seminary as being used by the Holy Ghost Fathers from 1903 until 1930, and after that by the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A small graveyard, together with Stations of the Cross statues located along the half-mile walking path further paint the picture of a long-past era.

The seminary, better known as Ferndale due to the abundance of fern growth on the property, was a largely self-contained facility where the seminarians were trained under difficult conditions to serve as missionaries, often requiring them to perform not only spiritual tasks, but practical ones as well. Members of the seminary community served as barbers, shoemakers and photographers to meet the residents’ meager needs.

In 1979, GTE acquired the Ferndale Seminary property and later opened its Executive Learning Center in 1982. Dolce International purchased the center in 2003, and Dolce Norwalk opened its doors in 2004. Most recently, Queens Plaza West purchased the property and upgraded the offerings, rebranded the property LaKota Oaks™, and enhanced its appeal to social events and corporate conferences.

While we do offer group room blocks, we do not offer individual overnight guest accommodation bookings online. If you’re looking to host a wedding, meeting or other event in our state-of-the-art event space, please call 1-203-852-7300 for information.